100 Things: No. 59

8.30.2011

#59: Photograph Star Trails: I've been wanting to photograph star trails for years. I've tried it at home in New York, but there is so much light pollution coming from Manhattan, my town and the surrounding area that you can only make out a handful of stars to begin with. I've brought my camera on trips to Utah, Vermont, and on a road trip out west, but the weather never seemed to want to cooperate with me at night- clouds and a full moon kept getting in the way.

I finally had a brief star trail opportunity this summer in Yosemite. Matt escorted me into the darkness and I setup my camera and tripod and took a few shots at varying lengths of exposure.

I am apparently afraid of the dark. I was freaked out. I come from a land of street lamps and traffic. It was so dark that the only reason I knew Matt was Matt was because he was talking- otherwise he just looked like a dark scary figure standing to my right.

This is my only decent shot from that experience. I'm happy with it.. it has about a million more stars than I could ever see at home. One day I'd like to do a proper exposure- maybe leave the camera on all night. For now my 6 minute exposure will keep me happy.


These next 2 shots are from home. I forgot I'd taken them one night during a lunar eclipse back in December. In the first photo a strange ring of light is surrounding the moon. The real thing was even more dramatic. In the 2nd photo the clouds had cleared a bit and the moon was glowing red. I love staying up for these things. During a meteor shower a few years ago and my dad, sister and I stood out on the front lawn at 3am with his telescope watching the streaks of light fall from the sky. Pretty amazing. 


Have you photographed star trails? I'm sure some of you live in the perfect locations to try it!




Posted by A Lost Feather at 12:59 AM
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17 comments:

  1. GentriAugust 30, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    OH my goodness! These are incredible! My cabin is the perfect place for this. But I highly doubt my camera has these capabilities. :(

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  2. GentriAugust 30, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    OH! And did that boutique ever contact you again about your jewelry?

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  3. AudryAugust 30, 2011 at 1:51 AM

    I've actually heard that if you are using a digital camera, it is better to take a series of shots and stitch them together in photoshop. Apparently you can get "hot pixels" because the sensor in the camera gets hot by being on for so long. With film nothing gets hot. The film is just being exposed.

    What kind of lens did you use for that last moon picture? It's stunning!

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  4. my best friend julesAugust 30, 2011 at 2:09 AM

    These are just stunning!!!! I wish I had the right equipment to take this kind of shots! xxx mervi

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  5. LyndallAugust 30, 2011 at 2:59 AM

    I love star trail photos! I've always wanted to try that. One year I had a calendar that was all star trail photos, hehe, I was such a nerd! We've been watching some old episodes of 'Cosmos' lately so I think I will need to take a trip outside of the city one night soon for some stargazing ♥

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  6. Laura ElizabethAugust 30, 2011 at 3:43 AM

    These are so, so beautiful! I don't really have a personal interest in photography but your pictures make me want to race out and buy a decent camera so I can make pretty pictures for myself!

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  7. UnknownAugust 30, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    that's something i want to try to do as well. something i've been wanting to try since i first knew about it.

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  8. Bailey SchneiderAugust 30, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    Wow!!!! Those photos are INCREDIBLE!!
    I'm glad I'm not the only one afraid of the dark! *blush*
    Much love, Bailey from Vanilla Blonde

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  9. KateAugust 30, 2011 at 8:33 AM

    Thats so pretty!

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  10. GentriAugust 30, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    Oh! And I was so inspired by your video you made of your trip to Yosemite that I made my own of Alaska. I took videos the entire trip and just put them together and up on the blog. :)

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  11. his little ladyAugust 30, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    ummm, whaa? these pictures are absolutely ridiculous. and by ridiculous i mean AMAZING!!
    Xo

    http://mrtaylorandhislady.blogspot.com

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  12. MarissaAugust 30, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    Coolllll I never saw that star trail picture!! I liked waiting up for the lunar eclipse too. Even though I was soooo tired... it was totally worth it!!!

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  13. sweet harvest moonAugust 30, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    WOW! These are amazing!!

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  14. Lisa {A Piece of Lisa}August 30, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    Amazing shots Sarah! The second one look unreal, like an animated movie or something :)
    I have never thought of photographing stars, but I'd like to try it in Sweden, here in London it's the same as NY..

    Btw, that's insane how many guests your friend had at her engagement party! :) We had like 20 and I thought that was enough, ha ha.

    xo Lisa

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  15. ValerieAugust 30, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    These are extremely cool. I miss living somewhere where the stars are more visible. So glad you had the opportunity to take that gorgeous shot!

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  16. LoAugust 30, 2011 at 11:31 PM

    I absolutely love this post! I've always loved that feeling when your driving in a car (as the passenger) and its so dark and all the stars are out and you can just gaze and drive for hours if necessary. Those photos are so amazing! :) -Lo

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  17. KatieSeptember 1, 2011 at 3:43 AM

    lovely photos! the first one is so magical, it must have been crazy to be able to see in real life.

    Katie x

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