Suntars in front of clear sky...?

06/12/2011 06:42:47 PM · #1

I've attempted photos at sunset of sunstars just before they dip below the horizon. Many problems arise. I mostly blend images into one shot for this. Out in the field I use my hand to block the glare of the sun for the foreground, take another shot of middleground and finally get the sky (this time without my hand). Especially on a clear day, this produces lens flare and extremely darkened skies (I get dark skies because I expose for a clear sunstar), making editing seemingly impossible.

Do I need a reverse grad. neutral density filter?

Perfect photos of suntars, or the sun just about to disappear are common, but I just can't get a hold of it. Any suggestions?

EL-ROI

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

06/12/2011 06:57:51 PM · #2

I am not familiar with the term suntars. What phase of the evening light are you shooting in? Sunset, civil twilight, nautical twilight or astronomical twilight? I would suggest doing some searches on shooting during these transition phases of evening light.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/13/2011 12:33:45 AM · #3

Thanks. I will most certainly look some of that up. When I say sunstar, I just mean that when you choose something like f/22 and up, the sun creates a 'star' around it. Maybe I used the wrong term for it. As for the light I'm shooting in, it is the time where the sun is close to the horizon and is less intense than the midday sun. Just before it disappears behind a hill or something I start snapping away.

Anyways, I should try looking these up...

DCNUTTER

Canon EOS-7D

06/13/2011 01:53:45 AM · #4

Ok, you're talking about the "starburst" effect caused by the diffraction of light with small apertures. Here is any example of that in my "Golden Meadow" shot I took last year. In this case I was shooting at f/16.

Dave

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

06/13/2011 05:13:28 AM · #5

Easiest way to get them reliably is with a star filter. This one from Hoya also incorporates a neutral density filter across about 2/3 of the glass, but not all of them do.

R.

06/13/2011 02:32:54 PM · #6

Here's an example shot. A star filter looks extremely interesting. I guess I'd skit the neutral density filter across the top so I could be a bit more precise as to where I want that 'line'.

Beautiful photo, DCNUTTER. I like the way you preserved the back hill just under the sun from glare. Nice colors, too.

Message edited by author 2011-06-13 14:46:49.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

06/13/2011 02:34:17 PM · #7

Oh boy. I guess I have to figure out how to give example shots...

Message edited by GeneralE - Fixed link to image.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

06/13/2011 02:43:32 PM · #8

Use the [thumb][/thumb] tags (second button from the right in the compose post box) and insert the image ID number only ... if you want to just post a text link to the image use the [url][/url] tags (third button from the right) and insert the entire URL for the image display page -- the same one you used in your first post.