Star Trails help

[sjlund]

Can someone give me advice on how to eliminate the gaps between the 30-second stacked exposures?

100% Crop
http://sjlund.smugmug.com/photos/626958834_HbYve-O.jpg

Is this just something you have to live with when using this technique?

I used startrails.exe.

Each shot was f/5.6, ISO400, 30 seconds. They were shot from a tripod using a remote shutter release.

Thanks for any advice!

[Adrena1in]

I think this is something you have to live with I'm afraid. Even if there's only a second or two between exposures, there's going to be a tiny gap. There might be a PhotoShop trick to eliminate them I guess, but not sure of any.

[ryant35]

Why would you limit yourself to just 30 seconds? Lower your ISO and shoot for 5 minutes or more.

[sjlund]

For anyone else that may have this question, running the "diffuse" photoshop filter on the sky field eliminates the gaps on all but the dimmest stars.

http://sjlund.smugmug.com/photos/629176151_ifDKC-O.jpg

[sjlund]

Why would you limit yourself to just 30 seconds? Lower your ISO and shoot for 5 minutes or more.

A couple of reasons... Sometimes the foreground would completely blow out in 5 minutes or more. 5 minute exposures are also pretty noisy!

[ryant35]

A couple of reasons... Sometimes the foreground would completely blow out in 5 minutes or more. 5 minute exposures are also pretty noisy!


Not so much noise at ISO 100 if your shot is exposed properly. I guess that also depends on what camera you have.

[siddr20]

For anyone else that may have this question, running the "diffuse" photoshop filter on the sky field eliminates the gaps on all but the dimmest stars.

^ GREAT TIP!! thanks

[Sorarse]

Why would you limit yourself to just 30 seconds? Lower your ISO and shoot for 5 minutes or more.

Light pollution is also a problem. A 5 minute exposure would blow out the sky in a lot of locations.