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04/20/2007 11:18:14 AM · #1 |
Its finally getting nice here in Vermont after the strangest April ever, snow then rain then 60 degrees then snow more snow....
I plan to go out this weekend and do some night shots. Nothing really better than sitting outside in a dark place w/ some beers and a smoke and take some photos.
My questions...
1. For best results, do people recommend taking 1 long exposure say 4 hours? or take multiple 5 minute photos over a 4 hour span and put them together in photoshop?
2. If you do the multiple photos, what is the best way to put them together. I am pretty good at PS, but terrible at using mult photos to make 1 image.
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04/20/2007 11:42:44 AM · #2 |
I'd suggest one long photo if you want to capture the really good trails. In 5 minutes you won't really see much trails, you need to give the stars time to move. But I don't know if your battery is going to last for a four hour exposure.
If you look around the net you should be able to find some good ideas of exposure times you'll need, ie, ISO, f/Stop and shutterspeed.
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04/20/2007 11:47:53 AM · #3 |
| For shots that long, you'll need an external power supply, most likely. Steady tripod, ISO 100, and the darkest skies you can find. If there is any light pollution at all, it'll blaze to life on a long exposure like this. Try to capture some interesting foreground along with the trails - trees, a lake, etc. Again, make sure there are no artificial lights visible. |
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04/20/2007 11:49:09 AM · #4 |
| Definitely multiple shorter exposures with noise reduction turned off. They can be stacked in Photoshop though I like a program called Image Stacker. |
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04/20/2007 11:58:10 AM · #5 |
shane,
You misread my post. I didn't mean just a 5 min exposure and done, its 5 min exposures one after another for over 4 hours. After you get your exposures, you stack them in PS and make 1 image.
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04/20/2007 12:07:02 PM · #6 |
I agree that multiple shorter exposures are the way to go. Remember to turn the long exposure noise reduction OFF, because you need the exposures to be made with as small a gap in time between them as possible. Use exposures of about 5 minutes, or whatever gives you the foreground illumination level that you want. Using multiple shorter exposures will:
- Provide lower random noise through averaging
- Allow you to control the foreground illumination by controlling the exposure time
- Ensure you don't lose the entire exposure if your power runs out
- Allow you to compensate for accidental light sources that appear in the foreground (by masking them out in the individual exposure where they appeared)
- Makes it somewhat easier to remove unwanted light trails, such as aircraft
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