So I was at Lonavala, Maharashtra last weekend for a photoshoot. As soon I reached the place, my attention was grabbed by the bright smiling moon on a side and glittery stars on the other.
I have been meaning to capture star trail with a mobile camera but as we know the Pollution in cities that cover up the sky making the stars pretty dull and also the ever glowing lights blow out the images.
This was a perfect opportunity for me as the sky was clear and I had a Vantage Point :D. Very fortunately I was carrying the tripod. So for the next one hour I was sitting in the balcony capturing the stars with my mobile.
Here’s the final Output after stacking up the images
The device settings were ISO-100, Shutter Speed- 30 Sec, Focus- Infinity. I captured almost 50 pictures along the duration of 50 min and stacked it using star stax.
Here are few tips I would want to share if you are willing to capture stars,
Carry a Tripod - You require longer shutter speeds to capture more light and make the stars visible.
Identify the Location - Its not possible to captures Stars anywhere. Find a location where the pollution is less and skies are clear.
Keep the shutter speed to maximum. My phone has 30sec as max, some have it limited to 15sec and some 60 sec. Set to the max value.
Keep the ISO to as low as possible. The smartphone camera sensors are small and boosting up ISO will introduce a lot of grains and noise.
Use a timer to avoid shake while clicking the capture button. Few apps have auto capture options, like FV-5 camera.
Select a Foreground- For the image to look as pleasing and give the viewer the essence of sky, its important to keep a steady subject in the Foreground, like I used a Bungalow.
Charge the Phone to full and keep a power bank on stand by if required. The night temperatures are generally very low at few places and the battery tends to drain faster.
Capture the stars that are on the opposite side of the Moon. You cannot capture Moon and stars in the same frame due to the exposure limitations for both.
Last but not the least “Have Patience”. I generally listen to music during that time
I hope this post is helpful for you guys in someway.
@Venky_lightbug Thanks for sharing this. Good to know that you were able to stack multiple images of 30 second exposures to crate a composite. Definitely well worth the effort.
It’s impressive what you’ve shot by phone only, well done! I haven’t tried this method, but looking at your results makes me want to try it out. I know it’s tough and takes time.
Do you take a lot of night photos? What do you find hardest in this type of photography?
I am impressed with this photo! The description and the tips that you gave us for this type of photography are just amazing.
I’ve tried once to capture such photos but unfortunately, I am living next to the city where there is big pollution and the sky is almost never clear. That’s why my photos weren’t successful. But when I will go on a vacation I will take my camera for sure to try once again.
It will be very nice if you share more such photos with us because I am sure that the other Local Guides will be very interested as well.
You should try this for sure. The satisfaction you get after seeing the end result is on a different level.
I don’t do night photography much. But I love shooting Moon and Stars when the situation permits. The toughest part is the time that it consumes and the number of trials to be made before we achieve the perfect result.
Yes for sure @Venky_lightbug . Sometimes it takes long hours to get great shots! For me the hardest is always the night photography, especially using a mobile phone I feel it’s too dark. But I’m definitely going to try these tips and see if I can capture a nice photo
Wow, Excellent…!!! Congrats @Venky_lightbug - honestly appreciate the content & your efforts. I will try 'Sar Stax’at the earliest. All tips are very clear & well written - Thanks
