In 2nd grade (I was 8 years old) I did a huge science project on the Challenger, including writing to NASA, receiving a bundle of photos and literature from them (pre-explosion), and I even got to pick photos that were then used on the memorial. I listened intently to the lift off and cried when it blew up. Christa McAuliff was my hero.
Something I have always wanted to try was astrophotography. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of the equipment needed, or the time to get away in the middle of the night, or a dark back yard so I don't have to get away. My camera's ISO only goes up to 1600 which kind of puts a damper on a lot of things. BUT I do have the drive to at least try.
I set up my tripod in my not dark at all back yard the other night. I was determined to get SOMETHING in the way of star trails, and to learn a new software technique called "stacking" that I have seen others get really cool results with. I downloaded StarStax (free) and for one hour I took as many 6 minute shots as I could.
I followed the setting recommendations:
- ISO 1600 (highest mine will go)
- f/4.5
- Widest angle I can get with my lens, 18mm
- I also turned off Image Stabilizer, Auto Focus, High ISO Noise reduction, and the other noise reduction that is an option in my custom menu.
- Shoot in RAW format as the software only wants TIF files and won't work with JPGs.
- TRIPOD a must.
- Used BULB mode and my wireless remote.
One small note here that I discovered: turning off those noise reduction features really made a huge difference in how long it took to process the photo in-camera. What I mean by that is I have finally figured out why I had such bad camera lag when shooting long exposures with a higher ISO than 200. For the longest time this has baffled me. Its just about instant now even when shooting a 6 or 8 minute pic! Glad that mystery was solved.
Here is my first attempt:
enlarge for detail
Meh. That is a 12 photo stack. The brightest streak to the right is the planet Jupiter. The reddish one under it is Betelgeuse. I had thought I aimed at Polaris, the north star, but clearly not the case. I also didn't like how I barely had any stars at all.
My second attempt, using a method in where I take 120 shots at 30 seconds each. My camera will only let me program it to take 10 shots in a row. Bummer. So I had to keep getting up every 5 min, running outside (it was frecking cold out), and having a 10 second lag in between because to use that drive mode it simply HAD to have a 10 sec timer in between each 10 shots! BLECH! So annoying.
enlarge for detail
The first one here is with me warming the tone and adding a slightly reddish tinge, just for fun. The bottom one is the original with my camera's white balance set to Tungsten. You can see I did squeak the North Star in the top left corner, but just barely. This shot took me over an hour to do so I really didn't have time to make another one. The trees are light on top because one of my neighbors insists on leaving every light in their house on and their back porch light 24 freaking hours a day, 7 days a week.
I will be out again next time its clear and cold. There are aurora about as well, which I am dying to shoot, but I would have to drive 20 min to a very dark place to see them at about 2 in the morning, and with 3 kids and a lot of responsibility that requires me to not be a walking zombie I am having a hard time getting out there. I just need to be patient.
For some awesome inspiring aurora/star trail time shots visit my friend Brian Drourr's smugmug page. I hope to shoot with him someday.
