Tips - Amateur Astro Photography
Stills by Larry Waite
Larry Waite
Stills by Larry Waite
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Tips
Tips
I have spent hours Googling and on YouTube searching for tips and pointers. To the extent, I started to find contradictions, which then just added to the confusion.
I am no expert and still have a lot to learn and have to keep reminding myself of some of the many things I have learnt and to stop and think about the shots I want I.e.: Composure, Lighting and F/Stops.
I still go out and take "snap shots" of something and come back home and like none of the photos I took.
Why? Because I got caught up in the moment and did not think of the actual shot.
Had I of thought about composure, rule of thirds, lighting etc., I may not have taken as many pictures, but I would have taken better ones.
This page is for the person who just got their camera and is in the Google search and YouTube phase of photography.
Basics I have learnt.
TIP - How to Focus at Night
Turn off auto focus and use manual focus.
Getting the images into focus, as with any picture, is very important and can be a little tricky in the dark.
Option 1.
I try and find a bright star to focus on, or a distant light. I also have a very small, not so powerful torch that I will lay some 20 odd meters away and focus in on that sometimes.
Option 2
Another way to focus at night, if your camera has "Live View" find a star/light etc. and magnify the star/light on your screen using the '+' and "-".
Once the light is magnified on your screen, turn the focus ring until the light or star is in focus (small sharp dot).
It is easy to bump out of focus during the night, so make sure you check your focus from time to time.
Nothing worse than getting home to find the last good shot you took is out of focus.
TRIPOD TIP
Pay extra money and get a good sturdy tripod.
I have a bout 4 or 5 tripods, the first few cost about $50-$70 Each time I purchase one, I wanted one taller, heavier (for long exposures/stars).
By chance, a fellow photographer (one who actually makes a living out of it) sold me a manfrotto tripod for about a 3rd of the retail price.
I purchased a different head for it (ball head, see figure 1). Best tripod ever!.
It has now, two different heads, depending on what I am photographing I just swap the heads and put the other in the tripod bag for next time.
It can extend over 30cm higher than myself, (I am 185cm) and it is very sturdy and easy to work with.
For the cost of all the others put together I could have purchased a new one of these and saved a few dollars!
Do yourself a favour spend a couple hundred or more on a good tripod. Look at what head comes with it and if it is suitable for your mainstream photos.
I personally like the Ball head which is great for tilting up at the stars as well as conventional photography. (See figure 1)
A three way pan and tilt type tripod head I find useful for video work. (see figure 2)
A level on the tripod or tripod head is a great tool as well!
Fig 1. Fig 2.
2. CAMERA BAG
It is very important to have a good sturdy bag that suits your purpose.
I like to walk a lot so I wanted a bag that I could wear as a back pack, in addition to carrying a couple lenses, spare batteries,light disposable rain coat, tripod, drink bottle etc.
At first I purchased one off emay that looked the part for about $30.
When it arrived it felt a nd looked flimsy.
I put my camera and a few bits in pieces in and when i picke i t up, the zippers popped open. It was as they say CHEAP CRAP!.
I then did what i should have at tjhe start, a little research. I ended up with a great little bag on sale for about $70 made by CASE LOGIC. In this bag/backpack I can fit 5 lenses, plus the camera spare batteries, filters, torch, rain gear, camera manual and a magazine, a light tripod( attached to the side) and more, Great Bag !
cheap bag (Above) (not recommended)
Case Logic Bag - Great Value!
