How to Create Star Trails

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The May 2022 assigned subject is Star trails. You have a year to take some images that capture those long star trails as the earth moves (hint, star trails are easier when it is colder, there is less less atmospheric haze and the sensor does not get as warm which reduces noise). Here is the cliffnotes version for how to create star trails.  ~Lisa Cuchara. Tom and I also teach night photography workshops, come join us on one: Photography By Lisa And Tom.com 

How to Create Star Trails

  • Use a fast wide-angle lens
  • Focus and compose the shot.
  • Take a high ISO test shot to check for focus, composition, distractions, etc. 
  • Set the ISO to 200
  • Set the shutter speed (time value) to “bulb” and use a locking cable release to open the shutter
  • Set the aperture to its widest (like f4 or f2.8)
  • Exposure for 30-minutes (wide aperture of 2.8 – 4.0)
  • If there is too much noise then change the ISO to 100 (or photography on a cooler night, the sensor does not warm up as much on cold nights)
  • If it is too bright try a narrower aperture.


Tips for better star trails:

  • Remove your lens filters
    • No polarizer, not even a UV filter 
      • a UV filter reduces the sharpness of your image a little and reduces the contrast of your images. 
      • Worse it can cause reflections, halos, flares, etc.
  • Put your lens hood on (reduces reflections, halos, flares, etc.)
  • Start with a fully charged battery
  • Use a STURDY tripod (most people end up purchasing three tripods
    • a cheap one first, not wanting to spend the money for a good one
    • a medium one, not happy with the first one, but still not wanting to spend the money for a good one
    • a good one (purchase this one first and you will only cry one!)
  • Use a Cable release to trip the shutter 
    • You will be taking exposures much longer than 30 seconds so you have to "lock the cable release" 
  • Use the fastest lens you have
    • Fastest meaning the lens that has the ability to open up to the largest aperture to let in light. At least f4, f2.8 is much better and f1.8 or 1.2 is the best. 
    • You will usually choose an aperture 1-3 stops above the widest aperture, but a f2.8 lens will let in more light than an f4 lens
  • Use the shortest focal length you can
    • Wide-angle lenses (Short focal lengths) are best for star trails (14-35mm) because they provide a wider angle of view, so you will capture more stars and also can easily add a foreground element into the composition.
    • If your choice is a 24-35mm lens at f2.8 f4 or wider angle lens at f2.8, always choose the faster lens. More light is always better than more sky. 
      • FYI, for milky way always choose wide open
  • Take a high ISO test image, ISO 6400 wide open (for example f2.8) to make sure that the image is level, in focus, has not unwanted elements, etc. 
  • For best results set your camera to 100 or 200
    • You may need to close the aperture to increase the exposure time even to get the Star Trails length you want.
    • The longer the exposure time, the longer the Star Trails will be.
    • If you are facing to the North start you will get circles, in other directions you will get long streaks. 
  • Focusing
    • Focus during the day using autofocus and focusing on a far mountain and then switch the focusing to MF and place gaffers tape to lock in the focus
    • Focus at the hyperfocal distance
      • Do not set the lens focus to infinity
    • You will need to turn on your camera’s Long Exposure Noise Reduction setting.
      • This would be off for stacked star trails


    If you get really hooked on star trails:
    • Add a light pollution filter to your lens
      • https://amzn.to/33Or3pv
      • If there is light pollution in your scene from sodium vapor light sources, you should use a light pollution filter to remove in camera the yellowish glow they usually produce.
      • Purchase the one for your largest diameter lens and then get step-up rings from your smaller lenses
    • To prevent lens condensation
    • Purchase an Olympus Camera
    • Stack the stars and create star trails in software. Purchase an intervalometer (some cameras, like the Canon 7DM2, have a built-in intervalometer) and capture a series of images (ISO 800, 30 seconds each) and then stack them in Photoshop, StarStaX, StarrySkyStacker, etc.
      • Star Trail Stacking is preferred to one single image, but it is also harder and requires more work. You take a series (60-100) of the same exposure images (the only thing that changes is the position of the stars relative to the Earth) and then stack them using software).
    • Intervelometers:
      • https://amzn.to/3ygKB3H (Canon)
      • https://amzn.to/3w5m5ke (Nikon)
      • https://amzn.to/3oqbrBY (Sony)
    • Noise Reduction & Long Exposure Camera Settings
      • Some cameras have noise reduction settings for long exposure and high ISO.
      • Turn both of these settings to OFF.
    • For stacked star trails: Move-Shoot Move https://www.moveshootmove.com?aff=193
    • For crisp milky images, take 10 exposures and a dark exposure and using  : Move-Shoot Move https://www.moveshootmove.com?aff=193