manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

I've tried with varied success in shooting sky shots, stars, the Milky Way, etc. I realize that the best results will first have to get away from man made light, but I still have trouble getting the sky to be dark in PP and keep the star trails or as points to be bright.

All advice appreciated.

Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

What settings are you using? I was told recently to use 2.8 aperture, 30 second shutter speed and I thought the teacher said ISO 1600. Then in PP, he only had to slightly move 3 sliders in Lightroom and it was beautiful. But the sky was a bluish purple color at the end.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

When I am doing a series for putting together with Startrax, I take 30 second exposures at about 1600 and as big an aperture as I can which is only 3.5 on this lens. If I do a long exposure like I did the other night, I try for 100-200 ISO and the same aperture. The long exposure took 30 minutes and then I let the camera's noise reduction spend the next 30 minutes doing its job. So, after spending all that time, the picture I tried to take wasn't in as good focus as I had thought, but that isn't the sky issue I'm talking about. I still looked at it and wondered how to keep the sky darker. Sorry, don't have something to post from where I am now.

mrova Loc: Chesterfield, VA

Thanks for posting the question...I'd be interested in this also.

SDB777 Loc: Edwards, AR USA

You might want to think about more stacking of lights and darks using the stacker software of your choice, and less about long exposures.

>>>>> Light Pollution <<<<<

>>>>> Stacker <<<<<




Dark skies and happy shooting for you!



Scott (easy on the sliders too) B

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Thanks, I'll try it that way more. I've done some stacking, but with limited success due to shooting conditions being less than desired.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Also, I haven't used astrostack. Thanks for the link.