I guess the stars aren't happy with me

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

11/17/2008 09:26:12 PM · #1

I've read both tutorials on star and night photos, but i cant seem to get a photo right. i got the ISO1600-30sec= ISO100-8mins, which is nice. i guess the real problem is getting the shutter to stay open for more then 30 secs, which i know is simple but cant remember how to do it. help?

faidoi

Pentax K10D

11/17/2008 09:30:26 PM · #2

Bulb mode + remote with lock.

K3Master

Pentax K-3

Pentax D-FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

11/17/2008 09:30:29 PM · #3

Bulb mode. It's best if you have a remote shutter release so that you don't get any camera shake when you push the button. You press once to open the shutter, then again to close it when your exposure is done.

On most cameras it's the B on your dial.

Charge your battery fully.

*EDIT* hrrm, that's right, I forgot. You may need a remote with a lock. I don't know which cameras allow one-press bulb and which ones require the shutter button to remain pressed.

Message edited by author 2008-11-17 21:31:27.

11/17/2008 09:37:04 PM · #4

hmm let me go play for a moment...

huh, no didnt seem to get it right. oh wait another second

no im still not getting anything. humph

Message edited by author 2008-11-17 21:40:12.

11/17/2008 09:46:19 PM · #5

try f2.8, 30 seconds ISO 800. You should get decent stars without the ultra long exposures.

eta: especially in the wilds of MOntana! :)

Message edited by author 2008-11-17 21:46:49.

11/17/2008 09:49:51 PM · #6

Originally posted by mpeters:

try f2.8, 30 seconds ISO 800. You should get decent stars without the ultra long exposures.

eta: especially in the wilds of MOntana! :)

lol yeh its pretty damn pretty right now. i was hoping for the moving across the sky stars though

11/17/2008 10:17:28 PM · #7

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:

Originally posted by mpeters:
try f2.8, 30 seconds ISO 800. You should get decent stars without the ultra long exposures.

eta: especially in the wilds of MOntana! :)

lol yeh its pretty damn pretty right now. i was hoping for the moving across the sky stars though

OK ;) Then open it up and enjoy a cup of coffee

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

11/17/2008 10:21:17 PM · #8

Originally posted by mpeters:

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:

Originally posted by mpeters:
try f2.8, 30 seconds ISO 800. You should get decent stars without the ultra long exposures.

eta: especially in the wilds of MOntana! :)

lol yeh its pretty damn pretty right now. i was hoping for the moving across the sky stars though

OK ;) Then open it up and enjoy a cup of coffee

see thats my problem. im being all stupid and cant figure out how to 'open it up'. see my prob?

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

11/17/2008 10:27:59 PM · #9

I don't know about your camera, but on mine, I choose manual mode, which is marked M.
Then I spin the shutter speed dial until it goes up past 1 second, then keeps going until 30 seconds, and the next click puts it in bulb mode.

Bulb usually means it stays open as long as you keep holding down the shutter button. That's why people are suggesting a remote shutter release. Mine is a cable with a button the end that locks down. It plugs into the front of the camera. Your camera may not hsve come with one, in which case you need to buy it. Depending on the camera, there may be a wireless option, too.

As for Mark's suggestion, again, go to M mode and set the shutter and aperture as he suggested. If you don't know how to do that, look at your manual. :)

jdixonsd

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III

11/17/2008 10:29:26 PM · #10

Find the north star aim shot f2.8 how long depends how much power your battery has

11/17/2008 10:31:17 PM · #11

oh phooey. my remote is currently lost somewhere on my desk, so i guess ill just have to wait til it finds me. thanks though

11/17/2008 10:36:13 PM · #12

Not sure about the 400D but I've used a few other Canons. Put your selector dial on 'M', then manually dial your exposure to the next selection past '30s'. You should see a 'B' or 'bulb'. Make sure your camera is secure on its tripod, then press the shutter to open and then stand and hold the button down, (carefully, so you don't shake the camera). Count in your head or have someone help you with the timing.

This is much easier if you have the remote or a cable release. My 300D uses a remote, not sure about the 400. I've done the 'hold finger on button' for up to 90 seconds with good results, but remote or cable release is the right way to do it. As long as you aren't all wound up on caffeine it should work!

eta: Jeffrey beat me to it. !

Message edited by author 2008-11-17 22:36:53.

11/17/2008 10:37:29 PM · #13

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:

oh phooey. my remote is currently lost somewhere on my desk, so i guess ill just have to wait til it finds me. thanks though

ahhh, don't give up so easily! ;P

11/17/2008 10:44:45 PM · #14

Originally posted by mpeters:

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:
oh phooey. my remote is currently lost somewhere on my desk, so i guess ill just have to wait til it finds me. thanks though

ahhh, don't give up so easily! ;P

lol ok ill stand out in the cold for 20 mins or so holding my trigger down, sounds fun:) oh i know my remote will show up eventually, it always does

11/17/2008 10:57:57 PM · #15

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:

Originally posted by mpeters:

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:
oh phooey. my remote is currently lost somewhere on my desk, so i guess ill just have to wait til it finds me. thanks though

ahhh, don't give up so easily! ;P

lol ok ill stand out in the cold for 20 mins or so holding my trigger down, sounds fun:) oh i know my remote will show up eventually, it always does

One thing to add-- IMO, as cool as stars are, they need something else to provide context or perspective such as trees, road, old barn, etc. Some of the best star shots can be taken on the edges of night(late evening, early morning). I'm guessing you have some trees or something that would work!

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

11/17/2008 11:06:09 PM · #16

only legit photo from this evening. almost no editing since i have no idea how to 'fix' it

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

11/17/2008 11:11:50 PM · #17

Congrats and welcome to the world of shooting stars. :)

Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM

11/17/2008 11:20:24 PM · #18

lol my dad saw a shooting star right before i took this. darn, that would be a freaking awesome photo lol

Daybis

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

11/17/2008 11:26:52 PM · #19

That would have been a cool photo. Ever seen a bolide? They are very large and very bright shooting stars. I've only seen 3 with all of the astronomy I've done. They are bright enough to sometimes light up the ground around you.

Catching photos of the space shuttle and satellites can be kind of fun as well. For satellite predictions: //www.heavens-above.com/

MikeJ

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

11/17/2008 11:28:43 PM · #20

Don't forget to turn on the option for mirror up. Also, if you take a bunch of 30 second shots and then stack them together, you get a lot more detail, less movement and fewer hot pixels. Although the hot pixels just look like a bunch of red drawf suns a few hundred light years out. :D

Mike

scooter97

Canon EOS-6D

11/17/2008 11:29:10 PM · #21

I think the Perseid's are going on now. So you might see more shooting stars tonight.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

11/17/2008 11:29:33 PM · #22

no never heard of a bolide, sounds cool though. i want to photograph a medeor(sorry about spelling) shower, but whenever we have one here its always cloudy

scooter97

Canon EOS-6D

11/17/2008 11:32:32 PM · #23

I just checked and they are the Leonids meteor showers going on now. Sorry about that!

//stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/

11/17/2008 11:33:17 PM · #24

Originally posted by Daybis:

Is a bolide also called a fireball? Saw one when I was about 10 years old, while on a camping trip. And it was during a stargazing talk! I remember it lighting up everything in a very greenish light.