While taking a long exposure photo in an open and pellucid night sky, you will notice star trails. These start trails is created due to the rotation of our planet Earth. In this article, you will find some useful tips on creating lovely star trails pictures.
Star Photography Tips
First things first, what all things do you need for a jaw-dropping star pics – it’s the essentials, like – a full-frame camera, a fisheye lens and a tripod. All the tips below will give you an idea of what can complete in an ideal condition. Apart from these we would love to get your ideas and tips on star photography.
Photo by Fishtails@Taipai
Focal Length
To keep trails longer, your focal length has to be lengthened as well. If you are using a wide angle lens, then you need prolonged exposures like in minutes, but if you are using a telephoto lens then your trails will be visible in few seconds. And it’s not easy to control the composition.
Find Exposure
With ISO set on 6400, the foreground will be seen better at 2″ ISO 6400. Corresponding to this we can write 128″ ISO100, 64″ ISO200, 32″ ISO400, 16″ISO800, 4″ ISO3200. It will ensure star trails to be clearer.
Multiple Shots
Now as we have learned that exposure time has to be prolonged, another technique can be used, which is combining photos with shorter exposure time. It seems a wise choice if you go with the later option, not only it’s much safer, but it’s also more feasible. Any distractions can be ignored in multiple shots, but not in one shot exposure technique.
Objects can make it attractive
Using a proper foreground like a landscape that has something extra can make star trails even more indulging. Like using a silhouette, in the front, can make it far more compelling.
Solid Tripod
It’s an essential need for any photography, but especially for star trails tripod needs to be efficient, that cannot be blown away with heaviest of wind.
Reducing Noise
The multi-shot method will require you to have less or no noise, so choose what is best in your case.
After the shot
Finally, you will need a software like Adobe Lightroom or may be something else that can adjust contrast, saturation, sharpen the image and reduce noise as per your requirement.
