03-09-11 – Stars

I tend to do that generally. I call it ‘the shotgun approach’ 😛

Speaking of… anyone have thoughts on a shot where the the stars are prevalent, but a backdrop to the moon? Loving an astro shot, but with my rig the stars all look like pin pricks in cardboard.

Might be pushing it, but star drivers (it’s a tool) okay? They’re kind of star shaped, but not the typical 5-point star.

There is more to this contest’s rules than astrophotography (NTTAWWT), and I think the non-AP folks just need to get creative… lotsa room for the unexpected, here…

Might be pushing it, but star drivers (it’s a tool) okay? They’re kind of star shaped, but not the typical 5-point star.

Yep. They’re OK. As long as you have something starry, this is a pretty open theme. Be creative!

I tend to do that generally. I call it ‘the shotgun approach’ 😛

Speaking of… anyone have thoughts on a shot where the the stars are prevalent, but a backdrop to the moon? Loving an astro shot, but with my rig the stars all look like pin pricks in cardboard.

Pinprick stars is a good thing, actually. APers pull a lot of hair over making sure they come out that way. The hardest part of stars is getting their colors to show, like this guy managed to do:
Note the stars are not pinpricks, but that’s due to a smaller objective lens (101mm in this case). That’s from this guy’s site, BTW: http://www.dilbertobs.com/ccdimages.html …he just had a great example of color in a star cluster (/me weeps at own lack of optics to try this stuff with)

Getting the moon AND stars in the same shot is going to require some serious HDR… typical stars at mag 2, say, in the field with the moon at something like mag -10. It’s a huge difference in brightness.

Pinprick stars is a good thing, actually. APers pull a lot of hair over making sure they come out that way. The hardest part of stars is getting their colors to show, like this guy managed to do:
Note the stars are not pinpricks, but that’s due to a smaller objective lens (101mm in this case). That’s from this guy’s site, BTW: http://www.dilbertobs.com/ccdimages.html …he just had a great example of color in a star cluster (/me weeps at own lack of optics to try this stuff with)

I’m not an AP’er by any means, but those are seriously cool.

Getting the moon AND stars in the same shot is going to require some serious HDR… typical stars at mag 2, say, in the field with the moon at something like mag -10. It’s a huge difference in brightness.

Not necessarily 😀
http://www.follandfamily.com/TF/farktography/110309.stars/eclipse-6939_sm_web.JPG
(I’ve got one other I’m considering but haven’t PP’d yet. Fewer background stars but better moon – shorter exposure)

Remembered this one, and I’ll likely enter it, but I’m willing to be out classed: There’s a star in my apple. I’ll be surprised if I’m the only one who knows that.

Knew, had forgotten! And very often, simplicity pays in votes.

I could have saved me $18 at the botanical garden, had I thunk it…

Thanks to those of you who pushed me towards some creativety. It’s been a difficult last 6 months and I was at low ebb. I’ve got two that I’m willing to enter and have an idea for a third. Sometime you just need a gentle shove. Thanks!