Star Trails: Hard to do, or just frustrating? Post yours if you wish
Apr 9, 2021 18:56:52 #
The second day of our stay in the Adirondacks this week was a rarity. It was blue skies all day long! During the day, my wife and I hiked to the summit of one of the smaller mountains. Then, as the afternoon became evening, I realized that it was still blue skies without a hint of a cloud. I decided that I would try my hand at star trails. I did not trust myself to hike miles into the wilderness with only a headlamp to light my way. So, I opted for an area that is far enough away from town , (I thought) that had a parking area, and had a place where I could shoot but still be close to my car. (It was cold at night).
I set up the shot which included a few tall trees that I could light up with my lamp. Polaris, the north star, is the star that is just left of the tallest tree. So, if I got some trails, they would be circling the top of the tree. That would have looked great. As soon as I started my sequence of shots, a guy drove up with his lights blazing. I figured that would not ruin everything because I could delete that one shot without too much damage. Of course, he parked right next to me and got out of his car and started fiddling around. I walked over to see if he ,too, was a photographer. No such luck! He was setting up to do some fishing. Smelts, it seems, come close enough to shore at night to net them from the shoreline. (who knew? ). So he was stomping along the shore with a giant lantern that he was swinging about and lighting up the woods like it was daylight. When He left, due to a dearth of reachable fish, I started the sequence over again. Fifteen shots into the sequence another car drove up only to do a U-turn right in front of my camera. I figured that was an omen. The shot was just not going to work. So I decided to try one still shot and do some light painting of the trees. Then, I called it a night.
When we got home the next day, New Jersey rewarded me with a mild and cloudless sky. So I quickly posted the voting for MIYV and headed out to the darkest part of New Jersey that I know of which is about an hour's drive from here. Of course the scourge of astro photographers in New Jersey (besides considerable light pollution) are airplanes. Big ones, small ones, military planes, you name it, they are all flying above New Jersey all the time. I did get one proof of concept shot. I took 360 ten second exposures. Then I merged them with the aid of Star Trails free software. I'm including the shot I took in the Adirondacks with light painting, and my attempt at star trails in New Jersey. If you have any star trails, feel free to post them and let us know how and where you got the shot. (the dotted straight lines in the star trails photo are airplanes)
Erich
I set up the shot which included a few tall trees that I could light up with my lamp. Polaris, the north star, is the star that is just left of the tallest tree. So, if I got some trails, they would be circling the top of the tree. That would have looked great. As soon as I started my sequence of shots, a guy drove up with his lights blazing. I figured that would not ruin everything because I could delete that one shot without too much damage. Of course, he parked right next to me and got out of his car and started fiddling around. I walked over to see if he ,too, was a photographer. No such luck! He was setting up to do some fishing. Smelts, it seems, come close enough to shore at night to net them from the shoreline. (who knew? ). So he was stomping along the shore with a giant lantern that he was swinging about and lighting up the woods like it was daylight. When He left, due to a dearth of reachable fish, I started the sequence over again. Fifteen shots into the sequence another car drove up only to do a U-turn right in front of my camera. I figured that was an omen. The shot was just not going to work. So I decided to try one still shot and do some light painting of the trees. Then, I called it a night.
When we got home the next day, New Jersey rewarded me with a mild and cloudless sky. So I quickly posted the voting for MIYV and headed out to the darkest part of New Jersey that I know of which is about an hour's drive from here. Of course the scourge of astro photographers in New Jersey (besides considerable light pollution) are airplanes. Big ones, small ones, military planes, you name it, they are all flying above New Jersey all the time. I did get one proof of concept shot. I took 360 ten second exposures. Then I merged them with the aid of Star Trails free software. I'm including the shot I took in the Adirondacks with light painting, and my attempt at star trails in New Jersey. If you have any star trails, feel free to post them and let us know how and where you got the shot. (the dotted straight lines in the star trails photo are airplanes)
Erich
Light Painting in the Adirondacks
(Download)
For Star Trails, Polaris will remain in the same place and the other stars make circles around polaris due to the earth's rotation
(Download)
I think I should have taken more shots. This represents one hour of time. Maybe two hours would be better?
(Download)
Apr 10, 2021 04:32:48 #
Congrats on your success. Nobody's going to question your diligence 
.
To get the 360 ten second shots, did you use continuous shutter release with the shutter constantly activated (cable release)? Please tell me you didn't have to take them all individually .
.To get the 360 ten second shots, did you use continuous shutter release with the shutter constantly activated (cable release)? Please tell me you didn't have to take them all individually
.Apr 10, 2021 07:24:06 #
R.G. wrote:
Congrats on your success. Nobody's going to question your diligence .
To get the 360 ten second shots, did you use continuous shutter release with the shutter constantly activated (cable release)? Please tell me you didn't have to take them all individually .
.To get the 360 ten second shots, did you use continuous shutter release with the shutter constantly activated (cable release)? Please tell me you didn't have to take them all individually
.Nikon has an intervelometer built into many of their cameras. All I had to do is set the number of shots, and the shutter speed. The camera did the rest.
Erich
Apr 10, 2021 08:50:57 #
Apr 10, 2021 10:18:01 #
jaymatt wrote:
Interesting. 
Translation: "Jesus, Erich...what were you thinking? " lol
Erich
Apr 10, 2021 11:01:29 #
I've never been able to do anything like this. I think you did quite well!
Apr 10, 2021 18:47:54 #
AzPicLady wrote:
I've never been able to do anything like this. I think you did quite well!
Thank you for the vote of confidence. Next time there is a clear night without a moon....I might have to give it another go.
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