Astrophotography: Capturing the Wonders of the Night Sky
- Jen Brand
- Jun 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 13
Astrophotography is a captivating blend of artistry and science. The thrill of capturing the cosmos can be incredibly rewarding. With the right techniques and preparation, you can elevate your images of the night sky and create stunning visuals. This guide will walk you through my approach to combining focus stacking with Milky Way photography, helping you achieve breathtaking results.
Understanding Focus Stacking
Focus stacking helps photographers achieve a greater depth of field. In astrophotography, both the foreground and distant stars must be in sharp focus. This challenge is particularly evident when shooting wide-angle landscapes.
To create a focus-stacked image, take multiple shots of the same scene at varying focal points. For instance, if you have a vibrant foreground with detailed textures, capturing multiple images at different focal depths is crucial. Later, these images can be blended in post-processing to produce one final image where all elements are clear.
Remember to use a stable tripod and either a remote shutter release or your camera’s timer. This minimizes any vibrations that could blur your shots.
Preparing for Blue Hour Shots
Blue hour, occurring just before sunrise or after sunset, is a magical time for photography. During this period, the sky takes on a deep blue hue, providing a stunning backdrop for your foreground.
Choosing Your Location
When selecting your location, look for interesting features. Large trees, dramatic rock formations, or historical buildings can add depth and interest to your composition. Arriving at your spot before the sun sets allows you time to prepare.
In my experience, arriving an hour before sunset lets me explore different angles and compose my shot effectively.
Capturing the Foreground
As the blue hour fully sets in, it's time to focus on your foreground elements. Utilizing a wide-angle lens is beneficial as it captures more of the landscape in your frame.
Aim for an aperture setting between f/8 and f/11. This range strikes a balance between allowing light in while maintaining sharpness. For example, I took multiple shots at different focus points to cover the entire foreground, from rocks in the front to distant mountains.
Compositing the Focus Stack
After capturing a series of images for your foreground, the next step is compositing these photos. Software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom can help you layer and blend these images into one.
Addressing Artifacts
Make sure to check for any ghosting artifacts caused by moving elements like leaves or grass, which can detract from your final image. Keeping an eye out for these details ensures the clarity and quality of your photo.
Transitioning to the Milky Way - Astrophotography
Once you have captured your foreground pictures, it’s time to photograph the Milky Way. Aim for locations with minimal light pollution, as this greatly enhances star visibility. Apps like Star Walk or PhotoPills can guide you on optimal times for photographing the Milky Way. I personally use PhotoPills.
In my experience, the Milky Way becomes clearly visible right after astro twilight, allowing me to start shooting shortly after hiking back to my car. At the trailhead next to my car, I began shooting the Milky Way.
Selecting Camera Settings for the Milky Way
When shooting the Milky Way, use a wide aperture of f/2.8 to f/4. This allows your camera to capture as much light as possible. Adjust your ISO to around 1600 to 3200 to balance star visibility and noise reduction. For this shot, I bumped my exposure to 4000 when I started noticing the airglow. Typically, though, I rarely shoot that high when I don't see airglow.
In addition, I usually shoot astrophotography with a prime lens, like the Sony 20mm f/1.8, but for some reason, I felt drawn to the Sigma 24-70 Art II lens that evening.
For the shutter speed, avoid creating star trails by keeping it between 20 and 30 seconds. Manually focus on a bright star or distant light to ensure sharpness in your shot, then take a test shot. Remember to turn off long exposure in your camera settings to prevent star trails.
Shooting the Milky Way
Once everything is set, take multiple exposures of the Milky Way. This is your chance to capture the breathtaking details and colors of the galaxy. Regularly check your images during long exposures to ensure all settings are spot on, and be vigilant for changes in ambient light.
After your shoot, evaluate your images to find the best exposure that captures the essence of your vision.
Finalizing Your Image
The final step is blending your focus-stacked foreground with the Milky Way shot. In your editing software, overlay the Milky Way image over your focus stack.
Color and Contrast Adjustments
Adjust layers to blend them seamlessly, tweaking colors and contrast to bring out the stars. In this case, I dodged a lot in and around the core of the Milky Way to make it pop. Adding a touch of noise reduction can smooth out any graininess in the Milky Way image.
Capturing the Cosmos
Astrophotography, with its focus stacking and Milky Way techniques, is not just about taking pictures; it’s an adventure. Each step—from preparation to technical exposure settings—creates new paths for stunning images.
Embrace Your Journey
As you grow your astrophotography skills, experiment with different compositions and settings. Each night offers unique lighting and landscapes, waiting for you to capture through your lens. Note that I am fairly new to astrophotography, but I had a very skillful teacher!
I have plenty more to learn, but once you understand the basics, the sky is your oyster!
With practice and exploration, you'll create incredible astro photographs that reveal the beauty of the night sky.
xo,
J
