Stars over Pandapas Pond (And Star Trails)

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Archive 2009 · Stars over Pandapas Pond (And Star Trails)

Paul.K
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p.1 #1 · Stars over Pandapas Pond (And Star Trails)

Let me know how I'm doing! C&C or comments appreciated. (This is only my second attempt!)

This image is copyrighted by the owner

(Can you just take multiple shots like this and merge to make longer trails?--If I did it any longer, it'd overexpose.)

Nov 17, 2009 at 07:14 PM

Steve Sieren
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p.1 #2 · Stars over Pandapas Pond (And Star Trails)

Paul, Depending on which camera you have will determin your exposure and limits of noise. If you stop down you'll get a longer exposure with out overexposing but might pick up more noise.

Yes, you can take multiple exposures. You can't have a gap in them though or it will look like you are trying to send morse code (Blind man speaks with photos in the sky). You can stack them in CS and them switch the layer blend mode to screen. That will let only the bright light pass through the layers. Paul, I like doing 15 min exposures with the 5DMII. The colder the night the less noise you will get to a certain extent.

Steve

Nov 17, 2009 at 07:28 PM

Tim Hallam
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p.1 #3 · Stars over Pandapas Pond (And Star Trails)

These are sweet star trails! I've never tried super long exposures with digital but I have tone several hour exposures with film. Nice work.

Tim

Nov 17, 2009 at 07:36 PM

Paul.K
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p.1 #4 · Stars over Pandapas Pond (And Star Trails)

Steve, it's a D90. If I stop down, the trails won't be as bright though, correct? It's at f/4.5 (close to the max of the Sigma 10-20mm). The battery life of the D90 is pretty good--I am confident I can get 2 hours of exposure in with changing so as long as I quickly take the next picture in a series, I'd be fine? I take it you stack around ten 15 minute exposures?

How do I get the stars to appear brighter? Open up the aperture or boost ISO?

Tim, thanks for the compliments.

Nov 17, 2009 at 09:51 PM

parsons
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p.1 #5 · Stars over Pandapas Pond (And Star Trails)

perhaps some serious education is required!

with multiple stacks, we used to use the old `lighten` blend mode, this will show the next image in the stack. by using this method a gap will appear. even with the quickest finger on the release. this is due to the `lighten` mode not the time between frames.
Floris`s technique brings the best of both worlds and incorparates the `screen` mode in conjuction with the `lighten` mode on alternate layers. this fills in the gaps.

the education is here: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/725769/0?keyword=star,trails#6567310

simon

Nov 17, 2009 at 10:03 PM

Paul.K
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p.1 #6 · Stars over Pandapas Pond (And Star Trails)

Won't the screen mode make the blue sky even brighter too and eventually make it overexposed?

Nov 18, 2009 at 06:31 AM

parsons
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p.1 #7 · Stars over Pandapas Pond (And Star Trails)

technically yes. read the tutorial, it will explain that you need to underexpose each shot in PP and use a linear tone curve.

simon

Nov 18, 2009 at 01:06 PM

redgrom
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p.1 #8 · Stars over Pandapas Pond (And Star Trails)

Thanks for the link above!

May 03, 2010 at 03:01 PM

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