Beginners Tips for Night Sky and Star Photography.
Raise your head and let yourself be carried away by the shimmering glow of the night sky.
The photos of the night sky have always fascinated me from my childhood. I was just lying on the rocks, staring at the shimmering sky and counting the falling stars.
It took a long time for me to capture the heavenly beauty in photos. Shots of Milky Way are still not very common as they cannot be taken simply by pressing the shutter button. Some effort is needed.
I would like to bring the night shots closer to enthusiasts without professional ambitions and show that this is certainly not as unattainable as it may seem.
The camera opens our view into the distance and allows us to see more than is possible with the naked human eye. I will show you step by step how you can shoot stunning pictures of the starry sky by yourself.
My favorite photo of our galaxy (the shot below) was taken in the Arches National Park. There are stars brighter than you can ever imagine. To get the same results, I have prepared the most important information for you. Let's do it!
Equipment required
It won't work without a quality digital camera. Night photography requires a more skilled machine with Manual mode. Equally important is the lens with a good aperture. Personally, I like wide glass that can capture the whole starry spectacle.
What camera gear do I use for astrophotography?
My favorite setup for astrophotography: Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM or Samyang 14mm f/2,8.
Remember to charge the batteries and possibly pack many others.
Necessity is a solid tripod that does not break any wind or uneven terrain. If you ask about my beginnings, yes, a car roof or a tree stump can also be used.
If you're serious about shooting stars, get a remote control. This will prevent camera shake after pressing the shutter button.
Remember to take a flashlight, preferably a headlamp. A courageous partner is also very important to me. Choose someone who is not afraid of the dark, will be a pleasant company or even part of the picture. During colder nights, you will be happy with thin gloves, a hot thermos of tea and something good to eat when you will be waiting for the clouds to leave.
Good preparation avoids disappointment
Clear nights are very cold, but the more brilliant photos are worth it.
There is a simple rule: the darker area and the sky (without the moon) the clearer and more colorful the photo of the Milky Way.
If you choose the Milky Way as the main object of your shot, try to compose it in the middle of the scene.
Often a pure sky shot is boring and generic. Find a place with a beautiful silhouette for the foreground, a beautiful tree, a lake (reflection) or even an interesting building.
Just like the moon, the stars move over the night sky and thus not all-star pictures are always visible.
There are very good free apps like SkyView® (iOS / Android) that project the starry sky in real-time through the camera and specify locations of the moon, sun, planets, and satellites.
So you succeed in an impressive composition even without astronomical expertise.
The stars and the Milky Way are most visible during the summer months.
The optimal location for clear stars
The fewer light sources near the camera, the better. Optimal places to photograph the starry sky are usually elevated - on a hill or mountain, on which there are no other light sources. The area near large cities is usually unfavorable, as a city with its thousand lights, can emit light over several hundred meters.
Fortunately, there are a lot of helpers.
On the following websites, you can see the map of the light pollution from any different places to quickly find a dark location: www.lightpollutionmap.info or www.darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html
In addition, there are cool apps called Sun Surveyor or PhotoPills, with which you can determine for a specific location, where the stars, moon or sun at any time. With this or other tools, the shoot can be well planned and you be able to find an optimal time.
Find more about the helpers: 6 BEST APPS FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
QUICK CAMERA SETTINGS:
manual mode M
aperture as low as possible (f/1.4 or f/2.8)
higher ISO 3200 - 6400
exposure 20-30 seconds
ISO
The value between 5000-6400 is necessary so that something good can be seen in the picture. If the ISO value is too high, a grainy picture appears, on which the stars can no longer be distinguished from the noise.
Good post-production also plays a role in star photography. Stay tuned! :)
If you have any unanswered questions, leave me a comment. Good luck and feel free to share your creations with me.