Your Guide To: Night Photography

Mastering the Art of Shooting Stars at Night: A Comprehensive Guide

Nightscapes are one of my favourite genres of outdoor photography. In this article, I’ll share insights and tips I've gathered from countless nights spent capturing the beauty of the world after dark.

Understanding Nightscapes

Nightscapes are a unique blend of landscape and astronomical photography. Unlike pure astrophotography, which might focus solely on the stars or deep-sky phenomena, nightscapes always include an earthly element. This could be a mountain range, tree, body of water, or even man-made structures. The key is to create a well thought out composition where the terrestrial foreground complements sky-based features such as the milky way.

The Essentials for Astrophotography

Equipment and Techniques

While capturing the night sky can be done with various equipment, using a full-frame camera and fast lenses with wide apertures will generally give the best results. Here are some of my go-to gear recommendations:

Alpha 7 IV: Excellent low-light performance with high resolution.

Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM: Ultra-wide perspective with superb sharpness.

Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM: Lightweight with excellent image quality.

Sony 20mm f/1.8 G: Ideal for capturing auroras with a wide aperture.

Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM: Great for close-up shots of the night sky with a fast aperture.

Optimal Locations and Conditions

Choosing the right location is an important step in creating a compelling image of the night sky. Look for areas away from city lights to avoid light pollution. Websites like lightpollutionmap.info can help you find dark sky locations. Interesting landscapes that work well during the day often make excellent subjects for nightscape photography too.

The best times to photograph the Milky Way vary throughout the year. In the southern hemisphere, the galactic core is visible from January to November, with prime months being April to June for evening shots and September to November for late night captures. Clear skies are essential, and winter months often provide the clearest conditions despite occasional clouds.

Preparing Your Camera for Astrophotography

Heading 2: Optimal Camera Settings for Night Photography

Mastering your camera settings is crucial for successful nightscape photography. Here are some key settings to consider:

Aperture: Use the widest aperture (e.g., f/1.4 or f/2.8) to let in as much light as possible.

ISO: Start with ISO 6400, adjusting as needed based on light conditions. Don't be afraid to push your ISO higher if necessary.

Shutter Speed: Use 10-20 seconds depending on the focal length to prevent star trails. For wider lenses, you can use longer exposures.

Focus: Manually focus on a bright star or distant light source. Use your camera's rear screen view to zoom in on the stars, slowly rotating the focus ring to ensure sharp focus. Some setups may even allow you to autofocus on the stars!

White Balance: Set around 4000K for a natural-looking sky colour.

Composing Your Night Sky Photographs

Foreground Interest: While the night sky alone can be beautiful, incorporating an interesting foreground adds depth and context to your image. Look for rocks, trees, or buildings that help create a more engaging scene and give your photograph a sense of place.

Star Composition Techniques: Early in the year (March to June), the Milky Way appears as a backslash on the eastern horizon in the evenings. Later (September to November), it forms an arch in the western sky. For the most dynamic compositions, try shooting when the Milky Way is around 25 degrees above the horizon. While an ultra-wide lens won't capture the entire arch (you'll need a panorama for that), focal lengths between 14-20mm work well for most Milky Way compositions.

Incorporating Reflections: Still water can create mirror images of the stars above. Lakes, rock pools, and wet sand work well for this. For the best reflections, shoot on calm nights and position yourself to capture the most interesting part of the sky in the reflection.

Capturing Difference Aspects of the Night Sky

Photographing the Milky Way: The galactic core is often the most striking part to photograph. Frame it rising above landscape features, keeping in mind its position changes throughout the year. The core's position and elevation affect your composition options significantly.

Creating Star-trail Images: Sony cameras excel at capturing star trails using the time-lapse mode, which ensures no gaps between frames. You can either combine multiple shorter exposures or take one long exposure (15+ minutes). Point your camera towards the South Celestial Pole to capture circular star trails around this point.

Moonlit Landscape Photography: A moon with less than 25% luminosity can actually help light your foreground while preserving star visibility. Even with a fuller moon, you can still capture starry night images when the moon is below the horizon. A dim moon often helps balance exposure between your foreground and the sky, though you'll need to adjust your settings accordingly.

Tips and Best Practices

Here are some practical tips to enhance your night sky photography:

Plan Ahead: Check weather forecasts and moon phases to choose the best nights for shooting. Apps like PhotoPills can help you plan Milky Way alignments.

Scout Locations: Visit potential sites during the day to plan compositions and identify any hazards. This will make navigating in the dark much easier.

Use Long Exposure Noise Reduction: This in-camera feature can help reduce noise in your images but be aware it doubles your exposure time.

Experiment with Light Painting: Gently illuminating foreground elements can add depth and interest to your nightscapes. Try and simulate moonlight, very dim torches often produce the best results.

Try Star Trails: For a different take on night sky photography, experiment with longer or multiple exposures to capture star trails.

Post-Processing: Learn to use software like Adobe Lightroom to bring out the best in your night sky images. Careful adjustments to contrast, clarity, and colour can make a big difference.

Safety Considerations

Safety is a big consideration when photographing at night because it can be challenging to see hazards in low light conditions. Always let someone know where you're going and when you expect to return. Carry a head torch, warm clothing, food, and water. Be aware of your surroundings, especially if there are cliffs or uneven terrain. Where possible, it's always a great idea to visit a location before it gets dark, so you know where to go and what to expect when the light levels fall.

Luke Tscharke

Hi there! I'm a landscape, nature, and travel photographer living and working in Hobart, Tasmania. Photography has always held a special place in my heart, but embarking on this career was initially unplanned. My background in science and biology didn't quite prepare me for the profound connection I would feel capturing nature's fleeting, beautiful moments. It was during one particular sunset, alone in the Tasmanian wilderness with my camera at the ready, as I watched a cloud over Barn Bluff ignite in a brilliant orange halo, that I felt more alive than ever before. In that moment, I understood—photographing the landscape was what I was meant to do with my life.

My work is deeply rooted in a love for the natural world, aiming to preserve its beauty and share its stories. Whether braving the wild elements or quietly observing a serene landscape, each photograph represents a chapter of my adventure, a testament to the extraordinary beauty that surrounds us.

One constant throughout my career has been my enjoyment of Sony cameras, starting with the DSC-V1 in 2002 and embracing the entire Alpha 7R line since 2014. This long-standing relationship with Sony gear has been a pivotal part of my photographic journey. I'm incredibly proud to be a Sony advocate, as their cameras have not only been with me every step of the way but also have continually pushed the boundaries of what I can capture. This commitment to using the latest gear is all part of my dedication to delivering breathtaking images.

Beyond photography, my love for bushwalking allows me to connect with the landscapes I photograph on a personal level, enriching my work with genuine appreciation and understanding of the natural world.

Looking forward, I'm excited to further explore nightscape and aurora photography, sharing the mesmerising beauty of the night sky. My aim is not just to capture images but to inspire others to see the world through a lens of wonder and exploration.

I am dedicated to connecting with fellow nature lovers and photographers. Through my workshops, prints, and stories, I aspire to inspire others to appreciate and document the beauty of our planet in their unique way. Come join me for a workshop online or down here in Tasmania!