How to photograph the stars by mastering slow exposure


  • TECH
  • Saturday, 19 May 2018

The problem with shooting the stars is that Earth is rotating, and this means the exposure time can't be too long, or else the points of light will become streaks as the planet turns. — dpa

Photographing the night sky is not an easy task. To capture the stars as the naked eye sees them, photographers must experiment with aperture, ISO settings and exposure time.

However, the problem is that Earth is rotating, and this means the exposure time can't be too long, or else the points of light will become streaks instead as the planet turns.

If you don't have a special tracking device, 30 seconds of exposure should be the maximum for wide-angle shots, according to experts. To prevent image noise from distorting the stars the ISO value should not be set too high.

Focusing is best done manually on the monitor via the live view at the highest magnification level. The image is sharp when the targeted light point has the least spread.

When it comes to star photography, it's also essential to use a tripod and to trigger the shot without vibrations. — dpa

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