Happisburgh

[Guest]

My first attempt at a night time shot.

Two big problems were being ale to see to compose and focus, but eventually I got a fair outcome.

A powerful torch would help I think.

 

The glow in the distance is Great Yarmouth I think; click to view larger.

 

[pdcpic]

Now I need to visit Happisburgh.  We only just moved into yarmouth. And looking for places like this.   lovely

[Black Pearl]

That's turned out well.

How did you determine the exposure, might be handy if others want to try?

[Terry]

That a beauty Bill. Great capture of Orion

[Guest]

That's turned out well.

How did you determine the exposure, might be handy if others want to try?

I've read a bit about this technique so had an idea what starting point.

 

There are a few things to bear in mind;

 

The 500 rule - if the focal length multiplied by the exposure time exceeds 500 the stars cease to be spots and become elongated or trails

Ideally for exposure the lens should be fast , but the faster it is the harder focus becomes. If you have a powerful torch and a fixed point a distance away (the lighthouse would have been ideal here) then use the torch to help gain focus. I used an f4.0 zoom lens (fastest I need for landscape work) so zoomed to max focal length and focused to get stars as bright pinpricks before setting the camera on the tripod.

 

Exposure here is f 4.0; iso 3200; 20 seconds; at 17mm BUT it was not quite full night, rather deep twilight (photo take at 19:10) and there is always going to be some glow over the horizon in this location. In a proper dark sky location I think this would need f 2.8 and 29 seconds at 17mm (17 * 29 = 493).

[Black Pearl]

Hadn't come across the 500 rule but thats useful and makes sense - I looked at your EXIF so had an idea what you had done just wondered about the method behind it.

 

Great info - thanks.

[ChrisLumix]

My first attempt at a night time shot.

Two big problems were being ale to see to compose and focus, but eventually I got a fair outcome.

A powerful torch would help I think.

 

The glow in the distance is Great Yarmouth I think; click to view larger.

 

BiAll20140303052.jpg

 

No, clicking didn't help I'm afraid. It COULD be Great Yarmouth, but it could be Southend or Morecambe or Torquay ... 

[Leon]

I like that bill..

[colinb]

cracking photo Bill, and some useful information too