ASTRO PHOTO GRAPHY 101
When it comes to taking photos of the night sky, we often find ourselves driving and hiking hours from any artificial light source, relying only on the stars and airglow in the atmosphere to light our entire frame. The conditions for astrophotography can prove to be very challenging to shoot in and push our gear to its limit. To come back with the best possible image, it’s important to head out with the right gear at the right time.
Over the last few years, with camera sensors continuing to improve in extreme low-light situations, the technical challenges of astrophotography have eased. Astrophotography today is more accessible than ever before. These tips will help you head out under the night sky to capture beautiful photos of the stars.
Gear Recommendations
While there are “ideal” selections in each of the following gear categories, there are also ways of adjusting your shooting technique to compensate for equipment shortcomings. I’ll note these as we go.
Camera Body: While certain cameras will produce cleaner results at higher ISOs than others, most DSLRs and mirrorless cameras released in the last five years or so can achieve quality results. Features that assist with long exposures and remote control options via smartphone apps are great to have.
The right lens will make a world of difference at night. Ideally, your lens will have a fast maximum aperture of at least ƒ/2.8. Prime lenses sometimes offer even faster apertures, which can be a huge advantage for picking up extra detail in both the sky and foreground. Selecting a lens that is sharp from edge to edge is also especially important. Since the edges of our frame
