Night Photography - Always an Adventure

Above the rising moon (hidden by the tree), Saturn (center), Spica (to the right), and the beacon trail of a passing airplane (f8 8sec ISO400 70mm)

I've always been intrigued by night photography, and with a digital camera (and tripod), the experimenting is great fun (vs. hugely frustrating, as in the days of film). The meter is nearly useless but the possibilities are endless. You don't have to go anywhere exotic - you just need some great weather.

The view from my suburban driveway, despite the sodium vapor streetlights, is still quite interesting. Last night, I could see three planets - Saturn (rising), Mars (high in the sky), and Venus (setting), all between 9:30-10pm.

Looking West - Venus with Elnath just a few degrees higher (f5.6 10sec ISO400 126mm)

Tech Tips:

• Use a STIFF tripod - don't extend the legs or any tubes to full length
• Use a remote shutter release, or to save money, just use the self-timer (my camera has a choice of a 2s or 10s delay)
• Lock the mirror up before shooting, if your camera has that feature. My camera lets you view through the viewfinder (like a film camera), or you can lock the mirror up and view through the preview screen on the back. This latter mode is nice because you can zoom in digitally to see if things are in focus.

If you enjoy night photography and have any additional tips or successful shots, I'd love to hear (and see) them!