![]() ![]() It is worth bearing in mind that a longer exposure will produce longer star trails, but will also usually dim the brightness of the trails. Exposure TimeĮxposure time is really a matter of trial and error - it can be anything from a few minutes to several hours depending on the conditions. If you do use foreground objects, the ambient light will often illuminate them nicely, but if not consider using them as silhouettes instead. be sure not to place them too close though or they will be out of focus thanks to the wide aperture. Long exposure star trails on their own make stunning photos, but you may also want to include some foreground objects. Locate the North or South Star and plan your composition accordingly. ![]() Your star trails will form a circle around this point, so position it appropriately in your scene. If you want to position this centre point exactly you'll need to locate the North Star, Polaris (northern hemisphere) or the South Star, Sigma Octantis (southern hemisphere). The Earth rotates around the north and south poles, so all star trails are centred above them. Optionally, take a star chart or planisphere along to help you identify the North or South star (see below).įinally, you may want to take a warm coat, a flask of coffee and a good book to while away the time! Composing Your Photo An ideal, cheap solution is to wrap socks around it and hold them in place with elastic bands. Wrap insulation around your lens to prevent it fogging (particularly bad on very long exposures on cold nights). Use a wide aperture to ensure you capture plenty of light. Use a sturdy tripod and low ISO setting to keep your star trails sharp. The sturdier the better, particularly on a windy night. ISO 100) on your camera to reduce the amount of noise in your final photo.Ī tripod is absolutely essential. Use the lowest ISO setting available (e.g. An SLR or digital SLR with Bulb Mode is perfect. You'll need a camera that can take very long exposure photos. Remember to choose a clear night or you won't actually be able to see any stars! Setting Up Your Equipment If possible, shoot near a power supply so that you can hook up your camera using an extension lead, or alternative take a portable power source (e.g. ![]() Long exposure star trails will drain your camera's battery in no time, and the effect is even worse if you are using in-camera noise reduction. Image by Taro Yamamoto.Īvoid shooting star trails during a full moon - the light will overpower the starlight in a matter of minutes. Get out of the city, away from light pollution, for the best results. Where To ShootĬhoose a spot as far away from any cities as possible, or at least point the camera away from that area to reduce light pollution. However, they are certainly worth the effort as they can make for some truly breathtaking photos. They are certainly one of the most challenging subjects to shoot, as they require meticulous planning and require you to stay up for hours on end while everyone else is tucked up in bed. They produce some fascinating patterns, and can give a landscape a truly abstract, almost surreal edge. Star trails are one of the most beautiful subjects you can photograph. I love the fascinating colours, textures, and shapes that are revealed under limited lighting conditions, and you can experiment with long exposures to add even more interest to your shots. Mimosa is the bright star that forms the left-hand point of the Crux, Hip 59747 forms the right-hand point, Gacrux the top, Crux in the middle, and Acrux the bottom point.Night photography has long been a favourite of mine. The Southern Cross is a constellation with many stars, but five are clearly visible. It’s that simple!īut what if you are in the Southern Hemisphere where Polaris is not visible? You have to use the Southern Cross, or Crux. If you are located in Boston, Massachusetts, Polaris is located roughly 42 degrees above the horizon, so your latitude is approximately 42 degrees north. SEE ALSO: How to Fairly Cut a Cake, According to Math At Earth’s equator, Polaris is on the horizon, or 0 degrees above it. For example, at Earth’s north pole, Polaris is directly overhead, which is 90 degrees above the horizon. To figure out your latitude, all you have to do is estimate the angle between Polaris and the horizon due north from where you are standing. Once you make it all the way to the Equator, where is Polaris now? At the horizon. As you walk towards the equator, Polaris will start to move away from the point directly overhead towards the horizon. Next, imagine walking south towards the equator - which is technically any direction. Star trail photograph showing the apparent motion of stars around Polaris - the bright star near the center, just above the jet trail. Photo credit: TedQuackenbush/Wikipedia ( CC BY-SA 3.0) ![]()
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