Star Effect from Street Lights

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Misty

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I am experimenting with night shots but the street lights are "plain" & not "stary" as I have seen in some photos here. What adjustments do I need to do to give lights a star effect. Is it ISO, aperture or shutter speed that gives the effect. Regards, Misty
 
You can get star filters with different numbers of points, either direct-fit for the lens or for Cokin-style filter holders. The best one I have is an oldie called a snow filter, but the snow and sunshine have never been right for me to try it for its intended use.
 
Agreed, you can get star filters , for 4, 6, or 8 points of light on your star, but they tend to be a bit obvious and rather naff IMO. A small aperture will get you your star effect anyway. Unfortunately shooting in the dark and small apertures usually means slow shutter speeds, which in turn usually dictates a tripod.
 
2874611565_c878ba1ffc.jpg


F8 for 8 seconds did this.
 
Thanks all for your very helpful advice :thumbs: Fabulous star effects there BertRoot. Cheers, Misty :)
 
I find narrow apertures far more effective and 'natural' then star filters, and you can adjust the strength of the effect quite easily just by changing the aperture.

f14, quite a subtle star, not overpowering but not just a blob of light

138809969_W2VM2-M.jpg


f22, massive stars!

184278269_zzjTX-M.jpg


(both with a Sigma 10-20, and neither with a tripod ;))
 
Those are good tips, didn't realise a narrow AP on it's own gets star streaks. Might have narrowed the pic below from F/10 down if I'd known a couple weeks ago, still you can see a hint of stariness starting......

2008_10_06_10_00_28.jpg
 
If you talk to Mr. Lee, you can have a GRADUATED star filter made for you....I did years ago and works really well. It was a 6 point star, the effect was graduated in a triangular shape down the rectangular filter resin sheet - so you could literally put a star on one light from a lit scene by fiddling it. It was eventually lost when I was robbed while working in Cardiff - took the lot. Apparently i was lucky they didn't knife me at the same time.....Iknew the Weslh didn't like the English, but that is going a bit far and besides, i am Cornish, not English.
 
ukaskew said:
I find narrow apertures far more effective and 'natural' then star filters, and you can adjust the strength of the effect quite easily just by changing the aperture.

f14, quite a subtle star, not overpowering but not just a blob of light

138809969_W2VM2-M.jpg


f22, massive stars!

184278269_zzjTX-M.jpg


(both with a Sigma 10-20, and neither with a tripod ;))
Click to expand...



The number of points on a starburst are determined be the number of blades that make up the iris.
These two photo's were taken with different lenses, the first is a 6 blade iris, the second is a 7 blade.
Even numbers give the same number of points, ie - 6 blades = 6 points.
Odd numbers give double the points ie - 7 blades = 14 points
So the more extravagant one with 14 points, is mostly down to the number of blades, not necessarily the aperture value.

Stay tuned for more crap you never knew you wanted to know, or care about...:lol:

well, I just read you're last line about both pics being shot with a Sigma 10-20........:).......:shrug:
 
You still need to use small apertures, I'm just saying the number of points is determined by the number blades in the iris.
30 points is gonna be.....like a dandelion clock or something.

post dat frame mang..:D
 
joxby said:
well, I just read you're last line about both pics being shot with a Sigma 10-20........:).......:shrug:
Click to expand...

My apologies, first was with the 10-20, second was with the 50mm 1.8 ;)
 
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