Stars and Night Photography

artographywales

artographywales

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Andrew
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I have been trying a few of my usual landscape locations during the night, I am currently using long exposure to capture the scene with stars included. I will be looking into stacking photos for improved star shots, but, the problem I have is focus.Can anyone offer any tips regarding focus? I have been playing with the manual focus ring but so far my images are not what I would call acceptable. Here is an example of one I took earlier this week:

11906143126_c37952ee0c_c.jpg


While it looks ok at this size, when you zoom in or enlarge it you can see the problem.
 
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I have a powerful torch which i shine onto the subject, put the camera into autofocus and let it latch on to the light. Once this is done i put back into manual to stop the lens changing the focus.

If doing stacks make sure you double check the picture and that its in focus.
 
Can't see the image by the way.
Are you talking about focussing on the foreground or the stars being in focus (in which case even the world's most powerful torch won't help!) or both?

J
 
A cracking shot but the bottom half of the image needs lightening a lot too me, then dodge the water to make it stand out more.
 
Jimi-the-fish said:
Can't see the image by the way.
Are you talking about focussing on the foreground or the stars being in focus (in which case even the world's most powerful torch won't help!) or both?

J
Click to expand...
I have fixed the image problem.The foreground I wanted to improve the focus for, I will return and try to get a better shot next time. I don't want to spend time on this image as I don't like the focus of it and would prefer to "Fix" a better quality photo
 
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Davemm said:
Deffinatly get a bright torch, i ordered one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Torch-300LM-CREE-Flashlight-Adjustable/dp/B008BXSMOO/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1389889351&sr=8-6&keywords=CREE LED
When the focus beam is pulled out it will make focusing easy and can also be used for some light painting to, I did the same with the picture below, used it to focus then added a bit of extra light to make the exposure right.

Morton Corbet Castle by davemmo5, on Flickr
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Thats a fantastic shot, I'm going to have a look into them torches. Typically what settings were used for this?
 
Not exactly on topic, just wanted to say thanks for that link. On your recommendation I've also just ordered one of those torches. :)
 
Your welcome I had a headtorch which cost me a tenner this was the same bulb type so at £3 I had to take a chance and it was easily as bright if not brighter

Settings were
Iso400
F4
30 sec exposure and then added a bit of light with the torch i was about 40 yards away and that torch was easily lighting the bricks
 
Stu Blackpool said:
Not exactly on topic, just wanted to say thanks for that link. On your recommendation I've also just ordered one of those torches. :)
Click to expand...

let me now what you think, not the fastest delivery but cant grumble for the money
 
I tend to use two methods. 1. the touch 2. I tend to set to infinity then pull it back a touch, seem to work fairly well. This is the latest shot I've taken using the second method. Shot with roughly half moonlight and a very quick torch blast.

Edit, seem to have double posted by mistake


Staple Tor Misty Moonlight by the milster, on Flickr
 
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wow lovely pictures! might have to have a go at this...
 
Decided to try a different location for some night shots last night, this location is quite near a populated area so lots and lots of horrible orange light pollution! Tried to use this to my advantage and be a little creative with the PP, what do you guys think? Too much?
View attachment 4940 View attachment 4941 edited to make full image photos
 
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I am not one to comment as I have only tried this one time, but for me it is a pity that there are no stars and the PP is for my tastes slightly overdone but I can totally understand why you went in this direction in the circumstances. This one below is from my first time out trying the same sort of thing. I focussed by standing my rubbish torch up and then focussing on that in live view.


Space - Ships by NGUSS, on Flickr
 
Nguss said:
I am not one to comment as I have only tried this one time, but for me it is a pity that there are no stars and the PP is for my tastes slightly overdone but I can totally understand why you went in this direction in the circumstances. This one below is from my first time out trying the same sort of thing. I focussed by standing my rubbish torch up and then focussing on that in live view.


Space - Ships by NGUSS, on Flickr
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That is a great shot,Nguss. Would you mind posting the exif data, it has been removed off Flickr?
 
Thanks, I was quite happy with how it came out in the end. The exif is no problem at all. It was 17mm at 2.8 and iso 3200 for 30 seconds. The boat was lit by a cheap torch for a few seconds at most.
 
I've been having a go at this night photography stuff. I tend to find f8 on my 16-85 lens the best setting but exposure time is trial and error.


 
artographywales said:
Decided to try a different location for some night shots last night, this location is quite near a populated area so lots and lots of horrible orange light pollution! Tried to use this to my advantage and be a little creative with the PP, what do you guys think? Too much?
View attachment 4940 View attachment 4941 edited to make full image photos
Click to expand...


Over processed. Fringing around objects.. noisy... massively over sharpened, too much detail extraction/clarity. It's a mess. No doubt someone will be along to say they like it.. there always is... but you're destroying quality with your processing. The left hand image is worse than the right, but the comment applies to both. Even at the 1024 pixels you've posted them at it looks rough, so printing these will just make them look like hell. You cool with that?

Your photography is going backwards. That first shot you started the thread with was beautiful.. you just needed to sort out your focusing and depth of field problems, and now you've fallen into the processing trap that seems to get most relatively new photographers sucked in. Some listen to advice and make it out the other side... some don't. The more you assign importance to the computer and the processing, the worse your photography will be, because you're putting the cart before the horse.

Great photos need great lighting and great subjects, and have something to say. What they nearly always don't need... is a lot of processing.

Star trails will need stacking of course... I don't mean that kind of processing. I mean heavy aesthetic processing.
 
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Pookeyhead said:
Over processed. Fringing around objects.. noisy... massively over sharpened, too much detail extraction/clarity. It's a mess. No doubt someone will be along to say they like it.. there always is... but you're destroying quality with your processing. The left hand image is worse than the right, but the comment applies to both. Even at the 1024 pixels you've posted them at it looks rough, so printing these will just make them look like hell. You cool with that?

Your photography is going backwards. That first shot you started the thread with was beautiful.. you just needed to sort out your focusing and depth of field problems, and now you've fallen into the processing trap that seems to get most relatively new photographers sucked in. Some listen to advice and make it out the other side... some don't. The more you assign importance to the computer and the processing, the worse your photography will be, because you're putting the cart before the horse.

Great photos need great lighting and great subjects, and have something to say. What they nearly always don't need... is a lot of processing.

Star trails will need stacking of course... I don't mean that kind of processing. I mean heavy aesthetic processing.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with what you have said, I was basically trying to polish a turd with the processing and ended up making it worse! Since then I have been out again and here is the result of that outing.

View attachment 5774

Hopefully it's a step in the right direction
 
The shots above are just stunning! I am particularly keen to get more accomplished at night photography and the lighting o the buildings is impressive! Out of curiosity, what was the moon status on the night of snaps?
 
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