How to : Shoot stars & night time scenes.

Shooting Star. 

I'd thought I would write down some tips that have helped me shoot night shots of stars,

& hope that if someone comes across this this it might help them!! 

Things you need:

1. Tripod

2. Camera & lens 

3. Shutter release 

4. Head lamp 

5. WARM GEAR

6. Gloves

7. Chair

8. AWESOME LOCATION

Okay now that we have everything let's get away from the city and go where it's nice an dark on a good clear night. My favorite areas have some sort mountain view or something that makes the photo. If you just wanna shoot the sky that's fine but adding an object in frame really adds a dramatic look.  

Canon 60D 18-55mm F3.5 4" ISO 1600

So let's set up!!!

 This may take awhile before you find the right spot but in the mean time lets go over shooting that way your test shot is in foucs.  

I will be shooting with a 

Canon 60D with 18-55mm 3.6-5.6. 

I have found out that that with my lens and camera shooting in manual hasn't givens me the best results in the times I've tried to shoot stars. So I recently began shooting in BULB mode and 

I really started to see photos I'd loved! So for those of you interested in shooting in bulb mode you have came to the right spot!

   ** See description below for bulb setting**

So once your get your tripod & camera in place turn your camera on and set it to BULB 

Now set your ISO to anywhere from 100-1600. Depending on what you are trying on achieve your aperture should be anywhere between F3.6-F5.6  

NOTE THISE SETTINGS ALSO DEPEND ON YOUR LENS!!

Since we are in bulb mode shutter speed is limitless! This is where your shutter release will come in handy and it will also avoid the slight movements from taking photos with the button. You choose how long you want your shutter to stay open, could be 30", 5",10" or longer it's all up to you.  Make sure ton turn your lens into manual mode and turn the stabilizer off. Since our camera can not auto focus for us we need to get the lens in focus, Using the infinity focus on your camera. This is located on your lens on the front of your lens you will be able to move it freely and focus the camera manually.

Use your headlamp to light an area to where you can see, makes it a lot easier if you have something bright to focus on. My last trip out Jupiter was shining bright here in Alaska &was a huge help! I recommend the app SKY WALK!


Now that we have all the info to take some awesome photos lets do some test shoots!

See how the photo isn't quite in focus? Now we know we have to adjust a little.

The more & more you mess with camera an get out an do stuff the better and quicker in my opinion you start to learn stuff an really get the hang of it. 

*DESRICPITONS OF BLODED TERMS*

In order of appearance! 

Canon 60D 18-55mm F3.5 4" ISO 1600 - The camera an lens I used to shoot the photos seen above 

BULB/BULB MODE-  is a shutter speed setting on an adjustable camera that allows for long exposures under direct control of the photographer. With this setting the shutter simply stays open as long as the shutter release button remains depressed. The bulb setting is useful for the following types of photographic subjects 

•fireworks

•the night sky 

•celestial objects 

•lighting

• streets at night- light Streaks from moving cars. 

 Aperture-  the aperture stop of a photographic lens can be adjusted to control the amount of light reaching the film or image sensor. In combination with variation of shutter speed, the aperture size will regulate the film or image sensors degree of exposure to light. A fast shutter will require a larger aperture to ensure sufficient light exposure & a slow shutter speed will require a smaller aperture to avoid excessive exposure. 

Shutter Speed - Is the length of time the cameras shutter is open when talong a photograph. 

Manual Mode-  Gives the photographer control of the various parameters of an exposure. There are three exposure parameters- aperture, shutter speed & sensitivity "ISO".  

Stabilizer- used to reduse blurring associated with the motion of a camera during exposure. 

Infinity Focus-  is the state where a lens or other optical system forms an image of an object an infinite distances away. This corresponds to the point of focus for parallel rays. The image is formed at the focal point of the lens 

Sky Walk -  an APP for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch.  Requires ISO 4.3 or later.