Starting widefield AP

[Vargojones]

I've been playing around with some night shots, unfortunately all i have to play with in a very urban setting in north Swindon. To say the light pollution is bad is some what of an understatement and this is the best of a considerably bad bunch. Would love to get into proper astrophotography at some point.

space by Nuclearsquash, on Flickr

I do think i might have just about managed to catch a very faint hint of Andromeda though maybe

Anyway hints tips comments etc very welcome.

[JamesF]

I think you have too. What lens and camera were you using?

James

[Vargojones]

It was a Nikon D3100 using the kit 18-55mm lens at (I think) 18mm for roughly 20 seconds shooting in RAW. I haven't checked the exif data for the exact details, i was using a remote release and just counting in my head .

I'm glad my suspicions about Andromeda seem to be right

[JamesF]

For my Canon 18-55mm and 50mm I've bought a couple of step-down rings to 48mm so I can screw a standard 2" LP filter onto the lens. I don't often have problems with LP, but near the horizon to the south there's enough that it bleeds into longer exposures quite unpleasantly. Could be worth a try?

James