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21st August 2012
Star Trails by mariaswaisland

Star Trails

42 / 365
I thought I would have a go at star trails tonight. I tried it a few days ago but my battery ran out, so tonight, armed with a fully charged battery, I gave it another go!

This view is taken looking up through the trees in our front garden. I find it really puts into perspective the fact that we, as a planet, are actually turning at such speed.

Also, a HUGE thank you to everyone that has been commenting and faving on my shot of two days ago, 'Sunset Bubble'. It has been on PP today and I feel very honoured to have it there amongst so many great photos!
Comments
wow, well done for this one - this is great and the tree silhouettes are fun too
posted August 21st, 2012  
nicely done ~ if we ever get to see the sky again here in Wales i may try this :-)
posted August 21st, 2012  
@shannew Thank you Shanne. Yes I liked the way trees looked too. I took some facing the other way, but we are a few miles from gatwick airport and can see it from our garden. We are also under the flight path so there was an unnatural looking line through the shot that I think was a plane. The trees framed the shot a lot better than I thought they would. :)
posted August 21st, 2012  
@alisonp Thank you Alison. :)
posted August 21st, 2012  
I can't do it, I'm right under the Stansted flight paths and too near London - no hope of anything
posted August 21st, 2012  
@shannew That's a shame. :(. You'll have to venture out into the countryside one night. :)
posted August 21st, 2012  
That's a lovely shot - it's worked really well!
posted August 21st, 2012  
@if1 Thank you Ian. :)
posted August 21st, 2012  
Gorgeous capture of the star trails.
posted August 22nd, 2012  
Ek
Great shot. I tried one years ago with a film camera (N70) that also ran out of batteries during the shot. I need to do another one...soon
posted August 22nd, 2012  
Very cool shot, we hardly get to see our stars what with lights around & clouds, this is wonderful!
posted August 22nd, 2012  
This is so nice, love how you've used the trees to frame it. I want to give it a go on a clear night and when it's not too cold!
posted August 22nd, 2012  
This is really awesome... How did you manage to do this is my question?
posted August 22nd, 2012  
posted August 22nd, 2012  
@renees Hi Renee, luckily, although we live under the flight path, we are also very rural so not too much light pollution from the nearest town. I set an aperture of f8.0 and iso of 100 (these settings were just personal preference from a few I tried). I then put my camera onto Bulb mode so that I could control the shutter speed. I triggered the shutter with my remote so as not to wobble the camera (camera on tripod, pointing straight up). I then left the shutter open for about 15 minutes, which resulted in the long exposure having the trails. A small crop in processing just to the left side to keep the trees looking even and this is the result. :)
posted August 22nd, 2012  
Awesome capture! Great trails!
posted August 22nd, 2012  
This is soooo cool :)
posted August 22nd, 2012  
Amazing Maria - its still miraculous to see how the stars move around even though we all know so much about the universe now!
posted August 22nd, 2012  
Great shot! I would like to do this too, but we have way too much light pollution :(
posted August 22nd, 2012  
Cool shot!
posted August 22nd, 2012  
Well done Maria, i have yet to try this!!!
posted August 22nd, 2012  
posted August 23rd, 2012  
Great shot!
posted August 23rd, 2012  
Wow...love this. I so want to try this!
posted August 23rd, 2012  
Oh wow! FAV
posted August 23rd, 2012  
posted August 23rd, 2012  
Wow, great star trails. I must try this one time.
posted August 24th, 2012  
WELL DONE AWESOME, thanks for the info.. once I get a little more experienced I'll give it a bash
posted August 24th, 2012  
@stuckinoz Thank you Janelle!

@renees Good luck Renee when you give it a go. :)
posted August 24th, 2012  
Thanks Maria
posted August 27th, 2012  
Ah, that's on my to do list too! Nice effect. You made a good start with your 365 project!
posted September 3rd, 2012  
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