RCJets Loc: Virginia

Hi folks,

I understand there may be a rocket launch from the space coast in FL tonight around 8:30 P.M. DST. From where we are in the Ocala, FL area, I'm told the rocket should be visible about 37 seconds after liftoff. I would like to try to capture the trail for as long as it is visible, maybe 40+ seconds. My question is what settings should I use as this is my first attempt at one of these, and may be my last, as we are going back to VA next week.
If I have to guess, it would be similar to these. My camera is a Nikon D7100, with an 18 to 140 mm lens, or an 80 to 400 mm. I'm thinking the 18-140 to enable me to set it for more horizontal and vertical range since I don't know what to expect, and I don't want to change anything once it comes into view.

As for exposure settings. I'm guessing B on shutter, with maybe 40 seconds open, f11 on aperture. and ISO 400. Am I close? Please tell me what works. If you can't respond to this by 7:30 PM DST today (Monday 14 Mar), don't bother. Too late for me to see it in time, and TIA for your help.

Joe

Tote1940 Loc: Dallas

Single frame
Shoot RAW
ASA 400 may be too much
Try getting a measurement a few minutes before at f/8 to avoid loss of quality of snaller f/
Then calculate exposure time
For example 1/30 at ASA 400 then 1/15 @ 200, 1/8 @100 since I doubt your camera has lower ASA you will need neutral density filters or polaroids and start at longer time but continue ASA vs time until you get to 40”

Abo

If you are after a very abstract image you're on the right track :-)

What distance will you be from the launch, and how do
you propose to "hold" the camera? ... will you be
panning the rocket for 40 seconds or will the
camera be stationary.

Considering the shutter is going to be open for 40 seconds
and the subject is white hot rocket flames you may want to try ISO 4 instead of ISO 400
at f1100 instead of f11.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Here is my attempt several yrs ago.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-448862-1.html

I don’t remember the settings but if someone can ck the downloads the exif info should be there.
I don’t have an exif reader or I would do that.
Good luck and have fun.
PS: you probably already know but there are launches from Wallops Island, Va. on occasion.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Suggest you find NASA TV on your computer. They may be covering the launch. If so, you can use them to know the exact time of launch (or if it is delayed or cancelled).

It is likely that 8:30 is soon enough after sunset that enough residual light is available to easily blow out your sky. Pay attention and do a test exposure or two a few minutes before launch to manage the sky brightness to a usable level. You can also watch for problematic areas of light pollution.

PSims46 Loc: Maryland

I have taken photos of Wallops Island launches a few times. I shot this photo at 200DPI and f8. I kept the shutter open for three 30 second exposures for a total of 90 seconds. I thought 30 seconds was going to be enough to have the fire trail go off the edge of the photo but it was not. So I had to keep shooting 30 seconds shots. I then had to photoshop the photo to get rid of the broken fire trail. Good luck.

RCJets Loc: Virginia

Thanks for your reply, Abo, The straight line distance is about 109 miles according to Google. I'm looking for a long exposure to get the entire visable arc as much as I can see in one shot. Probaably about 40+ seconds. ISO may be too much. I'll go for 200. Hmm, I haven't heard of f1100. ???

btrlvngthruchem

I do deep space astrophotography and capture unwanted satellites and planes all the time. I also shoot meteor showers so I can't imagine that the settings I use would be significantly different from what you might use.

Your objective should be to get a photo that shows a dark gray to black sky, the rocket tail and maybe some stars. You should not worry at all about the foreground. You can take an appropriate photo of the foreground after you get the money shot and combine them in post. If you try to worry about the foreground and the rocket, it's way too much to think about and likely you won't get anything.

A tripod is a requirement.

Shooting in RAW is a requirement.

An auto shutter release is necessary but a timer on the camera will work. Set the timer so that the camera fires at least 2 seconds after the shutter releaser button is pushed.

Use a wide angle lens in the range of 24 mm. Very important if you don't know exactly where to point your camera.

Chose a site that has a great view of the horizon (hilltop is best). The site should be free from direct interference by light sources.

For the f-stop, stop down 2 f-stops from were the aperture is wide open.

ISO should be set at 800 but likely will need adjustment (see below).

Focusing is critically important; you can recover a lot in a photograph but you can't recover a bad focus.

Manual focus only. The infinity setting on a lens doesn't mean its in focus at infinity.

There are a couple of options for manual focusing:

One is by prefocusing on a very distant object while it's still light out. Once you achieve focus, use masking tape to tape the focus ring so it won't move. It's important to recheck your focus once you've taped the ring.

The other is wait until its dark and focus on the brightest star you can find. To focus, turn on "live view" set the maximum magnification. Starting with the lens set on infinity, very gently turn the focus ring until the star is at its smallest. Go past what you think is smallest and then come back the other way. Do this a few times so you're comfortable the star is at its smaller. Take a test shot that is 2 - 3 seconds long and view at maximum magnification. The star should appear as a pin point of light. If its not, try again. You could also tape the focus ring for this method, depending on if the camera will be moved. Always recheck the focus.

At your site, get the camera set up just as you will be using it to capture the rocket trail. Get sharp focus by one of the methods described above of another of your choosing (NO AUTOFOCUS). Do test shots with the f-stop as discussed above, set for a 40s exposure at 800 ISO. If you don't have stars in that field of view, move the camera so stars are visible in the field of view (this is for test shots only). Do your test shots (40s). As described above your test shots should show a very dark gray to black sky with the stars as pinpoints of light. It is likely you'll have to adjust your ISO to achieve this but that should be the only setting you'll need to adjust. If you can achieve this, you can achieve the money shot. Move your camera back into position for the rocket shot and good luck

Again, get the rocket and edit the foreground in later

Hope this helps.

Jay

RCJets Loc: Virginia

[At your site, get the camera set up just as you will be using it to capture the rocket trail. Get sharp focus by one of the methods described above of another of your choosing (NO AUTOFOCUS). Do test shots with the f-stop as discussed above, set for a 40s exposure at 800 ISO. If you don't have stars in that field of view, move the camera so stars are visible in the field of view (this is for test shots only). Do your test shots (40s). As described above your test shots should show a very dark gray to black sky with the stars as pinpoints of light. It is likely you'll have to adjust your ISO to achieve this but that should be the only setting you'll need to adjust. If you can achieve this, you can achieve the money shot. Move your camera back into position for the rocket shot and good luck

Again, get the rocket and edit the foreground in later

Hope this helps.

Jay[/quote]

Jay,

Thanks a lot for your time and advice in helping me get the shot I was hoping to get this evening of a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral. As luck would have it, the launch was postponed to a later date when I will be back in VA, so I won't be able to see it.

Thanks also to those of you who responded to my request. I'll be back down here next winter, and will re read these suggestions. There is also a good chance I'll be able to shoot a launch from Wallups Island, in VA, so thanks again, everyone.

Joe

GLSmith Loc: Tampa, Fl

I normally shoot launches from KSC & Wallops Island, Va (I am credentialed). Anything over 30 seconds use Bulb....30 seconds may not be long enough Depending on clarity of sky amount of light around you F/11 to F/18..From Ocala, I would probably go with F/11...(There is a difference in amount of light given off by different rocket engines. ISO catches a lot of folks off...I typically shoot 100 Good Luck...Here is an example of one I shot a while back

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I think Astra was planning a launch in the next day or two - they are the start-up that had a failed launch a few weeks ago. According to www.spacecoastlaunches.com the next regular launch at the Cape will be a Space-X Falcon-9 on the 18th with the launch window starting at 9:36 PM.

UPDATE: just checked - the ASTRA launch will be from their spaceport in Kodiak Alaska.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

I’ve left my shutter open on ‘bulb’ for as much as two minutes for a Falcon launch taken from along the Indian River approximately ~50 miles from Canaveral, f8, iso 100, remote shutter release….

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Awesome shot!

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Get an Olympus, set the correct exposure for your scene, manually set focus unless you have an Olympus that does Star focus, use Live Composite to capture the shot.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

Im just south of Ocala, yes I can see the launch from my front yard. Damn florida weather has spoiled many of my attempts to capture the arc. I set my camera at 30 seconds.
What I have been doing lately is using the 600mm and getting single shots.....