Starry, starry night

twoodyyytoo
6 days ago
2 min read

Astro photography and Star trails in particular, are one of the most challenging assignments. I have tried on numerous occasions with mixed success.

Whenever we are away in areas with low light pollution, especially on nice evenings, I bring out the tripod, the shutter release and my torch.

Preferably pre plan where you are going to setup and ensure there is an interesting foreground and a clear view of the night sky.

In 2022 I tried to capture the view of a distant lightning storm from our deck at Gharagab in the Kgalagadi National Park. Unfortunately, the wind, a small vibration on the deck or perhaps just poor technique frustratingly resulted in a blurred image.

Distant, blurry thunderstorm at Gharagab 2022

Canon EOS 70D

f/6.3

ISO-100

2875 Second Exposure (Bulb)

Cable shutter release

On the same evening Alison did her own night sky photography with a much better outcome.

Even more impressively this was done with iPhone using a Gimble

Apple iPhone 12

f/1.6

1.1 Sec exposure

ISO-8000

+2.1 Step

Apple iPhone 12

f/1.6

1.1 Sec exposure

ISO-8000

+2.1 Step

iPhone 12

f/1.6

2 Sec exposure

ISO-4000

+1.1 Step

In August 2025 we were back in the Kgalagadi and after a few attempts both Alison and I managed to capture an adequate, if not perfect, star trail at Groot Kolk.

Annoyingly her new Canon R7 Mirrorless camera takes minutes to process the image after the exposure has been captured. Whereas my older DSLR 70D takes the same time as the exposure - in this case an hour.