Photography Tutorial: Star Trails And Comets

Escaping the hustle and bustle of a hectic workweek is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. One of my cherished methods for rejuvenation involves immersing myself in the serene beauty of Joshua Tree wilderness and indulging in the mesmerizing art of stargazing. Last Saturday, I embarked on a three-mile backpacking journey from a designated backcountry trailhead, setting up camp amidst the tranquility of nature. In this extended guide, I’ll not only delve into the intricacies of capturing star trails but also share my experience photographing the elusive comet C/2022 E3 ZTF, offering valuable insights into the techniques and equipment used for a quick photography tutorial.

Star Trail Photography Tutorial

A star trail photograph is a captivating long-exposure image that captures the earth’s rotation around the north star, Polaris, creating stunning celestial light trails. The photo below showcases the outcome of stacking 330 images, a technique that brings out the intricate beauty of the night sky.

Capturing the star trails

For this endeavor, I harnessed the power of my new Sony Alpha 7 IV paired with the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 lens. With an aperture of f2.8, a shutter speed of 20 seconds, and an ISO setting of 400, I programmed the camera’s intervalometer to take a photo every second, resulting in a breathtaking display of cosmic motion. Head over to this page to explore my preferred photo and video gear, ensuring you have the right tools for your astronomical adventures.

Settings used:

• f2.8 aperture
• 20″ shutter speed
• ISO400
• I programmed the camera’s intervalometer to take a photo every second 330 times.

Star trail post-processing

Upon returning home, I seamlessly stacked the images using StarStaX and fine-tuned the composition in Lightroom, eliminating unwanted plane trails that often permeate the Joshua Tree night sky. Despite the occasional aerial interruptions, the resulting image captures the essence of the celestial dance, with vibrant stars exhibiting subtle hues.

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF – Photography Tutorial

The allure of capturing a comet led me to Joshua Tree National Park that night. Although invisible to the naked eye, my camera successfully immortalized the celestial visitor, comet C/2022 E3 ZTF. In this section, I’ll guide you through the process, sharing tips on equipment, settings, and post-processing techniques.

Several times in the last few years, I didn’t plan ahead and ended up disappointed with my results. So this time around, I watched this Photopills video on how to shoot the comet, which gave me an idea of what settings to use once in the field. Using “spot stars” in the Photopills app, I also earned what shutter speed I needed based on my camera and focal lens.

For this shot, I used the following equipment:

Capturing comets

Equipped with my Sony Alpha 7 IV and Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5–5.6 lens, I followed guidance from a Photopills video on shooting comets, ensuring optimal settings for my specific camera and lens combination. Test shots at 30 seconds allowed me to locate and center the comet in my frame. Subsequently, I initiated the interval shooting mode, capturing 330 shots with a 0.5-second exposure each second at f5.6 aperture and ISO6400.

Comet post-processing

For Mac users, Siril emerged as a valuable ally in processing the frames and creating a captivating comet stack. Following their comet processing tutorial, I fine-tuned the results in Lightroom, revealing the comet’s ethereal beauty. Siril’s user-friendly interface and the plethora of tutorials on YouTube make it an ideal choice for amateur astrophotographers.

Final thoughts

Embarking on a nocturnal photographic journey into the wilderness offers a unique perspective on the universe’s beauty. I hope this comprehensive tutorial inspires you to explore the wonders of the night sky and create your celestial masterpieces. Additionally, be aware that Joshua Tree’s backcountry permit system is changing effective March 1st, 2023. Stay informed about these upcoming modifications here.

Post originally published on February 4, 2023, and last updated on January 10, 2024.