
GETTING STARTED WITH
Star Trail Photography
Embark on a magical journey into the world of star trail photography, where you can capture the breath-taking movement of stars painting trails across the night sky. With the right gear and techniques, this awe-inspiring art form is within your reach. Here’s my friendly guide to the essential equipment, camera settings, and post-processing tips to help you create stunning star trail masterpieces.
Equipment Essentials
Camera
For the best results, go with a DSLR or mirrorless camera that lets you manually adjust the settings. This gives you full control over your exposure and creative choices. Mirrorless systems often have a setting called “Focus Peaking”, which highlights your focus are on the screen. This can be particularly useful even in the dark, as it can detect stars or other bright objects.
Lenses
A wide-angle lens with a fast aperture (like f/2.8 or wider) is a great pick. It helps you capture more of the night sky and lets plenty of light hit your camera’s sensor, which is key for out-of-this-world astrophotography.
Tripod
A sturdy tripod is a must to keep your camera steady during those long exposures. A solid base can make all the difference in getting sharp, clear images of star trails.
Remote Shutter Release
To avoid accidentally shaking the camera, use a remote shutter release or an intervalometer. This way, you can take photos without touching the camera, keeping everything perfectly still.
Lens Warmers and Power Banks
Cold nights can bring challenges like lens fog, which will completely ruin your photos. Lens warmers are a key piece if equipment to prevent this. Just remember that a lens warmer will need a source of power, so make sure a power bank goes in your camera bag too.
Headlamp or Torch
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that shooting at night means it’s going to be dark, so a headlamp or torch is going to be essential. Not only is it going to help you navigate the landscape, but it will save trying to fumble around with your camera. Not only that, but a torch is also a great tool to have if you need to light up your foreground subject, be it for focussing or for adding light painting elements to your composition.
"Curtains: Bodiam Castle Star Trails"
Bodiam Castle, East Sussex
ISO-800, f/2.8, 20 seconds
535 frames, 187 minutes
Planning Ahead
Location Scouting
Spend some time during the day exploring potential spots for your shoot. Look for areas with minimal light pollution. Consider whether you want a wide-open view of the night sky or if you want foreground elements that can make your compositions stand out.
Timing and Weather
Keep an eye on the weather and check astronomical calendars to pick the perfect night. A clear, moonless night with low humidity and little to no clouds is ideal for star photography.
Apps like Clear Outside, Windy, Ventusky, or the MET Office can help you fine-tune your plans.
Composition Considerations
Think about your composition ahead of time. Adding elements like trees, mountains, or landmarks to your frame can give your photos depth and context. Don’t be afraid to try out different angles and perspectives until you find something that feels just right.
Patience and Persistence
Standing in a field in the middle of winter can not only be cold but it can be a boring too, and capturing star trails is a waiting game. Be ready to spend hours outdoors as the stars slowly move across the sky, creating those mesmerizing patterns. Stay patient and enjoy the process—it’s all part of the magic. If you have like minded photographer friends, get them to come along and shoot alongside you, and pass the time together.
Safety First
Landscapes at night can feel completely different and sometimes disorienting. Make sure to let someone know where you’re going, and be aware of any wildlife or potential hazards. A little preparation can go a long way toward keeping your experience safe and enjoyable.
"Barbican: Amberley Castle Star Trails"
Amberley Castle, West Sussex
ISO-500, f/4, 30 seconds
184 frames, 92 minutes
Camera Settings
Aperture
Choose a wide aperture (a low f-stop) to let in as much light as possible. Apertures such as f/2.8 or wider work great to to capture plenty of light and produce clear, vibrant star trails. Don’t worry if you don’t have a lens that wide though, start trails are possible with an aperture between f/4.0 and f/5.6, it might just mean that you have to make some sacrifices in the final result.
ISO
A good starting point is an ISO setting between 400 and 1600. This will give you enough light without adding too much noise to your shots. Adjust it as needed after a few test shots, based on the light conditions and brightness of the stars. Once you’re happy with your settings, avoid touching the camera again to keep everything steady.
Shutter Speed
To capture the movement of stars across the night sky, you’ll need a long exposure. Many cameras come with built-in interval timers, but you can also use a remote shutter for this. Start experimenting with exposure times between 15 seconds to several minutes, depending on how long you want your trails to appear and how bright the stars are.
White Balance
A lot of people will tell you to avoid using Auto White Balance, but if you’re just getting started with star trails then it’s a decent place to jump off from. That said, it’s also a good move to look toward using a custom white balance as soon as you are comfortable. When shooting the night sky, using auto can result in differences in colours as the night progresses. Consider using a custom white balance that leans toward the cooler end of the spectrum to maintain a consistent approach.
Focusing Fine-Tuning
Switch your lens to manual focus and set it to infinity (∞). This is a good starting point for getting everything in focus, but make adjustments as you need to. If you have focus peaking on your camera, use this to get those start crisp and sharp. If you don’t have it, use live view mode and zoom in on the brightest star to fine-tune your focus.
Noise Reduction
Some cameras have long exposure noise reduction settings, but using this can slow things down. While it reduces hot pixels and improves image quality, it doubles the time your camera takes to process each shot. For instance, a 15-second exposure will take 30 seconds. If you’re piecing multiple shots together, this gap is not be ideal. It’s better to leave noise reduction off and handle any adjustments later during editing.
Post Processing
Specialist Software
Using astrophotography tools like DeepSkyStacker, Sequator, or StarStax can give your star trail photos a polished look. These programs are specifically designed to enhance and refine your images with features tailored for star photography.
Editing Essentials
For a professional finish, turn to editing software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. These tools let you adjust key elements like exposure, contrast, colour balance, and sharpness. With a little fine-tuning, your images will truly shine.
Exposure and Contrast
Fine-tune the brightness and contrast of your photos to make the stars and trails pop. Increasing exposure can bring out hidden details, while adjusting contrast can make your trails stand out sharply against the dark sky.
Colour Correction
Get your colours just right by correcting any unwanted colour casts caused by light pollution or atmospheric conditions. Adjusting the white balance is a simple but powerful way to make your photos feel more natural and true to life.
Noise Reduction
When working with the hundreds of frames to produce your light trails, the chances are that almost all of the noise that you may have picked up in individual frames has been handled when putting them together. Without going to depth, this is because noise frequencies are generally unique in each photo, and the specific blending modes needed to produce a start trail are capable of negating most of it.
If you want to further tune the noise noise reduction, make sure to do so carefully. Target specific areas using selective noise reduction tools to preserve fine details in the stars and trails while minimizing unwanted noise.
Composite Blending
Merge multiple exposures with stacking techniques to create longer, seamless star trails. This method allows for smoother transitions between frames and gives your final image a polished, professional feel.
Creative Effects
Have fun experimenting with effects! Enhance your images by adjusting star colours, adding selective sharpening, or incorporating creative elements to highlight the visual impact of your trails. Don’t hesitate to try new techniques to add depth and originality to your compositions.