Star Trails: Curious about methods, settings, etc for shooting star trails in the middle of nowhere. Have read about multiple layers but would like to avoid this and just go for one...

chaser48 Loc: Texas

Curious about methods, settings, etc for shooting star trails in the middle of nowhere. Have read about multiple layers but would like to avoid this and just go for one shot. Please suggestions...............Thanks

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

This is something that I am very interested in trying myself. From what I have read, one method that is very popular is to take many thirty second exposures and then use a stacker program to fuse them into one image with the start trails. The advantage to this method is that it cuts down dramatically on the noise that would be overbearing with one long bulb exposure. That is my two cents.

chaser48 Loc: Texas

ebrunner wrote:

This is something that I am very interested in trying myself. From what I have read, one method that is very popular is to take many thirty second exposures and then use a stacker program to fuse them into one image with the start trails. The advantage to this method is that it cuts down dramatically on the noise that would be overbearing with one long bulb exposure. That is my two cents.

Thanks for response. I am looking into EVERYTHING I can find on this :-) Never thought about "noise" factor. Just saw an article somewhere that advised of 30 second to 2 minute exposures with ISO of 1200-1600. Looking at everything. Thanks again

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

This should help http://blog.starcircleacademy.com/startrails

chaser48 Loc: Texas

St3v3M wrote:

This should help http://blog.starcircleacademy.com/startrails

Just looked at this blog...........fantastic and will be using some of what I read. Thanks again...........

pigpen

What I do...

Camera on tripod.
Remote shutter release.
25-30 sec exposures.
WB Auto.
Shoot RAW.
IS off.
AF off.
F/stop between F/5.6 - f/11.

I use my 17mm, or 8mm fisheye. Lock the release cable so that it continuously fires off the shutter. Helps if you pick an interesting forground. Use a flashlight/spotlight to expose the foreground. Can also use gels on the light if you want to get creative. I try for at least an hour, longer is better. Chair and a sixpack help. Use Startrails (free program) to stack all the images together. Clean up final image in PS or LR or whatever you use. I think that's it.

Have fun.

pigpen

Forgot one thing. It is very possible that your lens may fog up at some point, and this becomes a serious issue if you have to keep stopping exposures to wipe the len. I buy a hand warmer (actually, a foot warmer is better because it's longer), the one's hunter use, and wrap it gently around the barrel of the lens making sure not to move anything such as the focus ring. This keeps your lens warmer than the ambient air temperature and it won't fog up. This simple trick is a big help.

Also, this link below to a Naval page is very helpful. It tells you exactly when and where everything happens. For instance, you can find out exactly what time the moon will set in your area, and it will not affect your photgraphy. Now you don't just have to wait for a new moon.

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php " rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php

chaser48 Loc: Texas

pigpen wrote:

What I do... br br br Camera on tripod. br Remot... (show quote)

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

chaser48 wrote:

Curious about methods, settings, etc for shooting star trails in the middle of nowhere. Have read about multiple layers but would like to avoid this and just go for one shot. Please suggestions...............Thanks

Film.

pigpen

Wall-E wrote:

Film.

Wall-E is correct, film. One long exposure in digital could seriously damage your sensor from it overheating.

chaser48 Loc: Texas

pigpen wrote:

Wall-E is correct, film. One long exposure in digital could seriously damage your sensor from it overheating.

well, NOW you have my attention.........................

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

chaser48 wrote:

Curious about methods, settings, etc for shooting star trails in the middle of nowhere. Have read about multiple layers but would like to avoid this and just go for one shot. Please suggestions...............Thanks

48, I believe Nikonian has some material on star trails in the Frquently Asked Questions section.
Don't forget to put out the big No Fly Zone sign. Got to get it way up there to be effective! SS

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

SharpShooter wrote:

48, I believe Nikonian has some material on star trails in the Frquently Asked Questions section.
Don't forget to put out the big No Fly Zone sign. Got to get it way up there to be effective! SS

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-60610-1.html

chaser48 Loc: Texas

St3v3M wrote:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-60610-1.html

Thanks for the info. I went to some of these sites just looking. Stunned.....Theses pictures are everything that I would love to accomplish. Takes "rising to the challenge" to a whole new level and honestly, I don't know if I could get there BUT..............sure gonna try :-) Beautiful and thanks again.

pigpen

chaser48 wrote:

Thanks for the info. I went to some of these sites just looking. Stunned.....Theses pictures are everything that I would love to accomplish. Takes "rising to the challenge" to a whole new level and honestly, I don't know if I could get there BUT..............sure gonna try :-) Beautiful and thanks again.

It does seem a bit intimidating. I think you'll find it exciting once you get over the initial fear.