23 image star trail stack Forresters Beach

Sat back all day thinking where on the Central Coast I could go too do a nice star trail where I can stack the images to really see the result and the only place that comes to me is Forresters Beach. I am sure you lot are sick of seeing this place but hey it is so fantastic to shoot.

So this shot is done under a 90% illuminated moon. (Waxing). It is a series of shots taken over about an hour and a half and ended up being a 23 image stack. Kind of wished I had of done another half hour to extend the star a bit more but the cold slowly crept in and froze me. I’m so over Winter. When I got there it took me about 40 min to find a composition I liked and then it was a case of set it up, dial the settings into the Canon intervalometer remote, pull out the PSP sit back and watch a movie while the camera does it’s thing.

Putting the final series of shots together is pretty simple it is just a series of processes that are repeated. So I have done a full post production video tutorial from start to finish on how this image was put together. I go through and create several actions in photoshop to streamline the processes to save time blending the star shots together and getting the files ready for stacking. I will go over my capture settings as usual and also the focus method.

The tutorial goes for 19 min 14 sec and is listed under ” After Dark “ on the Rubbing Pixels website and is available for ” Members Only “. You can view the tutorial by clicking here.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR A LARGE VIEW

Spoon Bay Star Trail Digital Panoramic – Video tutorial

Out once again messing about with shooting under moonlight. This time trying something totally different that I haven’t seen done before and that was to shoot a digital panoramic at night using the moon light and this was the result.

I have shared my capture details, thoughts and full post production process with my Rubbing Pixels members in a members only 21 minute video tutorial.

Full details and tutorial outline can be found on this link

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW

The Skillion – Star Trail Night Photography

Yet another trip out shooting the stars last night. This is becoming very addictive. Moon was at 41.9% illumination (waxing) which means the period that runs between the New Moon and the Full Moon.

This is a combination of moon light and ambient light from the surround suburbs and peoples headlights. Single image capture.

Now I just got to think up my next location and what sort of shooting combination I want to do… maybe sunset into a star trail… you will have to wait and see.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW IT LARGER

Forresters Beach Star Blend

I’m really getting into this star shooting and heading out as much as possible to explore different techniques.

With this one I arrived about a hour and a half before sunrise and I laid down some shots. I wanted to get away from the spinning star look but I needed detail as the moon had set and there was no real overhead light source. So I took a range of images all the way till sunrise to do a blend. Then finding trying to find the right combination to get a realistic look. So this is my result.

Two image blend. Sky and Ground. 20 minutes apart. Good learning experience. The key to all this is the blending of light in the exposures.

Night / Startrail Photography

Full moon was out once again and the conditions and timing were perfect to head out do another full moon night shot. Shot at 250 iso, next time I’ll put the 5D mk2 on 50 iso and add the extra 2 and 1/3 stops to the shutter speed and see how it does with noise. As I have seen and heard of some good reports and seeing it is winter and the camera will be at it’s coldest might also help reduce noise. Might so I have read anyway as the sensor wont heat up as much causing noise. !!

Click the image to see the larger view.

Shooting Moonlight Photography using Digital – Video Tutorial

The first of my in the field tutorials is now ready for release. My introduction into Moonlight photography. This 50 minute video tutorial begins with an outline into the research I did to shoot the location both on digital and slide film. Starting points for my digital exposures, how the moonlight will fall on the area and the best time to head out and shoot.

The tutorial then moves into a detailed look into how the shoot went with test shots and the final exposures taken. Discussing how focusing was done, experimentation with selected f stops, shutter speeds and also iso settings. The use of long exposure noise compensation in the 5D Mk II and it compared to an image with half the iso and shutter speed… how did it stack up ???

Most importantly of all I outline what I learnt and what I would do differently next time I head out. Learning not necessary from mistakes but finding improvements in your work flow to make your next shoot better in certain areas. For me the exposure is exactly what I want but my DOF could be improved and this is discussed on how it will be approached next time.

I also process three files from RAW to final print ready master files as well. The editing of the slide film shots is not covered in this tutorial, only the settings used for the capture.

This tutorial is free for all Rubbing Pixel members, or it can be purchased by guests for viewing on line for $9.99. Here is the direct link to the tutorial.

Moonlight Photography – Forresters Beach

Ok… well for a first attempt at shooting under moonlight I think things went extremely well. Forresters Beach was the perfect place to start things off. All my planning paid off, the light fell on the subject like it should. Played around with one or two different shutter speeds and iso’s to get the perfect balance.

I will be recording the full tutorial on my shoot tomorrow, outlining my capture workflow, thoughts on the shoot, how this shot was edited from scratch, I have a list of things I want to go through with you. I will have it uploaded to the Rubbing Pixels site and I will let you know on the blog when its done. The only thing I wasn’t able to do was record out in the field as the light was too low. I needed external lighting. Other than that I think you will be in for a treat with the info I have to pass on and also how the shots were captured. Some of you might be surprised with one trick on how the shots were taken. No light painting, or exposure blending, just single shots.

For a larger view of this shot just click on it.

Planning for my first digital night shoot – Full moon

Last night around 9pm I let the dogs out for a wee and I couldn’t believe the amount of light from the full moon. So tonight I am going to head out and do my first night shoot on digital. What I am going to do is to is screen record my research before I head out, followed by “if possible” some in the field recording of me on location and how things are going with some of the tests and explain what I am doing followed by the post production of the images taken. Then combine all that into a masterclass for the Rubbing Pixels website. I think this might be easier said than done.

My plan is to do a few tests of the effects of long exposure noise on images, with and without long exposure noise activated on the 5D MkII.
Shooting a few digital panoramic’s under moon light and also some general shots.
Also to plan for some other shoots for star trails when the new moon comes.

I’ll also bang off a shot or two with the Fuji G617 loaded with either Provia 100f or 400x. Might as well while I am there !

I got three batteries for the 5D MkII so that should keep me out of trouble for a fair while.

Stay tuned… I’ll upload a photo or two tomorrow of what I get from tonight.