just curious why? just curious why, when I do long exposures at night some of the light show up as if I were using a star filter? the first photo has a few dew drops on the lens but...

Beercan31 Loc: Lost & Found

just curious why, when I do long exposures at night some of the light show up as if I were using a star filter? the first photo has a few dew drops on the lens but not where the lights are.
I do have a star filter but I know I was not using it for the first two shots.

Thanks

Alaska at Night, exposure abt 1 min

Florida Luau just after sunset exposure time abt 1min 20 sec.

this is the star filter on a 14 year old engine I detailed

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Beercan31 wrote:

just curious why, when I do long exposures at night some of the light show up as if I were using a star filter? the first photo has a few dew drops on the lens but not where the lights are.
I do have a star filter but I know I was not using it for the first two shots.

Thanks

Hey Doc ..... You were probably using a small aperture with a kit lens. The aperture blades on cheaper lenses becomes polygonal. That causes the diffraction of light as it passes through the aperture to produce a star pattern.

Use a wider aperture to eliminate the stars when you're using a long exposure

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

A six-pointed star is from a six-bladed iris within your lens. More expensive lenses have more blades, reducing star artifact.

Beercan31 Loc: Lost & Found

Wabbit wrote:

Use a wider aperture to eliminate the stars when you're using a long exposure

sounds like a plan, would using a wider aperture effect the depth of field?

Thanks you Wascally Wabbit

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Beercan31 wrote:

Wabbit wrote:

Use a wider aperture to eliminate the stars when you're using a long exposure

sounds like a plan, would using a wider aperture effect the depth of field?

Thanks you Wascally Wabbit

Hey Doc ..... sure, the larger the aperture the more shallow your depth of field will be .....

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I think that the star is because the relected light is on a straight line into your lens.

twowindsbear

Make SURE you don't have 'star effect' turned on, somewhere, in your camera.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

BboH wrote:

I think that the star is because the relected light is on a straight line into your lens.

Hey Doc ..... kit lenses stopped all the way down can create theses stars when you use a long exposure ..... less likely to happen with more expensive glass but it's still possible .....

The lighting from the first pic is blown out a bit but I think the fire engine shot looks good with the sparkling stars .....

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

Beercan31 wrote:

just curious why, when I do long exposures at night some of the light show up as if I were using a star filter? the first photo has a few dew drops on the lens but not where the lights are.
I do have a star filter but I know I was not using it for the first two shots.

Thanks

Your topic heading is useless. Many posting here are curious for various reasons. Many are asking "why?"

I'm talking about information retrieval.

"Why" not go with a useful:

Long exposures and star artifact effects

Just trying to encourage accuracy. Trying to help people focus.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Scoutman wrote:

quote=Beercan31 just curious why, when I do long ... (show quote)

Hey Doc ..... the op explained it pretty well in his post and even posted pictures which I didn't even have to ask for ..... I think the OP did well .....

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Beercan31 wrote:

just curious why, when I do long exposures at night some of the light show up as if I were using a star filter? the first photo has a few dew drops on the lens but not where the lights are.
I do have a star filter but I know I was not using it for the first two shots.

Thanks

the star effect is created by the aperature

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Caused by long exposure and small aperture i.e. f22 or f/13 in your case.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Wabbit wrote:

quote=Scoutman quote=Beercan31 just curious why,... (show quote)

Beercan31 is trying to get folks to put meaningful titles on their questions so they can be found when using the search feature. The title of the OPs post doesn't really describe the topic.

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

Wabbit wrote:

quote=Scoutman quote=Beercan31 just curious why,... (show quote)

Once you get past the topic heading. I'm not referring to his text or pictures. Read the general guidelines for posting which many try to follow. Be specific, rather then "Why" "Guess What" "Question"

Specificity promotes information retrieval.

Review the guidelines, if you think I am off base on this. Too bad the so-called moderators do not enforce those "rules" or pro-actively encourage the practice. They DO move other stuff around without consultation, although a curt PM is generally sent to the poster.

And I'm "hoppy" too, to encourage the practice.

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

mcveed wrote:

quote=Wabbit quote=Scoutman quote=Beercan31 jus... (show quote)

Beercan31 was the poster, the OP, the one with the meaningless, if you will, topic heading. I'm a self-appointed wannabe enforcer of good subject heading practice. :roll: