Night Sky Photos

[fraser_paice]

I've been reading up on astrophotography and realised I'd been making some fundamental mistakes. So I've been out in the garden trying to get it right tonight. Here are my first efforts.

[D Akey]

It really helps to get away from the city lights, doesn't it. This would be a pipe dream in Los Angeles.

I would say SUCCESS!!! But then again, I don't know if you were shooting something in particular. So have you also gotten the Northern Lights up there? Did I ask that before? From this it sure looks like you ought to be able to see them too.

You have far too much fun with your camera. Must be hard to paint when your lens and locations are so awesome.

Go Van Gogh!

[hildee]

Very nice! Are these straight out of the camera? I have trouble seeing all those stars and our night sky is pretty good.

[copespeak]

Wonderful photos and spectacular stars! You're a pretty good photographer.

[fraser_paice]

Mr DAkey, is the old memory is going? http://forums.artrage.com/showthread...orthern+lights Wish I figured out the settings when I took those.

Hildee, they are enhanced in software but the long exposures needed mean that the camera picks up more light than our eyes can, so things become visible that you can't see.

Copespeak, cheers mate!

[D Akey]

Crikey -- right. Don't try to cajole me with humor. . . I'm far too jealous of your environments in which you exist.

So speaking of Northern Lights and photographing those, do you have to mess with exposure lengths much as you would for the stars?

Reason I'm asking is because I vaguely recall that the Northern Lights move about like the moon reflected in undulating water. . . or maybe not that extreme. But anyway, the effect might get lost with a long exposure because it would sort of blend it all together I should think.

[hildee]

Hildee, they are enhanced in software but the long exposures needed mean that the camera picks up more light than our eyes can, so things become visible that you can't see.

Hi fraser, that makes sense. Thanks for explaining

[fraser_paice]

Mr DAkey, to get the Northern Lights you use pretty much the same techniques as the stars. The undulations are a bit like moving water so they just blur with long exposures. Which brings me onto a watch this space!

Here's some great information and fantastic pictures. http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2013/...t-sky?page=0,1

[D Akey]

Mr DAkey, to get the Northern Lights you use pretty much the same techniques as the stars. The undulations are a bit like moving water so they just blur with long exposures. Which brings me onto a watch this space!

Here's some great information and fantastic pictures. http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2013/...t-sky?page=0,1

Wow, those look like shots from deep space. Very groovy.