I've read both tutorials on star and night photos, but i cant seem to get a photo right. i got the ISO1600-30sec= ISO100-8mins, which is nice. i guess the real problem is getting the shutter to stay open for more then 30 secs, which i know is simple but cant remember how to do it. help?
Bulb mode. It's best if you have a remote shutter release so that you don't get any camera shake when you push the button. You press once to open the shutter, then again to close it when your exposure is done.
On most cameras it's the B on your dial.
Charge your battery fully.
*EDIT* hrrm, that's right, I forgot. You may need a remote with a lock. I don't know which cameras allow one-press bulb and which ones require the shutter button to remain pressed.
I don't know about your camera, but on mine, I choose manual mode, which is marked M.
Then I spin the shutter speed dial until it goes up past 1 second, then keeps going until 30 seconds, and the next click puts it in bulb mode.
Bulb usually means it stays open as long as you keep holding down the shutter button. That's why people are suggesting a remote shutter release. Mine is a cable with a button the end that locks down. It plugs into the front of the camera. Your camera may not hsve come with one, in which case you need to buy it. Depending on the camera, there may be a wireless option, too.
As for Mark's suggestion, again, go to M mode and set the shutter and aperture as he suggested. If you don't know how to do that, look at your manual. :)
Not sure about the 400D but I've used a few other Canons. Put your selector dial on 'M', then manually dial your exposure to the next selection past '30s'. You should see a 'B' or 'bulb'. Make sure your camera is secure on its tripod, then press the shutter to open and then stand and hold the button down, (carefully, so you don't shake the camera). Count in your head or have someone help you with the timing.
This is much easier if you have the remote or a cable release. My 300D uses a remote, not sure about the 400. I've done the 'hold finger on button' for up to 90 seconds with good results, but remote or cable release is the right way to do it. As long as you aren't all wound up on caffeine it should work!
oh phooey. my remote is currently lost somewhere on my desk, so i guess ill just have to wait til it finds me. thanks though
ahhh, don't give up so easily! ;P
lol ok ill stand out in the cold for 20 mins or so holding my trigger down, sounds fun:) oh i know my remote will show up eventually, it always does
One thing to add-- IMO, as cool as stars are, they need something else to provide context or perspective such as trees, road, old barn, etc. Some of the best star shots can be taken on the edges of night(late evening, early morning). I'm guessing you have some trees or something that would work!
That would have been a cool photo. Ever seen a bolide? They are very large and very bright shooting stars. I've only seen 3 with all of the astronomy I've done. They are bright enough to sometimes light up the ground around you.
Catching photos of the space shuttle and satellites can be kind of fun as well. For satellite predictions: //www.heavens-above.com/
Don't forget to turn on the option for mirror up. Also, if you take a bunch of 30 second shots and then stack them together, you get a lot more detail, less movement and fewer hot pixels. Although the hot pixels just look like a bunch of red drawf suns a few hundred light years out. :D
no never heard of a bolide, sounds cool though. i want to photograph a medeor(sorry about spelling) shower, but whenever we have one here its always cloudy
That would have been a cool photo. Ever seen a bolide? They are very large and very bright shooting stars. I've only seen 3 with all of the astronomy I've done. They are bright enough to sometimes light up the ground around you.
Catching photos of the space shuttle and satellites can be kind of fun as well. For satellite predictions: //www.heavens-above.com/
Is a bolide also called a fireball? Saw one when I was about 10 years old, while on a camping trip. And it was during a stargazing talk! I remember it lighting up everything in a very greenish light.
