Fishy star trails

Fishy star trails · 10:44 PM

I wondered what star trails would look like through a FE lens, so I did some 30+ minute exposures last night and came up with these:

So the stars don't follow the FE distortions as I originally thought!

Comments welcome.
Cheers.

Damn Brit · 07-29-2008, 10:50 PM

Interesting, you would have to do the same experiment with a non fish eye to see how much or little the distortion was.
Or maybe you could shoot straight up so only the sky was in the picture to see if that was different also.

**Ash** · 07-29-2008, 11:05 PM

Yes, I might do that again tonight!
These long exposures are fun, though tricky to master to get some colour in the sky as the sun sets...

blwnhr · 07-29-2008, 11:16 PM

Great shots. What sort of ISO and Aperture are you using?

Damn Brit · 07-30-2008, 12:09 AM

Originally posted by Ash

Yes, I might do that again tonight!
These long exposures are fun, though tricky to master to get some colour in the sky as the sun sets...

If you wouldn't mind, give us a report on how you setup and executed it.

Gary

**Ash** · 07-30-2008, 02:24 AM

Sure thing...
#1 taken just as the last sunlight was creeping over the horizon.
DA 10-17 on K10D, tripod, Bulb mode, f/8, ISO 125, shutter open for about 30 mins.

The next two were taken in the pitch black night, so I opened up to f/5.6, ISO 200 and opened shutter for 35 and 50 minutes.

I'm not flash at mastering night settings, so I'm continually making educated guesses until I get it right.

ftpaddict · 07-30-2008, 02:46 AM

Spectacular shots, Ash.

I really want to try doing this kind of photography.

Any tips for utter newbies?

**Ash** · 07-30-2008, 04:55 AM

I'm one myself FTP - just give it a go.

Tripod, cable release lock, wide angle, wide aperture, lowish ISO, set MF at infinity, point and open shutter. Do the house work, have dinner, then come back and close the shutter 30-60 mins later. See what you get!

roentarre · 07-30-2008, 05:15 AM

You have done this well! I think my attempts have yet been successful doing the star trails.

ftpaddict · 07-30-2008, 06:15 AM

Originally posted by Ash

I'm one myself FTP - just give it a go.

Tripod, cable release lock, wide angle, wide aperture, lowish ISO, set MF at infinity, point and open shutter. Do the house work, have dinner, then come back and close the shutter 30-60 mins later. See what you get!

Ah yes.. I should mention that I live in the heart of a large city and such an exercise would be futile.

I have to wait to be somewhere with less light.

slowpez · 07-30-2008, 08:25 AM

Really nice shots. Love the 1st one especially.

**Sailor** · 07-30-2008, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by Ash

Sure thing...
#1 taken just as the last sunlight was creeping over the horizon.
DA 10-17 on K10D, tripod, Bulb mode, f/8, ISO 125, shutter open for about 30 mins.

The next two were taken in the pitch black night, so I opened up to f/5.6, ISO 200 and opened shutter for 35 and 50 minutes.

I'm not flash at mastering night settings, so I'm continually making educated guesses until I get it right.

Thanks, Ash. I'm enjoying your shots and want to shamelessly steal your idea - thanks for giving me the technical info on how to do it. Seriously, very clever shot - do you like your 10-17 FE as much as I do mine?

Jer

**Ash** · 07-31-2008, 10:34 PM

Thanks all - it's been enjoyable experimenting with it. Toowooma's a fine place to do it as the air is clean and the night life is almost non-existant.

The FE's a fun lens - I don't use it much for 'serious' work other than if I simply can't fit what I need in the shot with my DA 16-45. I do love the creative aspect of the lens, but to be honest I probably would use it less if I had the DA 12-24 or Sigma 10-20.

cupic · 08-01-2008, 06:52 AM

Nicely done Ash,must be the queensland outback clear to snap away

cheers

Morbo · 08-01-2008, 07:23 AM

question:
how big is the file for a 30 minute exposure?

I would love to do things like this, but a) i still need to get a remote switch, and b) can I with my K100D Super? and c) do I need bigger than a 2GB card?

Ash
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07-29-2008, 10:50 PM	#2
Damn Brit Guest	Interesting, you would have to do the same experiment with a non fish eye to see how much or little the distortion was. Or maybe you could shoot straight up so only the sky was in the picture to see if that was different also. Last edited by Damn Brit; 08-01-2008 at 11:48 AM.

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07-29-2008, 11:05 PM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Yes, I might do that again tonight! These long exposures are fun, though tricky to master to get some colour in the sky as the sun sets...

07-29-2008, 11:16 PM	#4
blwnhr Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 663	Great shots. What sort of ISO and Aperture are you using?

07-30-2008, 12:09 AM	#5
Damn Brit Guest	Originally posted by Ash Yes, I might do that again tonight! These long exposures are fun, though tricky to master to get some colour in the sky as the sun sets... If you wouldn't mind, give us a report on how you setup and executed it. Gary

07-30-2008, 02:24 AM	#6
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Sure thing... #1 taken just as the last sunlight was creeping over the horizon. DA 10-17 on K10D, tripod, Bulb mode, f/8, ISO 125, shutter open for about 30 mins. The next two were taken in the pitch black night, so I opened up to f/5.6, ISO 200 and opened shutter for 35 and 50 minutes. I'm not flash at mastering night settings, so I'm continually making educated guesses until I get it right.

07-30-2008, 02:46 AM	#7
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	Spectacular shots, Ash. I really want to try doing this kind of photography. Any tips for utter newbies?

07-30-2008, 04:55 AM	#8
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	I'm one myself FTP - just give it a go. Tripod, cable release lock, wide angle, wide aperture, lowish ISO, set MF at infinity, point and open shutter. Do the house work, have dinner, then come back and close the shutter 30-60 mins later. See what you get!

07-30-2008, 05:15 AM	#9
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	You have done this well! I think my attempts have yet been successful doing the star trails.

07-30-2008, 06:15 AM	#10
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	Originally posted by Ash I'm one myself FTP - just give it a go. Tripod, cable release lock, wide angle, wide aperture, lowish ISO, set MF at infinity, point and open shutter. Do the house work, have dinner, then come back and close the shutter 30-60 mins later. See what you get! Ah yes.. I should mention that I live in the heart of a large city and such an exercise would be futile. I have to wait to be somewhere with less light.

07-30-2008, 08:25 AM	#11
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461	Really nice shots. Love the 1st one especially.

07-30-2008, 04:57 PM	#12
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	Originally posted by Ash Sure thing... #1 taken just as the last sunlight was creeping over the horizon. DA 10-17 on K10D, tripod, Bulb mode, f/8, ISO 125, shutter open for about 30 mins. The next two were taken in the pitch black night, so I opened up to f/5.6, ISO 200 and opened shutter for 35 and 50 minutes. I'm not flash at mastering night settings, so I'm continually making educated guesses until I get it right. Thanks, Ash. I'm enjoying your shots and want to shamelessly steal your idea - thanks for giving me the technical info on how to do it. Seriously, very clever shot - do you like your 10-17 FE as much as I do mine? Jer

07-31-2008, 10:34 PM	#13
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Thanks all - it's been enjoyable experimenting with it. Toowooma's a fine place to do it as the air is clean and the night life is almost non-existant. The FE's a fun lens - I don't use it much for 'serious' work other than if I simply can't fit what I need in the shot with my DA 16-45. I do love the creative aspect of the lens, but to be honest I probably would use it less if I had the DA 12-24 or Sigma 10-20.

08-01-2008, 06:52 AM	#14
cupic Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia-NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,824	Nicely done Ash,must be the queensland outback clear to snap away cheers

08-01-2008, 07:23 AM	#15
Morbo Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: HOUSTON Posts: 797	question: how big is the file for a 30 minute exposure? I would love to do things like this, but a) i still need to get a remote switch, and b) can I with my K100D Super? and c) do I need bigger than a 2GB card?