How to photograph star trails

I love shooting star trails! There is something utterly fascinating about being able to photograph the passage of time and the movement of the stars in a way that we don’t see with our own eyes.

by Anne McKinnell

Photographing star trails can be challenging but also rewarding. If you have never tried these tips, help you on your way.

To a striking picture of the stars, there are a few requirements when it comes to choosing the right place and time.

You should be far away from any city lights because every ambient light the stars will make less visible. If you live in a big city, it may mean that some distance to travel. Recently I was in Nevada, about an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, and I couldn’t believe the amount of light in the sky of the city. For the picture to have a sense of place, you need something interesting in the foreground. It has to be something that is not like a mountain or a building move. Plan your adventure star photography for a moonless night. Or at least the Moon above the horizon can not while you’re shooting. Similar to what happens with city lights, the stars are not as visible when the Moon the sky brighter.It must also be a clear night with no clouds. Star trails to Cowichan Lake, British Columbia.

The best way to go about making an image of star trails is to multiple exposures and combine them in post processing.

While it is possible to take a very long exposure, the heat coming from the sensor often cause hotspots in the final image.

I usually use a 30 second shutter speed and 60 images.

The most important thing that you will need is a tripod to stabilize your camera during the long exposures.

A cable release or intervalometer is extremely useful but not essential.

You can use the 2 second timer on your camera and manually on the shutter continuously for half an hour. It can be done. But with a cable-release you can have your camera set to continuous shooting and lock the cable release and your camera to make images until you unlock will continue.

Do you have an interval meter, you can taking a certain number of images from a certain shutter speed programming. This is the easiest but the most expensive way to go about it.

Finally, make sure you have a fully charged battery can because the cold night battery life shorter than normal.

Star trails in Guadalupe national park (Texas).

Once you’re on location and the gear is ready to go, you can set up your composition.

If possible, a night before go and search polaris, the North Star, in heaven.