My first post ,therefor my first photo effort

[200tdi]

I would like to be able to improve my night sky photography. So far this is the best Southern Cross shot I have taken. Any advice on how to make it even better would be appreciated
Thanks
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/781.jpg

Can't get any more aussie then this fellow
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/782.jpg

[Disco_owner]

That's excellent , obviuosly a Tripod used " what F-Stop , Exposure ? secs etc.

[200tdi]

Thanks, Yes tripod used

Pentax istDL using a Sigma 18-50 Lens and set to 18.Around 10 second exposure. With Focus set to manual...infinity.

[dullbird]

are you using a cable release......your picture looks a little blurry surprising for a tripod set camera. But this will happen if you set the camera off by using the shutter button with your finger

If you dont have a cable release or wireless remote set the camera on timer when doing your long exposure this way you dont have to touch the camera when the shutter opens.

as any small movement is amplified when in low light

[200tdi]

Thanks, yeah was using a cable release setup, not sure how to do a remote timer, but i'll look into it

[hoadie72]

Cable release should be ok. I'd turn off the house lights next time.

[dullbird]

did you have your aperture wide open?.........I was told by my teacher to not think that because i was shooting in very low light that I had to have the aperture wide open make it smaller and leave the shutter open for longer, then you still get some depth of field. And maybe then you wont have the softer look.

I'm only guessing here by the way as you blew my last theory out the water :lol2:

[200tdi]

There is a really good reason why my answers may seem a little vague...I have no idea about photography :) I use the "Take lots of shots in the hope one works" methord. Changing a setting after each shot till i get a half decent shot. Thats why i got a digital camera as film was way to expensive ;) So far i'm self taught, maybe i need to find a teacher :bangin:

[200tdi]

Cable release should be ok. I'd turn off the house lights next time.

Unfortunatly it wasn't my house

[dullbird]

Unfortunatly it wasn't my house


turn them off anyway:D.....

So are you using the camera on a pre set program...like night time or sport as an example?

[DiscoDave]

That's a nice dark sky you've got in your first photo - that gives you room to experiment with exposure times and ASA values. My suggestions are 1. Expose for 30 seconds or more - you will get star trails but with an 18mm lens they're not going to be long! 2. Leave the aperture wide open - you need all the light you can suck in there. (there is no depth of field issue when you're phtographing the sky, only when you photograph nearby things against the sky) 3. If you can't turn off the lights around you use something to mask them out, light a sight screen at the cricket. 4. If you want a photo of the Southern Cross rather than the whole southern hemisphere start thinking about zoom lenses rather than wide angles. 5. If you want really good images you're going to have to start tracking - welcome to the world of Astrophotography. :-)

[dullbird]

That's a nice dark sky you've got in your first photo - that gives you room to experiment with exposure times and ASA values. My suggestions are 1. Expose for 30 seconds or more - you will get star trails but with an 18mm lens they're not going to be long! 2.
Leave the aperture wide open - you need all the light you can suck in there. (there is no depth of field issue when you're phtographing the sky, only when you photograph nearby things against the sky) 3. If you can't turn off the lights around you use something to mask them out, light a sight screen at the cricket. 4. If you want a photo of the Southern Cross rather than the whole southern hemisphere start thinking about zoom lenses rather than wide angles. 5. If you want really good images you're going to have to start tracking - welcome to the world of Astrophotography. :-)


funny I was told this was not important......its the time you have it open is what was important I have tripod pictures before sunrise and got much better results from f8's and f11's....than I did the 4's and 5's as that is what everyone set there cameras to think it was important to have it really wide....

Not saying your wrong just saying that it just goes to show as not everyone gets taught the same.

as for depth of Field is not important on a sky, depending on what you want I would personally think it was important as stars go on forever and I would want to see the depth in the sky its black but it's defiantly not flat:)

[200tdi]

Thanks for the replies , I have sooooooo much to learn....its a whole new language that i can read but not comprehend:confused: