Post your favorite February 2025 shot

Peter7100

Peter7100

Senior Member
I didn't really have any good shots but for the sake of posting something......

Star.jpg
 
Robin W

Robin W

Senior Member
BF Hammer said:
You clearly have not taken a multi second night exposure before. Flashy aircraft lights do that. I remember NBC's Unsolved Mysteries 40 years ago presenting that as some unknown phenomenon and never did tell the straight truth.
Click to expand...
You are right. And it is a shame because I am getting ready to go to New Mexico where people from all over the world go to take pictures of the night sky. My sister lives near El Malpais National Conservation Area. But I don't really get out there enough to spend the money on the equipment that it would take to get a good photo and I am definitely not a nighttime person.

​

 
BF Hammer

BF Hammer

Senior Member
Robin W said:
You are right. And it is a shame because I am getting ready to go to New Mexico where people from all over the world go to take pictures of the night sky. My sister lives near El Malpais National Conservation Area. But I don't really get out there enough to spend the money on the equipment that it would take to get a good photo and I am definitely not a nighttime person.

​

Click to expand...
Tripod and use the self timer is basically all that is required for night landscapes. For a start anyhow. ;)
 
Peter7100

Peter7100

Senior Member
Robin W said:
How long should the timer be set? And I am assuming a wide open aperture?
Click to expand...
It really depends on a few factors, like iso, and aperture and how dark it is. I the one in question was taken at F2.8, iso 1600 and 15 seconds. The important thing to note if taking star shots is to use the 500 rule, otherwise you will get star trails and not just aircraft light trails. There is lots online about this, but basically if you were using say a 50mm focal length then you divide 50 into 500 and the number 10 is the longest number of seconds you should expose for unless you have a sky tracker attached. I was using 16mm focal length, so in theory I could have exposed for 31 seconds.
 
Robin W

Robin W

Senior Member
Peter7100 said:
It really depends on a few factors, like iso, and aperture and how dark it is. I the one in question was taken at F2.8, iso 1600 and 15 seconds. The important thing to note if taking star shots is to use the 500 rule, otherwise you will get star trails and not just aircraft light trails. There is lots online about this, but basically if you were using say a 50mm focal length then you divide 50 into 500 and the number 10 is the longest number of seconds you should expose for unless you have a sky tracker attached. I was using 16mm focal length, so in theory I could have exposed for 31 seconds.
Click to expand...
Great! I have a 50mm, F1.8. I am assuming auto iso is not an option. So I will try your settings and see what happens. Thank you!
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
@Robin W just don't set your exposure for too long because your stars will turn into star trails (which is a great effect in itself but might not be what you desire). Since you mentioned having a 50mm lens, doing the calculation below, you'd want keep your shutter speed at 10 seconds or less.


Rule.png
 
Top