Photographing Star Trail Circles
Photographing Star Trail Circles – another goal of mine is to photograph a circle of star trails, a full circle with no obstructions in the foreground. Finding the spot and the right conditions is the challenge more so then actually taking the photo.
I live in dark sky country, so that makes it much easier to accomplish this task. Well, a couple of days ago I went to a lake that I knew had a clear view to the north and I though that would have plenty of space to photograph the circle of stars.
But what I did not think of, is that even after the sun went down behind the horizon, the glow of the sun would still linger way past sunset with no obstructions to hide the last bit of light. Which made it more difficult to find the north star.
I used a compass to find due north, but as you can see in this first photo I was off center and the north star is to the left. Plus the mist coming off the lake kept blurring the lens. But it sure was fun trying to get the shot.
Not this photo is from my yard, I know where the north star is and as you can see I have a lot of trees blocking the full circle effect. But I will find a location yet to accomplish this task.
On our way home at midnight, we stopped at a lake that I knew at a clear view to the south and photographed the milky way over the water.
I did a little photo light painting as I shined my flashlight on the water to light it up for this first photo. The second photo is without the extra light.
Adventures await everyday, sometimes right outside out own backdoors.
Have a great weekend.
Photographing Star Trail Circles
24 Replies to “Photographing Star Trail Circles”
Welcome on my blog: chapitrelumiere.wordpress.com if you are interested in light subject! Bienvenue sur mon blogue si vous êtes intéressé sujet lumière
There are not enough pretty words to describe your beautiful photos, Sandra. The star circle in the trees is my absolute favorite – and maybe one of my favorite all-time photos of yours. Just incredible!
Thank you very much Kellye, I appreciate you saying that. Summer time is the best time to try and photograph the stars as it isn’t so cold out at night and I can stay out longer. I am glad you like these and love your wonderful comment. Thank you
This is so beautiful . Thank you for sharing this lovely post. How lucky you are to have enjoyed these skies.
Thank you very much Sandy 😊
Superb series of photographs! You did a terrific job. Nailing the focus is not easy but these certainly look great.
Thank you very much Wally. Yes, it is hard to photograph them. Being we are always moving. 😊
You could have put the music “Starry Starry Night” to this post Sandra. You’ll have to look at the next Super Moon on the 31st of August … it will light up the sky.
I will look for that. Sounds like a photo challenge again.
It’s a beautiful song by Don McLean – one of my favorites. I think it would be a perfect combo for your starlit sky Sandra. 🙂
Very nice night sky photos! I find focusing to be the hardest part, and you’ve done a very nice job with that.
Thank you very much Brad. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Wow!
You’ve certainly nailed it, Sandra. This is really amazing 🙂
Thank you very much, I appreciate that. 😊
They look like Van Gogh paintings
Have a great weekend
Thank you so much, a wonderful weekend to you also 😊
Thanks Sandra. These are great. You are blessed to live in such a location. It is amazing what one can learn by simply studying the night sky. The stars have a story to tell.
Have a great weekend
Thank you RJ, the universe is beyond my imagination, amazing indeed. A wonderful weekend to you also.
Amazing photos, Sandra.
Thank you very much 😊
You are a star among the bloggers!
Aww, thank you Gerry 🙂 have a great weekend.
How vast and amazing is our universe Sandra, and you have captured but a fraction, and yet it alone leaves us in awesome wonder.
So true. When I try to think about the entire universe and how we look in it, it is almost impossible for my brain to comprehend. It makes me feel so small and a realization how short time really is.