Input wanted - First night sky photo

[Andy]

I was lucky enough to be at a very remote place this past weekend and the weather cooperated for a night so I could try my hand at photographing the night sky. It was a learning experience for me (and another reminder I need a good tripod). I'd appreciate feedback on how the editing looks, having never done this before.

Before:

Edit:

[fotofrank]

First of all - Nice capture and you captured three meteors.

For night sky photography I use the 500 rule. You take your the focal lenght of your lens times your crop factor and divide 500 by that number to give you the shutter speed. The 30 second shutter speed in you image started to give you start trails.



your edited image - camera raw custom profile and finished in Topaz photo AI


This is my 20 second exposure, f4, iso 800. 20seconds=500/(20mm*2)

[Peterj]

Andy,
For you're first night image you did a nice job. I suspect that you shot jpg with ISO pretty low and a shutter speed relatively slow; the reason I made this observation is there's not much noise and the stars are not pinpoint.
I appreciate that you've included trees in the image. The milky way is visible, with a bit of masking it could be more prominent. With the newer noise reduction available I suggest using a higher ISO and faster shutter speed.

Not sure of your camera make, but this might help >>  www.usa.canon.com/learning/training-articles/training-articles-list/into-the-night-photographing-the-milky-way-and-night-sky

Your original edited with On1 Photo Raw 2024.5 

[Andy]

Thank you for the feedback! The image was shot at a focal length of 18mm, f3.5, ISO1600, 30 sec exposure (by Frank's calculation, it should have been 20s). I used the advanced noise reduction available in LR (I think I accepted the default settings). Thanks for the input on the shutter speed - I will try that next time. My D90 can go up 6400 ISO if you push it all the way.

[fotofrank]

The 500 rule is

500 divided by the focal length times the crop factor. So it is 18.5 seconds = 500 / (18 *1.5). I believe you have a Nikon D90 that is a crop sensor camera so the 18mm is really 27mm.

[pontiac1940]

Aug 14, 2024 0:00:14 GMT Andy said:

I could try my hand at photographing the night sky.

Good first effort, Andy.
My random comments (repeating what others have said): 

• Yes, max 20-second exposure. I try to keep under 10 seconds but I have an f1.4 lens for night photos. 
• A big item (often missed especially by aurora photographers) is use a "cool" preset WB and never AWB. Use something like warm fluorescent or preset at 3,200 to 4,000°K. AWB results in a yellowish cast.  
• Manual focus
• Tripod 
• 2-second shutter delay
• Can't stress this enough! Scout possible night shoot areas in daylight!! Unfamiliar (and familiar) landscapes can be "different" at night and you need to check for tripping hazards. 
• NEVER explore old farm sites without checking with landowners regarding pitfalls like abandoned water wells. See here. I did not know Tye but we had exchanged messages regarding an old house we both had photographed.  
• Take at least two flashlights for security.
• A headlamp is invaluable. Hands free. 

Have fun. 

[Andy]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Unfortunately, where I live there is little opportunity to do this. I'd have to go into the NE or NW corner to get something worthwhile. This was a weekend away in the NE kingdom of VT, where there is very little light pollution. So I don't know when I will get the opportunity again. Step one for when I do is to get a better tripod - I was using a hand-me-down that was meant for video, and could barely support my camera (and I expect some of the movement is camera/tripod shake due to wind).

I revised the first shot and included another one. The second one has a 20 sec delay (f3.3, ISO1600, 19mm). Not particular sharp.