Astrophotography with a Camera and a Tripod
When the word "Astrophotography" is mentioned, the first thing that pops into most peoples head is a telescope. Although astrophotography with a telescope is an amazing way to capture the heavens, beautiful images of the heavens can also be captured with just a camera and a tripod. This series of images was captured with a Canon T1i. With today's technological advances of digital cameras almost any type of digital camera can be used as long as the camera has manual settings. Most of the images below were captured with the following settings; Camera in manual mode, 30 sec exposure, ISO @ 3200, Aperture @ f/3.5, Mirror Lock-up and Noise Reduction turned on. If you have a Mirrorless camera, you do not need to worry about the mirror lock-up. These settings are by no means a hard and fast rule because conditions are different depending on location. These conditions include; light pollution, clarity of the night sky, moisture in the air, how dark the surrounding area is and of course the weather.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when going out to capture the heavens.
1. If you are in a light polluted area, find a dark place were you can get into dark skies away from the town or city lights. Do some rearch and planning ahead of time. There would be nothing worse than driving many miles to find out the location is not that great. Let the web help you with this.
2. Weather is of course a big factor and clear skies are always the best. I use www.wunderground.com to check what is going on with the weather. If I am planning a weekend of shooting I check 3-4 days in advance and then the day before I am heading out.
3. Although the moon is a great object to capture, the last thing you want in the night sky when shooting the Milky Way and the surrounding stars is the Moon. It is like having a giant light bulb in the sky (sorry Moon). Here is a great site that will tell you where the moon is going to be on any given day. Keep in mind the moon orbits the earth every 29.5 days and spends half of those days up at night and the other during the day.
4. The best time for capturing is always later in the night after 11pm or even 12am. The main reason for this is air traffic. Air traffic in the sky slows down after these times and although airplanes can look cool in a long exposure, the last thing you want is a bunch of them criss-crossing the Milky Way.
Camera Tips
Be sure that you have a sturdy tripod preferably one with a weighting hook but also check what weight your tripod can handle before adding weight. The main reason for the weight is to reduce any movement of the tripod if a wind gust happens to come along. If there is a gust and the tripod moves it will ruin what could have been a spectacular shot. Make sure you have a full battery, having a spare is always a good thing. I even keep a cigarette lighter charger in my car for back up charging. Be sure to have plenty of memory space. The best way to shoot, if it is available on the camera, is to shoot in RAW mode. This will give you the best options for processing later. FYI RAW mode uses more memory. If possible bring a laptop with you so you can have your camera plugged right into the computer and you can see your results right away. This way you can adjust your settings as needed. Capturing the heavens requires your lens to be set at infinity. If you have an infinity setting on your lens just set it there. Some lenses do not have a marker so you will need to find infinity. With most lenses this is done by turning the focus counter clockwise all the way to the left and then clockwise just a little bit to the right. Do some testing to be sure you have reached focus.
The basics of the settings are as follows; Exposure is measured in time so 10-30 sec means you will be exposing the CMOS chip for that amount of time. Aperture is the amount of light that passes through the lens to the CMOS chip, the lower the number the more light gets in so while shooting you want this number to be a low number not a high one. Try f/2.8 to f/4.5, again do some test shots. ISO is the sensitivity to light, the higher the number the more light. Try settings at 800, 1600 and 3200 for the heavens. If you are only planning on shooting the stars and not the Milky Way and you want to get nice round stars, keep your exposure to 15 sec.
When shooting long exposure images there is always inherent noise caused by those little pesky electronic particles. To help reduce noise, the camera adds a dark frame to the image and uses it to subtract out the noise. It is called "Noise Reduction". If your camera has this option, be sure it is turned on. Most point and shoot cameras have the noise reduction built right in with no option to turn it off. Another thing you can do to help mimimize noise is turn off all electronics in the camera that give off light like the menu, live view and the timer light. Speaking of timer, be sure to use your self timer. I prefer to set mine at 10sec just to be sure I have not jiggled the tripod causing any vibration.
As I think of other tips and continue to learn more about this exciting hobby, I will be sure to update this page. BECOME A MEMBER and you will get updates automatically. In the meantime
enjoy and have a great night of shooting THE HEAVENS.
For more GREAT tips check out
The following images where captured at Sunset Crater National Monument in the heart of Arizona. All where captured at 30 Sec Exp @ ISO 3200 with a Canon T1i mounted on a tripod. RAW files processed with Photoshop CS6.
If you find yourself on a Road Trip in Arizona the Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki Indian Ruins are a must see. I have been there many times and I refer to it as the Jewel of Arizona. It is truly an amazing place.
There is more on the Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki in my Photography section on the main page.
This is a 7 panel Mosaic. Mars, Saturn and Antares can be seen on the far right. The glow on the far right is coming from Flagstaff Arizona about 20 miles away. The glow on the lower left in the middle is Winslow and to the right is Halbrook.
These images of the Milky Way were captured on the I-17 in Arizona about 20 miles south of Flagstaff on the edge of the Mogllon Rim. My camera was pointing south. The glow light is coming from Phoenix about 110 miles away to downtown. This part of the rim is at 6000 ft and Phoenix is around 1100 ft.
These have all been captured using different White Balance settings and different setting in the RAW files.
Clouds covering the Milky Way in Bonito Arizona
Captured with a Canon T1i, 35sec Exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 18-55 mm lens @ 18mm. Glow Light in the clouds coming from Flagstaff Arizona.
These two images of the Milky Way were captured on the I-17 in Arizona about 20 miles south of Flagstaff on the edge of the Mogllon Rim. My camera was pointing south. The glow light in yellow is coming from Phoenix about 110 miles away to downtown. This part of the rim is at 6000 ft and Phoenix is around 1100 ft.
Captured with a Canon T1i, 35sec Exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 18-55 mm lens @ 18mm.
Captured with a Canon T1i, 35sec Exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 18-55 mm lens @ 18mm.
The images below were from a camping trip to Sunset Crater National Monument and the Wupatki Pueblo Indian Ruins National Monument in Arizona. The captures At Sunset Crater were captured on 09-14-12 and the captures at Wupatki were captured on 09-15-12 into 09-16-12
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona. The glow light is coming from Flagstaff, about 18 miles away. 25 sec exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 10-22 mm lens @ 10mm.
For more GREAT tips check out
The following images where captured at Sunset Crater National Monument in the heart of Arizona. All where captured at 30 Sec Exp @ ISO 3200 with a Canon T1i mounted on a tripod. RAW files processed with Photoshop CS6.
If you find yourself on a Road Trip in Arizona the Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki Indian Ruins are a must see. I have been there many times and I refer to it as the Jewel of Arizona. It is truly an amazing place.
There is more on the Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki in my Photography section on the main page.
This is a 7 panel Mosaic. Mars, Saturn and Antares can be seen on the far right. The glow on the far right is coming from Flagstaff Arizona about 20 miles away. The glow on the lower left in the middle is Winslow and to the right is Halbrook.
These images of the Milky Way were captured on the I-17 in Arizona about 20 miles south of Flagstaff on the edge of the Mogllon Rim. My camera was pointing south. The glow light is coming from Phoenix about 110 miles away to downtown. This part of the rim is at 6000 ft and Phoenix is around 1100 ft.
These have all been captured using different White Balance settings and different setting in the RAW files.
Clouds covering the Milky Way in Bonito Arizona
Captured with a Canon T1i, 35sec Exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 18-55 mm lens @ 18mm. Glow Light in the clouds coming from Flagstaff Arizona.
These two images of the Milky Way were captured on the I-17 in Arizona about 20 miles south of Flagstaff on the edge of the Mogllon Rim. My camera was pointing south. The glow light in yellow is coming from Phoenix about 110 miles away to downtown. This part of the rim is at 6000 ft and Phoenix is around 1100 ft.
Captured with a Canon T1i, 35sec Exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 18-55 mm lens @ 18mm.
Captured with a Canon T1i, 35sec Exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 18-55 mm lens @ 18mm.
The images below were from a camping trip to Sunset Crater National Monument and the Wupatki Pueblo Indian Ruins National Monument in Arizona. The captures At Sunset Crater were captured on 09-14-12 and the captures at Wupatki were captured on 09-15-12 into 09-16-12
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona. The glow light is coming from Flagstaff, about 18 miles away. 30 sec exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 10-22 mm lens @ 10mm. Color processed in CS6
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona. The glow light is coming from Flagstaff, about 18 miles away. 25 sec exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 10-22 mm lens @ 10mm.
Wupatki National Monument Arizona, located about 40 miles north of Flagstaff. Wupatki is a place of years past where you will find pueblo ruins from the 1100's. This site for shooting is fantastic for dark nights. It is located in the heart of AZ. Captured with a Canon T1i, Exp 30 sec, Aperture f/3.5, ISO 3200, processed in SC6
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona.15 sec exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 10-22 mm lens @ 10mm. The round hump in the background with what appears to be a tree coming out of it is the top of the volcano. If you are just shooting stars and you want them nice and round, do not expose over 15 sec to minimize the effect of the spinning of the earth.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona. The glow light is coming from Flagstaff, about 18 miles away. 25 sec exp, ISO 3200, Aperture @ 3.5, 10-22 mm lens @ 10mm.
Wupatki National Monument Arizona, located about 40 miles north of Flagstaff. Wupatki is a place of years past where you will find pueblo ruins from the 1100's. This site for shooting is fantastic for dark nights. It is located in the heart of AZ. Although this is a great place to shoot images by night, it is truly a wonderious place for photography by day. Captured with a Canon T1i, Exp 30 sec, Aperture 3.5, ISO 3200, processed in SC6
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona. Flagstaff is about 18 miles away. 25 sec exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 10-22 mm lens @ 10mm. I have been visiting Sunset Crater for about 16 years, at least once a year, and the bent old dead tree has been there for as long as I can remember.
Wupatki National Monument Arizona, located about 40 miles north of Flagstaff. Wupatki is a place of years past where you will find pueblo ruins from the 1100's. This site for shooting is fantastic for dark nights. It is located in the heart of AZ. The tall black area that appears to be rock is really a four story pueblo that is around 900 years old. Captured with a Canon T1i, Exp 25 sec, Aperture f/3.5, ISO 3200, processed in SC6
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona. The glow light is coming from Flagstaff, about 18 miles away. 25 sec exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 10-22 mm lens @ 10mm. My friend Steve had his iPhone with him so he used the flashlight app to get some light on the old tree. It was just the right amount of light.
Wupatki National Monument Arizona, the pueblo in the image is around 900 years old and at one time it was four stories tall. Captured with a Canon T1i, Exp 30 sec, Aperture f/3.5, ISO 3200, processed in SC6.
The images above and below are the same image except the one above, I pulled the camera back a few feet.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona. The glow light is coming from Flagstaff, about 18 miles away. 30 sec exp, ISO 3200, Aperture f/3.5, 10-22 mm lens @ 10mm.
Wupatki National Monument Arizona, located about 40 miles north of Flagstaff. Wupatki is a place of years past where you will find pueblo ruins from the 1100's. This site for shooting is fantastic for dark nights. It is located in the heart of AZ. Although this is a great place to shoot images by night, it is truly a wonderious place for photography by day. Captured with a Canon T1i, Exp 30 sec, Aperture 3.5, ISO 3200, processed in SC6
Mercury, Jupiter and Venus heading towards a lined up conjunction over the skies of Glendale AZ. Captured on May, 27th 2013. 2 sec exp, ISO 400, Aperture f/5.6, 18-55mm lens @ 55mm
Mercury, Jupiter and Venus heading towards a lined up conjunction over the skies of Glendale AZ. Captured on May, 27th 2013. 2 sec exp, ISO 400, Aperture f/5.6, 18-55mm lens @ 55mm
The following images were shot at Bonito Campground inside the Sunset Crater National Monument. This area of Arizona is about 18 miles north of Downtown Flagstaff
The Big Dipper with a distant monsoon storm in the bottom of the frame. Canon T1i, f/3.5, ISO 1600, 30sec Exp, 18-55mm lens @ 18mm
The Big Dipper with a distant monsoon storm in the bottom of the frame. Canon T1i, f/3.5, ISO 1600, 30sec Exp, 18-55mm lens @ 18mm
The Big Dipper. Canon T1i, f/3.5, ISO 1600, 30sec Exp, 18-55mm lens @ 18mm
Our Milky Way. Canon T1i, f/3.5, ISO 1600, 30sec Exp, 18-55mm lens @ 18mm. The glow light on the clouds is coming from the city lights of Flagstaff.
Our Milky Way. Canon T1i, f/3.5, ISO 1600, 30sec Exp, 18-55mm lens @ 18mm
Our Milky Way. Canon T1i, f/3.5, ISO 1600, 30sec Exp, 18-55mm lens @ 18mm
Our Milky Way. Canon T1i, f/3.5, ISO 1600, 30sec Exp, 18-55mm lens @ 18mm. The glow light on the trees is coming from our camp fire.
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