Low Light Photography

Star Trails

Create stunning circular star patterns by capturing Earth's rotation through extended exposures or image stacking.

ModeManual
Aperturef/2.8–4
ISO400–800
Shutter30s each
FocusManual ∞
Interval1–2hrs
Camera Settings

Settings Breakdown

ISO
400 – 800

Lower ISO than Milky Way shots since you're stacking many exposures. ISO 400-800 provides good star brightness while keeping noise manageable.

Single long exposure: If shooting one very long exposure, use ISO 100-200 to minimize noise buildup.
Aperture
f/2.8 – f/4

Wide aperture captures bright star trails. f/2.8 gathers plenty of light in each frame. Stopping down slightly improves sharpness across the frame.

Trade-off: Wider = brighter trails but potential edge softness. f/4 offers better sharpness with still-visible trails.
Shutter Speed
30s × 60-120 shots

Stack method: Take 30-second exposures continuously for 1-2 hours. Stack in software for smooth trails. Single exposure: Bulb mode for 30-60 minutes.

Why stack: Stacking reduces noise and allows recovery if plane crosses frame. One ruined frame doesn't ruin the shot.
Focus
Manual – Infinity

Focus on stars using Live View magnification before starting. Stars must be sharp points. Once focused, don't touch — tape focus ring if needed.

Critical: Check focus on first frame. Soft trails for 2 hours of shooting is devastating.
Intervalometer
Essential

Programs camera to shoot continuously. Set 30-second exposures with 1-second intervals. Camera fires automatically for hours while you wait.

Gap-free: Minimize interval between shots (1 second) for smooth, continuous trails without gaps.
Composition
Polaris (North)

Point toward Polaris (North Star) for concentric circles. Southern hemisphere: point toward south celestial pole. Stars rotate around these points.

Polaris in frame: Circles center on Polaris. Include interesting foreground (trees, building, mountain) for context.
Recommended kit

Essential Gear for Star Trails

Fast wide-angle lens

Astro is an aperture game: going from f/4 to f/1.8 more than doubles the starlight you capture in the same 20 seconds.

See mount picks

Sturdy tripod

Milky Way and aurora exposures run 15–25 seconds.

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Intervalometer

Star trails and stacked Milky Way frames need dozens of identical exposures.

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Techniques

Pro Tips

1

Use Stacking Software

StarStax (free) or Photoshop handles stacking. Use "Lighten" blend mode to combine all frames. The software does the heavy lifting automatically.

2

Disable Long Exposure NR

In-camera noise reduction doubles exposure time, creating gaps in trails. Disable it. Handle noise reduction in post-processing instead.

3

Watch for Dew

Lenses fog during long sessions. Use a lens heater or hand warmer to keep the front element clear. Check periodically for condensation.

4

Bring Extra Batteries

Two hours of shooting drains batteries fast. Keep spares warm in your pocket and swap when needed. Don't let the camera die mid-sequence.

5

Light Paint Foreground

Take a separate exposure for foreground lit with flashlight or during blue hour. Composite with star trails for best foreground detail.

6

Avoid Airplane Gaps

Planes create streak interruptions. Either accept them or remove affected frames from your stack. More frames = more trail gaps to fix.

Quick Reference Summary

ModeManual
Aperturef/2.8–4
ISO400–800
Shutter30s each
FocusManual ∞
Duration1–2hrs
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