Star Trail Settings: Hello!! I recently tried my hand at stacking star trail pictures. These are about 40 1-minute exposures stacked. I've seen settings vary so much for star trails...

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Star Trail Settings

Nov 15, 2012 13:55:40 #

Stef C Loc: Conshohocken (near philly) PA

Hello!! I recently tried my hand at stacking star trail pictures. These are about 40 1-minute exposures stacked. I've seen settings vary so much for star trails, and i'm wondering if anyone has any recommended settings.

These were 1000 ISO to cut down noise, and f/8 (for sharpest trails). About a minute long. I've seen settings up to 3200 ISO on full frame (I was shooting with D7000 at 10mm).

Any suggestions, and what do you think of this (minus the obvious where i missed a few seconds and you can see the break in the trails)

Nov 15, 2012 13:57:08 #

angler Loc: StHelens England

I like it,nice work.I want to try this.

Nov 15, 2012 13:58:25 #

Stef C Loc: Conshohocken (near philly) PA

this isn't the original.. unfortunately i don't have the file with me so i downloaded from what i uploaded to FB and reposted. It has def lost some quality.

Check out Bridge Camera Show Case section of our forum.

Nov 15, 2012 14:06:18 #

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

I think you're on the right track, but there is a lot of light at the bottom of the pic...never tried it myself but from what I've read, you need to find a spot where there is NO ambient light at all, e,g; out in the bush away from any city lights, etc. where there is total blackness or as near to it as you can find...I love your pic though.
Something I might try next time we're away from the city on Holidays...
We went on the Ghan (train) up to Darwin through the centre of Australia a couple of years ago and at night it was absolutely black, sadly the train doesn't stop for photo opportunities...LOL

Nov 15, 2012 14:40:21 #

dayleft Loc: NYC

Love it

Nov 15, 2012 16:00:47 #

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Why stack

Star trails are the easiest thing to shoot.

Just put the camera on a mount with a wide angle lens and leave the shutter open for an hour at f2.8, 1000asa

No need ever to stack with star trails aart from which you miss shots and every time the shutter goes off there is judder.

Place card over the front of the lens BEFORE tripping the shutter and again before closing it to avoid shake, hold the card about five inches away

Nov 15, 2012 16:20:10 #

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

JR1 wrote:

Star trails are the easiest thing to shoot.
Just put the camera on a mount with a wide angle lens and leave the shutter open for an hour at f2.8, 1000asa

I disagree with your assessment. Please prove me wrong, by posting examples of a single exposure of at least 1-hour on a digital camera sensor.

Check out Black and White Photography section of our forum.

Nov 15, 2012 16:26:13 #

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I will try and find some of my old ones taken at Patrick Moores home from two years ago, you wont know him but he is a friend of mine.

I am an amateur Astronomer, and started with trails years ago and occasionslly still shoot them.

I mainly use a Starlight Express

http://www.sxccd.com/sxvr-h694c

on this though

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/JPEGImage93746.jpg

Nov 15, 2012 16:27:58 #

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

One of my photo buddies is Lincoln Harrison. He is well-known for his full-color star trails, and full color star cluster photographs.

Here is his 500px account. The text of each of his star trail images list total exposures x each exposure time: http://500px.com/Hakka

Typical star trails:
http://500px.com/photo/1308247
http://500px.com/photo/14572587
http://500px.com/photo/6972142
http://500px.com/photo/1350955

Typical Milky Way clusters:
http://500px.com/photo/14637703
http://500px.com/photo/12147809
http://500px.com/photo/12353965

Nov 15, 2012 16:31:34 #

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Great shots.

Nov 15, 2012 18:52:34 #

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I almost forgot:
FAQ: What Different Methods to Capture Star Trails?
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-60610-1.html

Check out Advice from the Pros section of our forum.

Nov 15, 2012 21:36:22 #

Stef C Loc: Conshohocken (near philly) PA

Thank you - Stacking is better because you can have bright crisp star trails, along with a dark non-washed-out sky. I've tried both, and the star trails are by far better quality when you can piece it all together.

As far as the ambient light, I was in Jim Thorpe, PA, about a two hour drive from where I live in Philly. It's harder to get further out than that, but i'm going to try again tomorrow night for the next meteor shower.

I accidentally left stupid settings on last time like Active D lighting that didn't help the ambient light situation, but i'm going to make sure i don't repeat that again this time. I'm also going to go early and stay late.

Thanks everyone! I reposted it from the original file, hopefully it's better. There's also another with some foreground, and a plane flying through..