PRO ADVICE
Expert insight to help you take your best-ever astro shots, filled with beautiful starry skies
1 Focus in the dark
Our favourite way to focus in the dark is to have a friend point a powerful torch at your foreground, so your AF can lock on easily.
2 Dark sky locations
Have a look online for ‘dark sky’ locations close to you: they will give you the best astro opportunities, with low light pollution.
3 Turn the noise down
Enable Long Exposure Noise Reduction for cleaner astro images – this will cause a delay between shots, so it’s unsuitable for star trails.
4 Sharp stars
Aim for shutter speeds less than 30 seconds long if you want the stars to appear as pinpoints of light; boost the ISO if you need to.
5 Use the rear screen
If you’re focusing on the stars to make them pin-sharp, zoom in on your screen in Live View mode so you can see the focus clearly.
Top techniques for astro shots
Three top tips for taking better photos of the night sky
6 Set up on a tripod
A tripod is a must when you shoot at night: it will allow you to accurately compose and lock offthe framing for the long exposures needed to achieve a good result in lower light levels. Use the thickest leg sections first and hang your kit bag off it as ballast if you need more down force.
7 Boost the ISO
This story is from the February 2023 edition of PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine.
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This story is from the February 2023 edition of PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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