First star trails pic

[JonH]

Had a go at shooting star trails for the first time the other night - 16 x 5 min exposures @f5 IS0 400 on a 45mm lens and stacked in PS.

I'm quite happy with the results but won't leave such a long gap between exposures next time to get smoother trails - maybe 3 sec instead of 10...

Any tips for next time would be very welcome.

[jgs001]

Looks great Jon... I use a different setup... Camera to continuous shooting, ISO800, 30 seconds, about f/4 and lock the button on the remote shutter release. Either when, the battery has run out, the card is full or the clouds move in, stop the camera. Download and stack all the images in startrails (or starstax on the mac, although I've not had a chance to try that one yet.

[Sam]

That image has a very artistic feel to it. It's fantastic and very well put together.

[foundaplanet]

I like it. I like chimneys. Good pic.

[JonH]

Cheers guys.

John - Thanks for the camera settings info, I'll also check out Starstax. Cheers.

[saturn5]

Cracker of an image Jon,lovely colours and a realy good composition.

Chimney silhouettes make a great foreground for this type of shot.

I use one of those intervalometer thingies(about £20 in fleabay) in bulb mode so i can get longer than 30 seconds which quite often is needed to illumnate a foreground,especially if there is no moonlight.Wouldnt be without mine,just set the time,how many you want and no gap in between each shot and leave it to do its thing.This is when i usually lie back,look up and listen to Pink Floyd for a hour os so....heaven:D

[Psychobilly]

Nicely put together John...

I don't leave any gap between exposures... other than the time the camera takes between exposures

[JonH]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Next time there'll be no gaps.

Stewart - yes, I've got one of those. Brilliant things and incredibly good value compared to the Canon version. In total agreement about Pink Floyd too!

[Psychobilly]

forgot to add but your probably doing it already...

Disable in camera noise reduction (especially long exposure) and take a few darks...

Startrails can then use these in the processing... the foreground can be ceated form an average of a number of the first frames in the file list (this number can be adjusted) if you want any detail in there just take a few frames at twilight and "paint" the stars out of the sky...

Peter...

[JonH]

Thanks Peter.

Good advice re. darks. I didn't take any and now wish I did.

I do a lot of night photography (non-astro) and never use the in-camera noise reduction. To be honest, I don't know anyone who does...

[Psychobilly]

To be honest, I don't know anyone who does...

The People who don't RTFM

Forgot to say.. love the image... The silhouetted foreground works a treat

[Keiran]

Hi Jon, Nice image mate... Looking forward to seeing more

[ChrisR]

Well done again Jon, Great composition and the chimney silhouette contrasts really good with the star trails. I can see this image on the cover of a story book.

Have been away from SGL for the summer, I think this one will tempt me back.

[MaCross]

Its a keeper John! To me it looks like alien cityscape on a far away planet... Never thought that chimneys can play such tricks on one´s imagination

[JonH]

Cheers guys.

Martina, if you ever come to my village you'd see lots of aliens.