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jswillems · 01-23-2011, 10:43 PM

A couple more star trails from tonight. As always, all comment and criticisms welcome. Thanks in advance!

camo · 01-24-2011, 01:14 AM

2nd one is really cool

stlind · 01-24-2011, 02:37 AM

i´ve been trying some startrails lately too, one thing that i personally would try to change would be a little more exposure of the trees in #2.

**Ash** · 01-24-2011, 04:30 AM - **1 Like**

You did reasonably well with these.
Decently exposed, now it's time to master those PP skills to enhance these images. The temperature for starters can go down significantly - this will give the sky some blue and the foreground less yellow. Then consider boosting some of the foreground shadow detail - #1 has done alright but the clear shadow line leaves part of the image missing.

wehavenowaves! · 01-24-2011, 09:20 AM

wow really great shots! the second one especially is impressive. i agree with ash the second one could be improved with some more foreground detail. if that is possible? without giving away any secrets how did you get these? stars moving that much in the sky??? i am confused hahahaha.

jswillems · 01-24-2011, 11:16 AM

Thanks for the replies.

@Ash: Thanks for the tips, I'll give them a shot. Except for cropping #2 these are straight out of the camera. I tried to light up the trees in #2 with a spotlight, but obviously not enough. The light in #1 came from a car the pulled into the parking lot which is why there's that straight shadow line.

**Ash** · 01-24-2011, 12:58 PM

Ah yes, that's a great 'strategy' to getting the foreground decently exposed in those pitch-black star trails exposures - relying on incidental spot lighting from cars driving by can really make a difference.

In this exposure, I was near a quiet T-interection where in my 45 minute exposure 3 cars came and turned into the street alongside where I was shooting, sweeping their headlights over the landscape and giving me enough light to expose the foreground:

calculator01 · 01-24-2011, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by Ash

Ah yes, that's a great 'strategy' to getting the foreground decently exposed in those pitch-black star trails exposures - relying on incidental spot lighting from cars driving by can really make a difference.

In this exposure, I was near a quiet T-interection where in my 45 minute exposure 3 cars came and turned into the street alongside where I was shooting, sweeping their headlights over the landscape and giving me enough light to expose the foreground:

That's pure genius right there!

**pixelsaurus** · 01-24-2011, 02:25 PM

If you want to lighten the foreground, during the exposure you can always wander around and let loose with a manual flash gun.

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01-23-2011, 10:43 PM	#1
jswillems Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Osos, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 90	More Star Trails Lens: Sigma 18-55 Camera: K-7 Photo Location: Montana de Oro, CA ISO: 100 Shutter Speed: >6s Aperture: F4.5 A couple more star trails from tonight. As always, all comment and criticisms welcome. Thanks in advance!

01-24-2011, 01:14 AM	#2
camo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 224	2nd one is really cool

01-24-2011, 02:37 AM	#3
stlind Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 48	i´ve been trying some startrails lately too, one thing that i personally would try to change would be a little more exposure of the trees in #2.

01-24-2011, 04:30 AM - 1 Like	#4
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	You did reasonably well with these. Decently exposed, now it's time to master those PP skills to enhance these images. The temperature for starters can go down significantly - this will give the sky some blue and the foreground less yellow. Then consider boosting some of the foreground shadow detail - #1 has done alright but the clear shadow line leaves part of the image missing.

01-24-2011, 09:20 AM	#5
wehavenowaves! Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seoul Posts: 98	wow really great shots! the second one especially is impressive. i agree with ash the second one could be improved with some more foreground detail. if that is possible? without giving away any secrets how did you get these? stars moving that much in the sky??? i am confused hahahaha.

01-24-2011, 11:16 AM	#6
jswillems Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Osos, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 90 Original Poster	Thanks for the replies. @Ash: Thanks for the tips, I'll give them a shot. Except for cropping #2 these are straight out of the camera. I tried to light up the trees in #2 with a spotlight, but obviously not enough. The light in #1 came from a car the pulled into the parking lot which is why there's that straight shadow line.

01-24-2011, 12:58 PM	#7
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Ah yes, that's a great 'strategy' to getting the foreground decently exposed in those pitch-black star trails exposures - relying on incidental spot lighting from cars driving by can really make a difference. In this exposure, I was near a quiet T-interection where in my 45 minute exposure 3 cars came and turned into the street alongside where I was shooting, sweeping their headlights over the landscape and giving me enough light to expose the foreground:

01-24-2011, 02:08 PM	#8
calculator01 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 817	Originally posted by Ash Ah yes, that's a great 'strategy' to getting the foreground decently exposed in those pitch-black star trails exposures - relying on incidental spot lighting from cars driving by can really make a difference. In this exposure, I was near a quiet T-interection where in my 45 minute exposure 3 cars came and turned into the street alongside where I was shooting, sweeping their headlights over the landscape and giving me enough light to expose the foreground: That's pure genius right there!

01-24-2011, 02:25 PM	#9
pixelsaurus Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Te Kuiti, NZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 986	If you want to lighten the foreground, during the exposure you can always wander around and let loose with a manual flash gun.

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