Star Trail advice please

silure130 · 9 Sep 2011

hi
can I ask for advice on how to get multiple 30 sec exposure shots. Do I have to press the shutter button myself every 30 secs.

I have a Nikon D3100, wired remote and tripod.

thanks

Splog · 9 Sep 2011

The easiest way is to get a remote shutter release, set the camera to 30 secs exposure and continuous shooting, then just lock the remote.

Blasted · 9 Sep 2011

As above, then go back inside for a cup of tea and let the camera take care of it.

silure130 · 9 Sep 2011

Thanks for that, I was going to have a go tonight but as usual its raining.

silure130 · 10 Sep 2011

[/url] Startrails1 by silure130, on Flickr[/IMG]

Managed this in between the rain. I can see their is room for improvement but I'm going to enjoy it. Notice the UFO in the pic!

BandyQuill · 12 Sep 2011

for a first attempt thats pretty good, might be worth waiting till later at night or, taking more images into the night, i normally aim for 15-20 seconds as thats the best photo length to card write gap, the other option is to lock the camera in bulb mode on lowest iso and lowest aperture...

there are a few examples on my flickr...

lartamax · 12 Sep 2011

Not bad for a first attempt though moving away from home and into an area with much less and preferably no light pollution will give a much better result.
The link below may be off some help.
http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/long-exposure-star-trail-photography

silure130 · 12 Sep 2011

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.

ninjafox · 16 Sep 2011

That looks really good - much better than my first attempt last night!

What was the exposure length for that?

Big Andy · 16 Sep 2011

ninjafox said:
That looks really good - much better than my first attempt last night!

What was the exposure length for that?

That will probably be a number of 30 second exposures (about 10 or 15 at a guess) then stacked together with software like http://www.startrails.de/ or similar. When the OP comes online he/she will be able to confirm that or shoot me down in flames. :LOL:

ninjafox · 16 Sep 2011

I did wonder if that was a single or multiple exposures...

silure130 · 16 Sep 2011

hi
Big Andy was spot on. I took 20 shots at 30secs and stacked them with Startrails. I'm itching to have another go but the weather is against me.

Sarin · 19 Sep 2011

Some cable releases will allow you to set what your wanting to achieve. I got one from Hong Kong for a very reasonable £8 and i can set it to take x amount of pictures at x exposure time with x time lapse in between.

Gauntey · 19 Sep 2011

I have to give these a go!!!