![]() How much light do you want in the sky), so what time do you need the moon to rise at or set by? How high in the sky do you want the north star, if you want it in the frame (this will depend on the time of year). What time do you want to start shooting (ie. How much light do you need for the foreground?). Ok, do you need the moon up so that you can get light on your foreground? If so, what phase should it be in (ie. Now how do you go about doing it? First, you'll need to determine when is the appropriate time to shoot. Suppose you have an idea for what image you would like to capture. As a result, I strive to find foregrounds that will resonate with those qualities, making for a final image that hopefully speaks to you on an emotional and/or intellectual level. ![]() For myself, star trails show three things: geometrical shapes, motion, and the revealing of an invisible force. What will make your photo special is where you chose to take it, what the foreground is, and how it relates to the circling heavens above. As a result, a startrail photo can easily become cliché, the stars and sky will not be the unique part of your image. On every clear and calm night, however, star trails will look nearly identical to any other day (sure the constellations will be in different positions, but for nearly every application this won't make a difference). And of course once that happens, it will never happen quite that way again - it is unique. For "ordinary" golden hour photography, getting the right clouds, mist, or ethereal light requires more luck and patience to get exactly what you picture in your mind. ![]() Eventually you will get a clear night at your desired location and you'll know exactly what those stars will do. The beauty of star trails and previsualization is that they are very predictable. ![]() The first step in creating a successful photograph is generally some sort of pre-visualization. This is a complex process involving more planning and technique than most photos, so sit tight and get ready to learn! Note: I use a Mac, so all my photoshop directions are for a Mac, but they're probably similar for a PC. Most of this article will concentrate on how to capture a stunning startrail photograph, though much of it is relevant to capturing that fleeting moment of twilight. In this article I will share with you how to go about capturing that magic, from the preconception through to the finished product. Now your question is, of course, how do I actually photograph this incredible beauty? It's likely you've tried, yet couldn't quite capture the color, the delicate light dancing over the land around you, the first twinkles of stars, and the subsequent circles traced out by the stars around Polaris. "Rocks Racing Stars" - The Racetrack, Death Valley National Park, CaliforniaĮxposure: ISO 400, f/5.6, 2.5 hours over 5x 30-minute increments (my first real attempt), started soon after twilight.Įnough with the poetry. If you've never sat deep in the wilderness miles from civilization and simply watched the light retreat from east to west and the stars dance in circles around you, you're missing out. Take a minute and look up, it's a wondrous sight. ![]() Soon the stars come out in full force, lighting the sky with points of light stretching away for many light years. It's one of the most peaceful and tranquil moments of the day, second only to predawn, but you're probably packing your bag to make sure you get back to the car before darkness descends. It's that time in the evening, when the sun has set, the clouds have put on their show, and the first stars are beginning to shimmer through the twilight blues. Looking for program to merge your star trail files without gaps? I wrote a free Photoshop Script to do just that! You can find it here: Free photoshop script to stack files without gaps. ![]()
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