Show me a location in Brooklyn or Manhattan with clear unpolluted sky. It's my dream but cannot hire a driver going 4 hours away from the city in the middle of the night.
My wife and I enjoy doing night time photography at Badlands National Park, we’ve experimented with star trails and some light painting. We just started night photography last year and still learning, we need Gabe to produce more quality videos like this one to teach and inspire us.
Gabe, I know this video is 3 years old, so someone has probably told you this already, but when you discuss the 400 Rule (and the crop-sensor equivalent), you've got the fractions inverted. The number in the rule (400, 250, and 200) should be the numerator (the top number) and the focal length of the lens should be in the denominator (the bottom number).
I'm confused. Most of this video teaches how to take one photo with star trails. But, then in the editing section, Gabe has many multiple photos he stacks together. Why wasn't it explained/shown in the field how/why to take multiple shots? And what was the interval between them? Seems like a bit of an oversight.
Since they didn't show it and in case you were wondering, to Flatten the image stack in PS, go to Layer > Flatten Image or Layer > Merge layers, shortcut CMD or CTL + E
Thank you, Gabe. Where I live, (Anchorage, Alaska) I'm generally more concerned with the combination of landscape and the aurora. With that being the case, I generally shoot shorter exposures. But, your tips will be handy for shooting star trails, and I'll give them a try. (I've also used StarStax, which seems to do the same thing as "Lighten" blending mode in Photoshop, with good results.)
yoou didnt explain intervals inbetween the shots used here ? also u said to use 2.8, i have the same lens 14-24mm but i noticed you shot at 5.6 ? Thanks !
For star trails you should keep the interval in between shots as short as possible. I will usually set my intervalometer to 1 second, the shortest interval. Your aperture choice will dictate how many stars will appear in the sky. A fast aperture of 1.4, 2, 2.8 will let the dimmer stars appear brighter. This is good for star point photography, as we want to see every star in the Milky Way and beyond! But for star trails, too many stars can make the image seem too frantic. It all depends what mood you want the viewer to feel. My general rule of thumb is to shoot star trails under moonlight with an aperture of f/5.6. On most wide angle lenses this plays to the sweet spot of sharpness, good image quality, and a good amount of stars are "seen" in the sky that doesn't "overwhelm" the viewer. However, if you are shooting star trails when there is little to no moon, you might be forced to open up your aperture so that you can let as much light in as possible. I'd experiment to see how many star trails you like to show in a scene by doing several shots at different apertures as well as exploring the shooting under different phases of the moon, as each will challenge you to explore different night photography styles and solutions. In addition to the videos I created with B&H, you can learn more about night photography at www.nationalparksatnight.com
Good video. I was able to deduce how to do it. Would have been easier if the Gabe had stated his settings for the series that he processed in LR and PS. However, by the video to full size on my large monitor, which enabled me to read the settings on Gabe's monitor (ie, the settings at the top of the Lightroom Library screen) it was clear that he did 18 exposures of 239 sec each at ISO 1600, 14mm, f/5.6, on a Nikon D750 (full frame camera). Or at least that was the setting on the first photo in the series of 18 that he selected for his stack. The rest of the instructions was nice and clear. I am going to give this a try, thanks!
Booked a cabin in what’s called in the UK a dark forest. At a time with very little moon. Perfect for night/astrophotography. But no-one told the clouds that. C’est la vie, will have to return.
At 13.10 where you blend the 18 shots, you say "shift, click". However, when I try this step I only get one of the layers to blend not all 18. I'm using CC Photoshop 23.3 which has a different drop down menu.
I’m new to this. I think I heard you say you use 14-24mm lens. For my understanding I can do the star trail with the lens I have. I have 70-300mm f4.5-6.3 and 18-140mm 1:3.5-5.6.
Although the presenter is using a 14-24mm which has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 to allow for great low light performance, you can still using something like an 18-140mm lens being that wide angle lenses are preferred for these types of shots.
Thank you sir. I am curious...what rule for exposure time can be used with a 50mm f4 distagon on a Hasselblad 500 CM with ISO 800 film? I can correct for recripocity failure myself. I thank for this wonderful video and any help you might give.
Hi I have a Nikon D7200 . Combine with the Rokinon 14mm and if I go ISO 3200 on a 13 secondes exposure , I get a picture that is over expose . How come you get a clean balance lighting ?! Is it because my crop sensor camera?
Try bumping your iso down. I generally shoot at 1600 on my a7ii. And even at 28mm, i shoot around 15-17 sec without noticeable star trail, unless you zoom in.
Also, is there a lot of light pollution or a moon present? That will change things drastically. If light pollution is the issue, you can find good light pollution filters for a decent price, which will filter out a lot of the frequencies produced by artifical light. If it's caused by moonlight, then you'll want to shoot before or after moonrise and moonset, or wait for a new moon
Unfortunately I have to give this video a thumbs down. What should have been said from the very beginning is whether or not the star trails photography is going to be one long exposure of a shot or if there is going to be photo stacking done in post processing. I quit watching halfway through because I was not sure of the direction of this video. From there, equipment can be discussed (i. e. Intervalometer, etc.) camera set up, and then post processing
Have you experimented with photographing star trails?
Show me a location in Brooklyn or Manhattan with clear unpolluted sky. It's my dream but cannot hire a driver going 4 hours away from the city in the middle of the night.
My wife and I enjoy doing night time photography at Badlands National Park, we’ve experimented with star trails and some light painting. We just started night photography last year and still learning, we need Gabe to produce more quality videos like this one to teach and inspire us.
Thanks for watching.
@@raymondlarsen2777 - Thank you - I'm on it plus we have lots of night photography videos on the National Parks at Night Channel as well!
@@Mr.HarryPotter - Indeed, too bring in NYC but plenty of camping outside of NY via the train or bus! Need to go to where the stars can be seen!
Gabe, I know this video is 3 years old, so someone has probably told you this already, but when you discuss the 400 Rule (and the crop-sensor equivalent), you've got the fractions inverted. The number in the rule (400, 250, and 200) should be the numerator (the top number) and the focal length of the lens should be in the denominator (the bottom number).
I'm confused. Most of this video teaches how to take one photo with star trails. But, then in the editing section, Gabe has many multiple photos he stacks together. Why wasn't it explained/shown in the field how/why to take multiple shots? And what was the interval between them? Seems like a bit of an oversight.
Since they didn't show it and in case you were wondering, to Flatten the image stack in PS, go to Layer > Flatten Image or Layer > Merge layers, shortcut CMD or CTL + E
Thank you for the clear description. Having watched this I have managed to process my very first star trail with great success
Thank you, Gabe. Where I live, (Anchorage, Alaska) I'm generally more concerned with the combination of landscape and the aurora. With that being the case, I generally shoot shorter exposures. But, your tips will be handy for shooting star trails, and I'll give them a try. (I've also used StarStax, which seems to do the same thing as "Lighten" blending mode in Photoshop, with good results.)
Thank you for your comment.
Indeed, shorter star point shots can be "stacked" for longer trails in PS or StarStax as well! Have fun with the auroras!
I wish we could see stars in the city, it's often too hard to leave Seoul to photograph them
yoou didnt explain intervals inbetween the shots used here ? also u said to use 2.8, i have the same lens 14-24mm but i noticed you shot at 5.6 ? Thanks !
For star trails you should keep the interval in between shots as short as possible. I will usually set my intervalometer to 1 second, the shortest interval. Your aperture choice will dictate how many stars will appear in the sky. A fast aperture of 1.4, 2, 2.8 will let the dimmer stars appear brighter. This is good for star point photography, as we want to see every star in the Milky Way and beyond! But for star trails, too many stars can make the image seem too frantic.
It all depends what mood you want the viewer to feel. My general rule of thumb is to shoot star trails under moonlight with an aperture of f/5.6. On most wide angle lenses this plays to the sweet spot of sharpness, good image quality, and a good amount of stars are "seen" in the sky that doesn't "overwhelm" the viewer.
However, if you are shooting star trails when there is little to no moon, you might be forced to open up your aperture so that you can let as much light in as possible.
I'd experiment to see how many star trails you like to show in a scene by doing several shots at different apertures as well as exploring the shooting under different phases of the moon, as each will challenge you to explore different night photography styles and solutions. In addition to the videos I created with B&H, you can learn more about night photography at www.nationalparksatnight.com
great video, think i'm going to need something bigger than a macbook air for either photoshop or lightroom, unless anyone thinks differently.
You took 18 photos to merge them in a lighten blending mode. How do you determine how many photos to take for star trails?
Good video. I was able to deduce how to do it. Would have been easier if the Gabe had stated his settings for the series that he processed in LR and PS. However, by the video to full size on my large monitor, which enabled me to read the settings on Gabe's monitor (ie, the settings at the top of the Lightroom Library screen) it was clear that he did 18 exposures of 239 sec each at ISO 1600, 14mm, f/5.6, on a Nikon D750 (full frame camera). Or at least that was the setting on the first photo in the series of 18 that he selected for his stack. The rest of the instructions was nice and clear. I am going to give this a try, thanks!
Actually I was about to ask the same, thanks for clarifying this
Surprised that he did 5.6 and not 2.8 is it increase the shutter to 239 seconds?
Booked a cabin in what’s called in the UK a dark forest. At a time with very little moon. Perfect for night/astrophotography. But no-one told the clouds that. C’est la vie, will have to return.
That's rough, hope you made the best of it anyway.
At 13.10 where you blend the 18 shots, you say "shift, click". However, when I try this step I only get one of the layers to blend not all 18. I'm using CC Photoshop 23.3 which has a different drop down menu.
I’m new to this. I think I heard you say you use 14-24mm lens. For my understanding I can do the star trail with the lens I have. I have 70-300mm f4.5-6.3 and 18-140mm 1:3.5-5.6.
Although the presenter is using a 14-24mm which has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 to allow for great low light performance, you can still using something like an 18-140mm lens being that wide angle lenses are preferred for these types of shots.
5:40 = WOW WOW WOW and WOW !! Congratulations!!!
Thank you sir. I am curious...what rule for exposure time can be used with a 50mm f4 distagon on a Hasselblad 500 CM with ISO 800 film? I can correct for recripocity failure myself. I thank for this wonderful video and any help you might give.
For this inquiry, please e-mail us directly to askbh@bhphoto.com. Thank you.
Another great video, thank you!
Thanks for tuning in.
Hola Gabe, Amazing video about Night Photography. I've learnt a lot (as well with the previous one - I was worried about the snow and the Sony)!!
Thank you Marcelo! Sony stood up like a champ in the snow!
Where did you get that pouch for your shutter remote?
Great stuff!! love this! thank you!
i like to live on that astrotracer mode on pentax.
got lost, I have pc and so what is shift click?
Hi I have a Nikon D7200 . Combine with the Rokinon 14mm and if I go ISO 3200 on a 13 secondes exposure , I get a picture that is over expose . How come you get a clean balance lighting ?! Is it because my crop sensor camera?
Possibly. Please-mail us: askbh@bandh.com >Mark
Try bumping your iso down. I generally shoot at 1600 on my a7ii. And even at 28mm, i shoot around 15-17 sec without noticeable star trail, unless you zoom in.
Also, is there a lot of light pollution or a moon present? That will change things drastically. If light pollution is the issue, you can find good light pollution filters for a decent price, which will filter out a lot of the frequencies produced by artifical light. If it's caused by moonlight, then you'll want to shoot before or after moonrise and moonset, or wait for a new moon
Question: the shot at 3 min at iso 2000, is that one shot or multiples?
It is a single shot. >Mark
What were your settings for the intervelometor ie how seconds between shots?
Which photo are you referring to?
Always 1 second max between shots
Live View of the moon, especially the full moon, doesn't work with some cameras. The Nikon D7200, for example, will show a bright blob.
that shot at 8:28 ... 30 seconds at ISO 100? surely that's at least 30 *minutes* or even longer, with those trails...
ah i see...30 seconds for the individual shots, but then it was stacked...gotcha
Hi Gabe, sorry about this but for some reason i've now got 3 non delivery emails..!! I have no clue why..
If you need to reach out to Gabe you can email socialmedia@bhphoto.com and we can forward the message to him.
@@BandH Thanks, i'll do that. I asked a question and he was good enough to reply but his emails are not getting delivered.
Unfortunately I have to give this video a thumbs down. What should have been said from the very beginning is whether or not the star trails photography is going to be one long exposure of a shot or if there is going to be photo stacking done in post processing. I quit watching halfway through because I was not sure of the direction of this video. From there, equipment can be discussed (i. e. Intervalometer, etc.) camera set up, and then post processing
i'm trying to watch but the patronizing tone is killing me. i guess this series is aimed at 6 year olds?