Most photographers enjoy filming the night sky full of stars and moon to feel a connection to the massive universe.
With the development of technology in photography, several new DSLR cameras have been introduced to capture the essence of the night sky perfectly.
Not only cameras, but several modern mobile phones are also compatible for photographing night sky. Nonetheless, if you are a professional photographer, a DSLR camera may provide stunning pictures.
Photographers use several innovative techniques and compositions to shoot the breathtaking beauty of night elements. If you are just starting with night sky photography, you should equip yourself with all the knowledge to capture all starry things, celestial bodies, planets, meteors, and galaxies.
So, let’s start with our tips and tricks to take amazing night pictures. In this guide, you will learn how to pick the right equipment, discover the right techniques, and take fantastic pictures.
Best Equipment For Night Photography
There is no need to buy expensive tools to take pictures of the night sky. As a beginner, you can start by investing in these basic gears.
Camera
You should invest in a camera with manual mode features. With the manual option, you can easily control the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. You must be wondering what ISO stands for in photography.
ISO or International Organization for Standardization, is a crucial element for photographers who want to capture the night sky. ISO has an impact on the sensitivity of your camera sensor to light.
To get mesmerizing and clear pictures with minimum noise or grain, you must learn to balance ISO settings and features such as shutter speed and aperture.
Tripod
A tripod comes in handy for photographers who want to shoot for a long time and in harsh conditions. It is recommended to use a ball-head mount on your tripod as it works better in dark conditions.
Lens
Photographers who want to shoot the galaxies and the Milky Way must use a wide-angle lens with a wide aperture. Make sure that the focus is 2.8 or less.
You should invest in a shutter-release cable that will work to reduce any camera shake and help you shoot for a longer time without any disruption.
Find Dark Skies
Finding dark skies is one of the most important steps in capturing stunning images of celestial bodies. Get ready with your equipment and wait for the sun to set and stars to appear in the clear sky.
There are several apps available on the internet that you can use to locate the position of the celestial bodies. When you know the direction of the celestial bodies, you can take the best shots.
Night sky photography is also dependent on the weather conditions. Check the weather conditions in the area where you want to shoot the sky.
Photographing the Moon
The moon is the beautiful night sky element that many new and professional photographers chase. It is bright and changes appearance every day as it progresses through various phases.
When the moon is full, you can get the best shot with less exposure time. As the moon’s shape changes, you can click on different views.
When you want to shoot the moon, you must make some preparations. To capture a bright image, look for the best time when the moon is at its highest point in the sky.
You can travel to remote locations away from traffic and street lights. When the world is dark and the moon is bright, the images are stunning.
Most professional photographers make use of telephoto lenses to take bright moon pictures. You can go through the manual settings of the camera and find the one that works best for night conditions. Keep in mind that you will need to adjust the settings based on the moon’s phase.
Learn about the different phases of the moon and the directions from which they rise. This information will help you plan your moon photography itinerary. You can experiment with different lighting conditions to get different photos.
When you photograph the full moon at dusk, you can capture the moon’s entire glow.
Important Tips for Photographing the Night Sky
It will take a lot of technique, time, and experience to master astrophotography. Here we have listed some quick tips to get the perfect shot of the night sky.
- A remote location is ideal for photographing the moon and stars. There are lights and pollution to be concerned with when shooting night sky photography in an urban setting. The sky is usually not clear in urban locations, so it is best to drive a few kilometers to reach the remote and pollution-free location.
- You should use an ISO of 1600 and a shutter speed that can catch a lot of light if you want to take pictures of stars. The 500 rule can be applied to determine the shutter speed. This implies that you need to divide 500 by your lens’s focal length. This final figure will provide you with the ideal shot duration to avoid blur. If your lens has a 24 focal length, your shutter speed should be between 20 and 21 seconds based on the 500 rule (500/24).
- You can get some nice shots of the stars if you take your time with an extended exposure time. With this practice, you will discover new techniques for night sky photography.
- Make use of the time-lapse technique, as it brings better light patterns to the final shot.
- Check the light on your equipment. Sometimes, the illuminated LCD screen of the camera can take poor pictures. Make sure you give yourself a few minutes in the dark before clicking the pictures, as this will help you adapt to the dark. You can turn off your personal lights and use a headlamp instead to make the foreground of the picture bright.
Conclusion
Astrophotography is an art, and it requires creative techniques and a lot of patience. It’s an amazing feeling to capture the glitter and glitz of stars, galaxies, and the Milky Way with a camera.
Everybody is in awe of the enchanting beauty of the infinite sky, which holds beauty and glam.
The night sky is an inspiration to amateur and professional photographers. You can capture the ultimate beauty of the night sky with the right gear and skills.
