First Published November 9th 2017
Star Trails are a fun thing to photograph, and there are a number of ways to do it. Generally, around the UK you need to do whats called a stack.
This is stacking multiple long exposures to create a trail across the sky, sometimes 100’s of shots, depending on the effect you want, and where in the sky you are pointing.
You could also do a single long exposure, upwards of 15 minutes to 90 minutes or so, in really dark locations, but these are best left to locations like that.
An attempt at a single exposure of just under 20 minutes.
Exif: F4.2, 1190 Seconds, ISO100
Not my favourite shot, but an example of what you can get from a moderately light polluted location.
Not exactly the same location, but same camera and lens and direction.
Exif: F4.0, 4025 Seconds, ISO800
This was taken before the super long exposure. this was made up of 160×25 second shots stacked together. total exposure time of 1 Hour 7 Minutes or so.
There are a lot of techniques out there for processing, so i won’t really go into too much detail yet about that. That is a post all on it’s own.
Usually to create a startrail i would do the following. This is just to get a photo of the stars moving, and not about composition or foreground, but just to get the shots you need. the kit i’m using here is Wide Angle, so all around the 14mm area, so take that into consideration. If your using a more standard lens you may need to adjust accordingly.
Setting my camera to a good starting point.
lowest fstop available on the lens, usually f2.8 for me.
Shutter speed, 30 Seconds
ISO set to 800
THESE ARE JUST A STARTING POINT AND NOT THE DEFACTO SETTINGS.
From here i’d take an exposure and see what it looks like. If it’s too blown out, lower the ISO first. After that lower the shutter speed, then raise the fstop.
If it’s too dark, raise the ISO…you get the idea.
Focusing can be a challenge with Kit Lens. You can use the torch in the distance method and Autofocus onto it, then switch to Manual Focus. or just push the focus right out and pull it in bit by bit until your happy.
With more professional lens, set the focus to the infinity mark, and make some small adjustments for fine tuning.
Depending on your camera model, it is best to use an external intervelometer with a timer in it. After you know where you want your shutter speed to be, set your camera to bulb and use the intervelometer to shutter speed and exposure count. Leave as little time as possible in between exposures.
With some cameras just set the internal intervelometer as per the camera instructions.
Start shooting and leave that camera alone.
This is the point where Coffee(nice to have) and Hobnobs(a requirement of astro shooting!) are usually distributed, while the cameras do their thing.
Shooting in a more southerly direction gives you trails across the sky. You also don’t need as long in total to create this. this was shot South-Easterly.
Exif 244×20 Seconds,ISO800, f2.8 this was done with a cheap old 28mm Sigma lens on a full frame body.
This was shot North-Easterly. You can see the more of the transition between going round the north star and the trails across the sky to the South.
Exif: 151×20 seconds, ISO800, f4
Exif: 87×30 Seconds, ISO1250, f2.8
Taken almost directly North. You can tell which one is the North Star or Polaris on this photo.
Again another blog post will be done for finding these some of these stars in the sky, as they help with locating certain areas of the sky.
the options available when taking startrail shots is immense. Find a great foreground and direction and you can make very artistic shots.
Exif: 123×20 Seconds, ISO800, f2.8 Plus 1x 5 Seconds, ISO100, f5.6 and a bit of flash.
Just to put out there I now have a store for Prints and anything else. Look at the top of the page and click on Shop. If you want to email me for a custom order, or something not in the shop drop me an email.
Finally, have fun and stay safe, and enjoy shooting.
Any suggestions for future blog posts, drop me an email. I will at some point be going into more detail on future posts.
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