#Star edition startrail 5 how to#
#Star edition startrail 5 full#

I know there are various tricks like focusing on the moon or bright stars, or using a bright flashlight in the foreground and focusing on that, but the only thing I tried in this attempt was to focus on the moon. I also was setting up in the dark, which makes it challenging to achieve exact focus on distant and dark objects like the mountains.

#Star edition startrail 5 full#

My camera battery didn’t even have a full charge. The first night I decided to attempt another star trail shot, I wasn’t really prepared to do so.

#Star edition startrail 5 how to#

In this article, we’ll be discussing how to take star trail photos by analyzing three different attempts here in California’s Eastern Sierras, the star trail photography settings for each, what went well or not so well, and some practical tips on how you can improve your star trail photography. With the time-lapse app and a decent tripod, I would be able to take hundreds of photos over many hours and then combine the photos digitally after the fact to create my final desired image. My Sony NEX-6 camera, coupled with the time-lapse app–which costs an additional $9.99 from the app store (kinda ridiculous, considering the price of the camera itself) enables the capture of star trails. I’d never had a camera that could truly capture those types of scenes, no more than just a 30-second exposure, until recently. See this article on Photo Stacking and Long Exposures for more info.There are two typical methods to accomplish star trails:ġ) Bulb mode, whereby you leave the shutter open for as long as desired to capture movement, which worked great for film, but is often impractical with digital due to battery limitations, sky glow, or excessive image noiseĢ) You can take hundreds of shots over time and then stack the images with computer software. Most star trails images in the digital age are the result of significant post-processing. While my dream of traveling into space (come on Elon Musk!) remains unfulfilled, I still can get my space fix with a little astrophotography. My college astronomy course was definitely the coolest of the requisite couple science classes I had to take as part of my liberal arts degree. What little kid doesn’t want to grow up to be an astronaut? Just me? As a young teenager, I used to launch large model rockets.

Here’s an amateur’s guide on how to take star trail photos that will impress your friends! 🙂 And I’ve always found something captivating about those star trails photos you see… The cosmos swirling wildly above the landscape. Even as I got older, I still love to stare up at them with wonder. I’ve always been somewhat enamored by stars and space. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This article may contain affiliate links.