Dave Morrow Photography: March 2012

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Star Photography Workshop & Post Processing Class at Mount Rainier National Park ( 2 Nights / 3 Days )

Join me on a 2 night / 3 day star photography workshop and tour, taking you to some of the darkest & most photogenic destinations that Mount Rainier National Park has to offer. But wait, there's more, on the last day we will spend an afternoon in a classroom where I'll teach you everything you'll need to know about post processing / editing your star photos.

Visiting new locations for each shoot you will leave the workshop with an array of different photos and an in depth knowledge of star, Milky Way and night sky photography. Complete details on what you will learn provided below.
Free Bonus Material - 150$ Value
As an added bonus for attending any of my workshops you will receive a free copy of my Star Photography Post Processing Video TutorialsUnder the Stars Lightroom 4 & 5 Presets, Star Photography Photoshop Actions + Bonus Video Tutorial & my new eBook, Photograph the Night Sky. Upon registering  for the workshop you will receive the products right away, no need to wait until your workshop!

We will be shooting from each of the next 3 locations + many more. Click on any of the photos to see them full size in the gallery. Complete workshop details below the photos. 
We will shoot from this location the first night of the workshop, then hike around to other interesting destinations in the area
Click on any of these 3 photos and head over to the Workshop Gallery to see even more workshop destinations.
Mount Rainier National Park provides some of the best night sky landscapes in the Pacific Northwest.


Overview

Mount Rainier is one of my favorite places to capture the night sky and other various beautiful landscapes. Throughout workshop I will be providing expert instruction, teaching you all aspects of night sky photography including planning, shooting and editing / post processing. You will also learn all the tips and tricks I use for landscape photography during our sunset shoots.

We will spend two nights ( Friday & Saturday ) exploring the park and photographing the night sky. On Sunday afternoon we will move to a classroom setting where I'll teach you how to post process / edit your star photos

Please reference the "What Will I Learn?" Section below for complete details on the skill sets and specific instruction you will receive during the workshop. Answers to all other questions you may have as well as sign up and payment options are provided below that.
Workshop Dates:  Friday, September 11th - Sunday, September 13th, 2015
Workshop Cost: 825$ Total / 325$ down payment to reserve your spot.  


If you're interested in seeing all of my star photos or want to learn a little bit more about myself, the Full Star Photography Portfolio & About Me Page should be helpful. I also provide other workshop options & destinations. Head over to my Star Photography Workshops Page for complete details.

Please email me at Workshops@DaveMorrowPhotography.com if you have any questions that are not covered in the following paragraphs starting right below the next photo. 
Finishing up another star photography workshop filled with clear skies and lots of Milky Way pictures. The group and I snapped off this shot just before sunrise near Mount Rainier in Washington State.
Finishing up another great star photography workshop with a sunrise shoot @ Mount Rainier National Park

What Will I Learn?

During the workshop you will receive in depth instruction on all aspects of night, star, and landscape photography including planning, shooting, and post processing / editing. You can find out more about each of these skill sets in the paragraphs below.

Learn to Photograph the Night Sky
There is so much to learn about star photography, but with 2 nights of in depth instruction you will leave the workshop with great photos and an in depth knowledge of night, star, and Milky Way photography. Here are some of the skill sets we will cover during the workshop.
  • Focusing at night. You will learn 5 of my favorite methods for obtaining sharp focus at night. These are guaranteed to work!
  • In depth knowledge of "The BIG 3", ISO, Aperture and Exposure and how they pertain to the broad array of night shots you may want to capture.
  • The 500 Rule: Selecting the optimal exposure time for different star photography scenarios.
  • Troubleshooting 101: How to set up for the perfect night shot in any conditions. This includes focusing at night, multiple exposure images, etc.
  • Using your creativity and external light sources to bring the night to life, while still capturing a natural looking and well lit photo.
  • How to capture great shots of the Milky Way and the other worlds that surround us.
  • How to capture great photos at dusk and dawn.
  • How to photograph star trails while decreasing noise or light pollution in your shots and a basic verbal overview of using Photoshop Blend Modes to combine these shots.
  • The ability to capture a sharp foreground as well as the Milky Way or stars in the background.
  • Using multiple exposures, settings, and advanced tools to improve the level of your star photography.
  • Depth of Field Blending to achieve ultimate sharpness throughout the entire picture. Techniques provided for night/star and landscape ( sunrise / sunset ) photography. We will cover how to effectively capture the full depth of field using multiple exposures and then combine them during our classroom post processing sessions. 
  • Effectively capturing all necessary RAW picture data in the field, to minimize post processing at home and come away with over all better photos. This part of the workshop ensures that you did not blow out highlights, lose dark areas, or degrade any of the color or other picture data while out shooting. It's nice to leave each shoot knowing you got the shots you wanted, without any doubts. We will cover all these bases for landscape ( sunset / sunrise ) and night/star photography.
  • Open floor session. Each one of you provide something you would like to learn and we will all go through the process step by step.
  • The sunset shooting session will also include my "In the Field" landscape photography workflow providing all the tricks and techniques I use to capture all of my non-night related photos.
What ever else you may want to learn, these workshops are anything goes... so ask away:)

More details on what you'll learn below the next photo.
Twilight / Blue Hour @ Mount Rainier National Park - We will photograph this location during sunset & under the stars.

Learn to Post Process / Edit Your Night Sky Photos
The post processing session will be held in a class room style setting where each student has an area to set up their computer and work on their photos.

I will be displaying my screen on a large projector / computer screen which will allow us to work through my entire post processing workflow from start to finish. Students will be able to follow along on their own computers and ask questions any time they like.

There will also be additional time for one on one instruction allowing each student to work on some of their own photos, using the newly learned skills. More details below the next photo.
A Before / After Photo showing some of the post processing / editing skills that you will learn at the workshop.

If you're interested in seeing the types of photos you will learn to edit, then check out my Star Photography Photo Gallery.

Here are some of the skill sets taught during our post processing / editing sessions.
  • Complete explanation / theory of luminosity masking techniques and how they apply to night sky and landscape photography. I've designed my own post processing workflow using these techniques and will be teaching it to each student.
  • RAW image processing using Adobe Lightroom and / or Adobe Camera RAW. I personally use Lightroom but am well versed in teaching both programs. 
  • In depth explanation of Photoshop layer masking and how to apply it to your photos.  
  • Color correction for night sky photography.
  • Color theory and color selection. How to selectively choose colors for your night sky photos that portray mood and feeling. 
  • Advanced noise reduction techniques for night sky photography
  • Applying selective noise reduction using luminosity masks. 
  • Exposure and depth of field stacking / blending. We will be working on these techniques in the field, and then post processing the shots in Photoshop.
  • Contrasting the Milky Way and making it pop!
  • Explanation and use of the Photoshop Channels Module.
  • Explanation and use of the Photoshop Layers Module
  • Using Photoshop curves and levels for night photography.
  • Using Groups in Photoshop.
  • Making detailed selections in Photoshop. 
  • Artistic cropping, warping, and free transform use in Photoshop.
  • Final photo presentation techniques
  • Web and Print Sharpening techniques. 
  • Plus much much more!

Learn to Plan & Scout for Your Photo Trips
As one of the most important and most neglected aspects of photography, we will be looking in depth at the best tools and techniques to use for all aspects of planning/scouting your photo trips.

From weather, and great shooting locations to planetary motion; this workshop will cover all the bases, allowing you to fully plan your next shoot in an efficient manner.

I do an extensive amount of planning for each and every photography trip. This is key to setting yourself up for nice photos. Extensive planning went into this photo workshop / tour to ensure the best results at the best times. You will learn these tips and tricks allowing you to extensively plan for your own large trips or one night shoots.

Here are some of the topics we will cover during this part of the workshop. 
  • Planning your photography trips / shoots using free computer programs such as Stellarium, The Photographer's Ephemeris and a handful of other really useful night photography websites and apps. 
  • Weather - How to best predict ( making educated guesses ) the weather for a given location, and how to scout for clear dark skies. 
  • Effectively reading cloud cover charts to predict clear skies.
  • Analyzing high and low pressure systems to predict nice sunrises/sunsets, or clear skies. 
  • Preparing for photography trips / finding dark skies prior to visiting locations.
  • Planetary Motion & Planning - How to prepare for a night under the stars.  Knowing where the Milky Way will rise, the Moon will set, and where certain stars or celestial bodies are located in the night sky. This is key for planning a shoot around a certain event.
  • Reading topographic maps to plan your shoots. 
  • Maps - Digitally prepare a map containing all of the information you need for one of your big photo trips.
  • Precise Planning for Celestial Events - Want to know exactly where and when the Milky Way will rise, or the Moon will set? Want to see Venus set over the ocean from a certain location and be there to photograph it? Using my tips and tricks you can plan for any of these events, or others that you may want to photograph.  

More Details & registration below the next photo.
My last group of star photography workshop students for the summer. We had a nice sunrise at Tipsoo Lake to finish the thing off:)
Out Shooting with a Group of Workshop Students - Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

What Should I Bring with Me?

Please note you can take the workshop without all of the following requirements, but I can not promise you will achieve the great results you would otherwise.

A DSLR Camera, any will do, but keep in mind star photography is one of the few fields where a better camera really does help to produce better results. A full frame / 35mm sensor will really help you to capture the best of the stars, but is not required. Renting a camera and lenses is always a great option. There are a bunch of websites that provide this service. Here are a few: Some great & affordable options for full frame rentals are the Nikon D700 or the Cannon 5DMKII.
www.lensrentals.com
www.borrowlenses.com
For those of you from the Seattle Area, Glazer's Camera has one of the best and more affordable rental programs around.

Camera Equipment
Provided below is the gear that I recommend you to bring. If you need some star photography camera lens and gear recommendations I have provided you with some great options that I have tested. You can find these in my Free Star Photography Tutorial, about half way down the page.  
  • A wide angle lens is very important. Any lens between 8mm-24mm will work depending on your camera. You will also need an aperture of at least f/3.5 minimum speed, although f/2.8 is preferred.  These can also be rented at the links provided above. To see what I carry, check out the What's in My Camera Bag Page on this website.
  • It's also preferred to have a  zoom lens for photographing landscapes at sunset. A 70-200mm range is always great to have.
  • A tripod. Any will work but the sturdier the better.
  • A big memory card. Two 16-32 GB cards are preferable.
  • Batteries, batteries, batteries, I carry at least 3. Long exposures drain the battery quickly. I also carry a car cigarette lighter plug inverter in my car. It is not necessary, but nothing's wrong with more battery juice for an early morning shoot or a quick power up on the way to a new location. You can find them at Walmart or online for 20-30$. Here is an example.
  • Camera Timer - Even a cheap knock off works, check reviews online before buying these brands to avoid a let down.
  • Camera / Lens Rags -I carry a lot of these at all times. Shooting at night, it will be necessary to clean your lens off.
  • Circular Polarizing Filter for sunsets and the rainforest ( Optional )
  • Neutral Density Filters for sunsets ( Optional ) 
  • Laptop Computer running Photoshop & Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Camera RAW (Optional). You can take the workshop without this, but you won't be able to edit photos in our post processing sessions. 
  •  
Clothes, Gear and Other Items
I've provided a small list of items that you should have or stock up on prior to arriving on the first day of the workshop. Many of the locations which we will travel to are very remote and do not have stores of any kind. Upon signing up you will receive a complete list of everything you will need for the workshop.  
  • Clothes for temperatures between 35 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, this is a huge range of temperatures, but that's just how it is on the mountain. Using layers will prevent you from bringing so many clothes. Click here for Layering Basics
  • Shorts and Pants for the weekend. The weather is very nice, sunny and warm during the month of September, but the temperature is likely to drop at night. 
  • Long sleeve and short sleeve shirts for the week
  • Flashlight and / or headlamp
  • Hiking socks
  • A wind breaker / light jacket - Waterproof is great if you have it
  • Waterproof / resistant hiking boots.
  • Warm Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Food & Water for the 2 nights of the workshop. You can leave the park and get food, but it's approximately a 2 hour round trip.
  • Sunglasses

Registration and Payment Options

Thanks for your interest in this workshop. I encourage you to read through the entire workshop page learning about all aspects prior to signing up. There is some additional information below the payment options.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me at Workshops@DaveMorrowPhotography.com   Upon initial email contact I would be happy to talk with you over the phone as well. 

Payment Instructions

Secure payment is carried out through PayPal, but you can also pay with credit or debit card. Follow the step by step instructions below to pay using either method. I only accept full payments for my one night workshops.
  1. Click on the workshop payment option you would like to select below.
  2. A sales page will open showing the date you selected. On the bottom right side of this page, select Submit Order.
  3. Your cart will be prepared for you on a new page.
  4. If you are paying with PayPal you are now at the PayPal log in page. Go ahead and log in to pay.
  5. If you are paying via credit or debit card select the Pay with a debit or credit card option below the PayPal log in area.

Workshop Dates & Cost

Below you can pay in full or provide a down payment to reserve your spot. Full payment must be made within 60 days of the workshops start date. You will receive an email with instructions for final payment upon signing up.

Each workshop is limited to 8-10 students to ensure you get the maximum amount of personalized instruction.When the workshop is sold out, you will no longer be able to select the payment options below.

Workshop Dates: Friday, September 11th - Sunday, September 13th

SOLD OUT



Additional Information

All workshops are registered and held in compliance with the US Department of Interior / US National Park Service. Dave Morrow is certified in CPR and AED Training and holds general liability insurance.

Physical Requirements

This workshop will require you to hike a maximum of 2 miles total each day over fairly flat terrain.  We arrive at all locations with plenty of time, so there will be no need to rush. I have had nearly all fitness levels attend my workshops and they have done just fine:)

Refund Policy

If you are not able to make the workshop for any reason you may cancel up to 60 days in advance and receive a refund of 400$ from the total cost. The down payment of 325$ is non-refundable after payment. Within 60 days of the workshops no refunds can be given. If you can find someone to directly fill your spot this is acceptable as well. The monetary transfer shall be between the two parties and not involve Dave Morrow Photography. Please let me know if you decide to take this route for paperwork reasons.

Can I Bring a Friend?

Of course, if your friend is to carry a camera they must pay for the workshop, if they do not have a camera it is free of charge. We are shooting in a National Park after all, I do not own the land, nor care if we have some people that want to star gaze with us:)

Lodging Arrangements 

The workshop wraps up around 2-3AM each night.  There are a few options for lodging as well as camping.

There are hotel accommodations in Enumclaw, Packwood & Ashford, Washington. I always sleep in my car or a tent while at Mount Rainier, I have not stayed at hotels in the surrounding area, and therefore do not provide recommendations on the topic.  You may also find options close to or within the park using Air Bed and Breakfast. This is what I always do when traveling out of the city or country and find it to work great.

Another great option is camping which can be done at the many locations around the Park. If you are to camp I would suggest camping at White River Camp Ground, ( close to where will will do much of our shooting ) but there are also many other options on the Mount Rainier National Park Camping Page. Camp sites do fill up fast, so book well in advance. Please also keep in mind that during this time of year it is possible for there to be light snow at times at higher elevations. White River Camp Ground is at high elevation.


Here are a few more of my favorite star shots:
from www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops
This was taken at one of the locations we will shoot from during the workshop this summer
Galaxy Number 9 - Lake Tahoe, NVread more about my trip to Lake Tahoe at www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops from www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comSo I figured it was time to give the D800 a run at high ISO and long exposure at the same time. This shot was taken as ISO640 with an exposure time of 628 seconds. I usually don't turn on Long Exposure NR, but for this it's a must. Still a lot of noise in the RAW file, but not enough to destroy the picture. Hope you like it:) from www.DaveMorrowPhotography.com read more at www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comfrom www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops from www.DaveMorrowPhotography.com When We Were Stars - Palouse, WAfrom www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops Come Join Us - Second Beach, WAfrom www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops Star Dance - Rowena Crest, ORread more at www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops The Dream Catcher - Palouse, WAfrom www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops The Night Watch- Ruby Beach, WAfrom www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops A Passing Glimpse - Mount St. Helens, Washingtonread more at www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops When Worlds CollideCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Registration & Payment || 2 Night Workshop @ Mount Rainier National Park

Thanks for your interest in this workshop. I encourage you to read through the entire workshop page learning about all aspects prior to signing up. There is some additional information below the payment options included on this page. 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me at Workshops@DaveMorrowPhotography.com   Upon initial email contact I would be happy to talk with you over the phone as well. 

Payment Instructions

Secure payment is carried out through PayPal, but you can also pay with credit or debit card. Follow the step by step instructions below to pay using either method. I only accept full payments for my one night workshops.
  1. Click on the workshop payment option you would like to select below.
  2. A sales page will open showing the date you selected. On the bottom right side of this page, select Submit Order.
  3. Your cart will be prepared for you on a new page.
  4. If you are paying with PayPal you are now at the PayPal log in page. Go ahead and log in to pay.
  5. If you are paying via credit or debit card select the Pay with a debit or credit card option below the PayPal log in area.

Workshop Dates & Cost

Below you can pay in full or provide a down payment to reserve your spot. Full payment must be made within 60 days of the workshops start date. You will receive an email with instructions for final payment upon signing up.

Each workshop is limited to 8-10 students to ensure you get the maximum amount of personalized instruction.When the workshop is sold out, you will no longer be able to select the payment options below.

Workshop Dates: Friday, September 11th - Sunday, September 13th

SOLD OUT


Refund Policy

If you are not able to make the workshop for any reason you may cancel up to 60 days in advance and receive a refund of 400$ from the total cost. The down payment of 325$ is non-refundable after payment. Within 60 days of the workshops no refunds can be given. If you can find someone to directly fill your spot this is acceptable as well. The monetary transfer shall be between the two parties and not involve Dave Morrow Photography. Please let me know if you decide to take this route for paperwork reasons.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Dave's Free Star Trails Photography Tutorial

You are currently on Page 2 of my Free Star Photography Tutorial which contains the Star Trails Photography Tutorial, Free Star Trails Post Processing Video Tutorial & the Star Photography Resources and Tools Section. If you're interested in the Milky Way Photography Tutorial contained on Page 1, CLICK HERE and head back over at any time! There is also a free 40 page star photography eBook over there as well:)

I've also just released a Free Scouting and Planning for Night Photography Video Series which you may enjoy! These skills are crucial for getting great shots of the night sky.


Star Trails Photography Tutorial

When it comes to taking star trail pictures you don't need the near "perfect" conditions that are required for Milky Way shots as described above. You do on the other hand need a few tips & tricks, as well as a good understanding of the 500 Rule which is described in the Milky Way Photography Tutorial at the beginning of this tutorial. If you're not already well versed in that skill set I would suggest starting back on Page 1 and work your back over here, you will be glad you did:)
from www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comSo I figured it was time to give the D800 a run at high ISO and long exposure at the same time. This shot was taken as ISO640 with an exposure time of 628 seconds. I usually don't turn on Long Exposure NR, but for this it's a must. Still a lot of noise in the RAW file, but not enough to destroy the picture. Hope you like it:)
Of Time & Space - McWay Falls, California || Nikon D800 @ 18mm, ISO640, f/2.8, 628 Seconds

Please note, some of the sections below have redundancies that are provided in the Milky Way Photography Tutorial, I have included them twice since they are needed for both types of photography to keep everything very clear and concise!

What You Need

  • Any night with a clear sky will work. I actually prefer nights when the moon is out for star trails as you can capture bright stars without increasing your ISO above 1000, thus reducing noise. Check the Apps I list below for moon phase!
  • Tripod, the sturdier & taller the better. I have a 72” tripod by Really Right Stuff which is great for shooting stars due to the fact that I can look up at my camera while shooting.
  • A Camera with Manual Mode functionality. ( If you're interested in all the equipment I use head on over to the What's in My Camera Bag section of the website. )
  • A remote, timer or intervalometer. especially if you do not have a 35mm sensor. This is key for taking exposures longer than 30 seconds or multiple shots over an extended period of time as we will be doing below. This is a must for star trail photography!
  • PhotoPills - You really don't have to have this app. But it will help you calculate how long you need to shoot for to capture a certain amount ( rotation ) of star trails. It's also great for letting you know the moon phase as denoted above. For a full list of apps reference the Milky Way Photography Tutorial at the top of this page. 
  • Star Trail photography is much more forgiving than Milky Way photography, but it still helps to have a "fast" lens that allows the most light to hit your camera's sensor in the least amount of time without increasing your ISO and inducing noise. I would recommend an aperture no slower than f/4 for this style of night photography. I usually shoot my star trails between f/1.4 - f/2.8.
  • Fully Charged battery!!!! You will be shooting over a time ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours. So change that bad boy up! You can afford to switch batteries during your star trail shoot if you are very fast. I always carry at least two batteries.

The 500 Rule for Star Trail Photography

See my Milky Way Photography Tutorial for the Free 500 Rule Chart. You also need to thoroughly understand and read the 500 Rule concepts provided in that tutorial. Upon doing so you can apply the inverse thought process to capture nice star trails in your shots. You can even print out the chart and keep it in your camera bag!

Camera Equipment

Provided below are the camera settings and equipment that I shoot with to capture star trails, this doesn't mean there is a correct or incorrect way to shoot, these just work best for me. Different cameras work better/worse in different situations, so experimentation is key. In the middle of my Free Milky Way Photography Tutorial I have also provided some other great night photography camera and lens options for both Canon and Nikon users of any skill level.

Keep in mind for star trails you don't need to have a wide angle lens, nearly any lens will work. I have used each one of my lenses for star trails and they all work well, but produce slightly different crops and results. That being said in lieu of listing all my gear, feel free to head over to the What's in My Camera Bag section of this website to see what I shoot with, or scroll up to the Milky Way Photography for more equipment recommendations.


Camera Settings

My preferred method for capturing star trail photos involves using multiple exposures each capturing a small star trail over an elapsed period of time. The camera settings for each of these exposures is exactly the same. The only thing that changes is the position of the stars relative to the earth.

Next I overlay each of these images one on top of the other in Photoshop to achieve the look of one single star trail. The best part about this method is you can keep your exposure time low, between 15 and 45 seconds, while keeping your ISO fairly low thus reducing the over all high ISO and long exposure noise in your photos. Complete details on this method below!
from www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comRead the full blog post & sign up for my 2015 & 2016 Star Photography Workshop Mailing list -->http://www.davemorrowphotography.com/2014/06/2015-2016-star-photography-workshop.htmlIn my opinion this is one of Mount Hood's most under rated vantage points, especially in the winter months. We arrived just after midnight as the rising moon was sitting low in the sky casting shadows and amazing light over most of the landscape.With a tall snow embankment on my left, the moon's light didn't touch the foreground but blazed it's light across the remainder of the landscape. Slight cloud cover gives a nice glow to the stars with Mount Hood looming in the background. When printed full size you can see the snow flakes sparkle in the light, but standing there it almost felt like there were small blinking lights covering the ground.This photo is composed of two shots ( same composition ), 1 at a short exposure time / high ISO to capture the stars without creating star trails. Another shot was taken at lower ISO and longer exposure time to capture the rest of the scene without generating as much noise. These two shots were taken seconds apart to capture what I saw that night. Fresh snow + night skies = Good times!
TIP: You don't always have to shoot under perfectly dark skies. This shot was taken as the moon was starting to rise over the snow bank to my left. || Mount Hood, Oregon

Note: You can also capture star trails using one long single exposure. I find that this method really degrades image quality, although in the right conditions it does work well. Once you have mastered the techniques below, you will easily be able to calculate and master single exposure star trails on your own:) They after all only require one click of a button.

Unless otherwise stated below all camera settings are the same as denoted in my Milky Way Photography Tutorial.

Focal Length: For star trails any focal length will work. Keep in mind the further zoomed in you are the longer your stair trails will appear over a shorter amount of time ( REF: 500 Rule Chart ). If you don't want to wait around all night to capture a star trail scene a zoom lens may be your best choice. If you're interested in capturing a full wide angle star trail scene showing a long star trail transition across the sky this may require a few hours for the stars to exhibit trails through the full range view for your wide angle lens. The best way to see this in physical form is to go out and try some test shots in the field and see how different lenses or focal lengths exhibit different trial lengths over a given peroid of time. Another good reference is the 500 Rule chart which I provide, this will show the direct correlation between star trails and focal length in a mathematical manner.

Focus: I usually focus at infinity, take a practice shot to see how it looks then adjust focus from there. Usually infinity works just fine. If you really like something in the foreground then take two shots. One to get the stars then a second for the foreground. Make sure you nail this down with a single exposure before starting your actual star trail sequence of photos.

Aperture: f/2.8, or whatever your lowest aperture value is will best capture Star Trails. I prefer to play in the range of f/2.8 through f/4 for star photography. 

Exposure Time: 30 seconds is my standard. Sometimes I will shoot anywhere up to 45 seconds in order to catch more of the “Far away” light in my shots. Just remember a longer exposure picks up more light, which in turn means you will see stars that are farther and farther away from our planet. On the other hand light sources closer to our planet will appear brighter at longer exposure times. Experimentation is key! Just remember the exposure time all depends on the focal length of your lens for star trails & Milky Way shots. Note: Using a longer exposure will allow you to keep your ISO low, in turn reducing noise!

TIP: I usually pick an exposure time that is just a few seconds longer than my minimum star trails exposure time @ a given focal length as denoted on the 500 Rule Chart. This seems to give a nice "flow" to the stars once I import them into Photoshop. Depending on the "look" you are going for experimentation is key. 

ISO: ISO for star trails all depends on how much ambient light is present in the scene you are shooting. I usually shoot my star trails when the moon is out, but facing the opposite way. The moon light allows you to capture well exposed star shots while keeping your ISO fairly low. I would suggest starting out at an ISO of 300 and increasing it as necessary until you have a well exposed star shot. Keep in mind you don't need to see very long trails in your shot as well will blend them together in Photoshop over an extended period of time.

TIP: Just remember, if your shot isn't bright enough, and you can still increase your exposure time, ALWAYS do this instead of increasing your ISO. ISO is the worst case method of increasing the brightness of your star trail shots.

Elapsed Shooting Time / Number of Exposures:
PhotoPills provides a nice tool within their application that will allow you to calculate exactly how long you need to take pictures for to cover the full range of star trails in your shot. The other choice is practice and/or stopping to review your picture every once in a while to see how far your stars have moved across the composition. Just remember the more of the sky you have showing your composition, the longer you will need to take exposures for if you want your star trails to cross the entire image. If you have very little amount of sky in your composition it will take a very short time for the stars to move across that distance. If you have an hour or two, it never hurts to set your timer up for 2 hours, grab a beer, coffee or some other good stuff and wait around. This will ensure that you get enough exposures to replicate really long star trails.

Note: Depending on your latitude, this number can vary, due to this fact I have not created a reference chart for this section. 

Camera Timer Settings:
I highly suggest using a camera timer / intervalometer, otherwise you will be pushing the shutter button again and again for hours. Some cameras have an interval timer mode built into them, this works as well.

Once you decide how long of a shooting time is necessary per the step above, it will be necessary to setup your timer up to mimic this time. I suggest shooting with 1 second intervals between each of your shots, or less if your camera timer allows it. This is necessary to keep your final image from displaying gaps between star trails upon overlaying all of the images in Photoshop. 

Star Trails Post Processing Video Tutorial

Now that you've captured some star trail images, head on over to my Free Star Trails Post Processing Video Tutorial and I'll show my favorite tips & tricks for editing star trail images in Lightroom & Photoshop.

Click the link below & access the free video tutorial.



Final Words of Advice for Star Trail Photos

Come Join Us - Second Beach, WAfrom www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops
TIP: You can take one shot right after sunset & leave your camera in the same place until the stars come out. Next capture your star trails. Using Photoshop you can blend both images together to create a unique look of your own.

I believe the hardest part of star trail photography is nailing down the correct length of shooting time. If you don't take enough shots over a long enough period of time, then the star trails don't appear long enough in your final image.

That being said, it's always best to take more shots and then discard them once you get home. Keep that in mind when out shooting:) It's also necessary to nail down the correct balance between ISO and exposure time. You will improve greatly at both of these skills after one night of shooting!


Star Photography Resources & Tools

Once you have captured and processed some nights shots feel free to click the link directly below and upload them to my website. I will share my favorite shots every once in a while on Facebook, Google+ & my website with credit to you. Once the picture has uploaded wait 60 seconds or so to allow it to show up on the page. Once this has been done, comment on the picture with your name and website or Facebook profile address.

 Please note that all photos are protected so they can not be downloaded, but the "share" button is enabled for easy promotion!

You can see everyone's uploads to the link above at my Student Uploads Gallery.

SHARE / UPLOAD YOUR STAR PICTURES


If you're over on Google Plus feel free to join my star photography community. There are lots of good pictures, discussion and tutorials from star photographers all over the world.

Under the Stars Photo Community


Also feel free to check out the Star Photography Tutorial that I wrote for the Editors at 500PX & PetaPixel

Dave's 500PX Star Photography Tutorial

Dave's PetaPixel Star Photography Tutorial


Here are a few of my favorite star photos. You can view all of them in my Under the Stars Photo Gallery
from www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops
from www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comRead the full blog post -->http://www.davemorrowphotography.com/2014/05/the-wild-coast-olympic-national-park.htmlThis shot came as the 96% moon rose from the east just out of the top lefthand side of this picture's frame. The moon illuminated the entire landscape and made the pacific ocean shine and glitter in the darkness of the night. Such an awesome sight to see, and easily one of my favorite shoots of the season thus far. Over the past month I've spent most of my time exploring Olympic National Park. A few weeks ago I camped out down by those sea stacks by the little outcrop of logs and beach( seen in the photo ) on my return from 3 day camping trip up the parks from www.DaveMorrowPhotography.com read more at www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comfrom www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops A Passing Glimpse - Mount St. Helens, Washingtonread more at www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comCheck out my FREE Star Photography Tutorial  and  Star Photography Post Processing Video Tutorial  Ready to learn star photography? My summer star photography workshop schedule for 2014 is now up and running.Under the Stars Night Photography Workshops

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Night & Star Photography Cameras and Lenses

Full frame cameras offer the best quality for night photography. You can also use a crop sensor camera but will not get the same results as using a full frame. I highly recommend the full frame options, but have provided some crop sensor options as well.

Please note, I have shot with the following cameras and lenses and found them to work very well, that's why they are on my recommendations list. There are many other equipment options, but I have not personally used them, so I have not added them to the following list.

If you're interested in learning how to take photos of the stars, Milky Way & Night Sky, head over to my Free Star Photography Tutorial, or sign up for one of my Star Photography Workshops!

The following links are affiliate links to B&H Photo, which is a company I trust, and also where I buy all of my cameras, lenses and other equipment. An affiliate link will not increase the price of the gear, but will help to support my website each time you purchase using one of the links below.

Nikon Full Frame Cameras

Nikon Crop Sensor Cameras

Nikon Compatible Lenses
Nikkor14-24mm f/2.8G - The best star photography lens out there in my opinion.
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 - Fantastic wide angle lens at a great price.

Canon Full Frame Cameras
Canon Crop Sensor Cameras

Canon Compatible Lenses
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L - Fantastic all around lens, great for night photography and landscapes.

Here are a few example photos taken with my Nikon D800 & Nikkor14-24mm f/2.8G lens.You can find more photos in my Star Photography Gallery.

from www.DaveMorrowPhotography.comRead the full blog post here -->http://www.davemorrowphotography.com/2013/11/spires-mount-rainier-washington.html