Helena Joyce
Capturing the Milky Way in a light-polluted area is challenging, but possible. Light pollution is a growing problem, and city lights can ruin photographs. To overcome this, photographers often travel to remote locations, but some techniques and tools can help you shoot the Milky Way without leaving the city. The Expose To The Right (ETTR) method, for example, involves over-exposing the scene to capture enough light. You can also use light pollution filters, such as the Cokin Clearsky Light Pollution filter, to block specific colour spectrums emitted by street lamps. Additionally, planning tools like Milky Way Calendars, the Photopills app, and the Sky Map App can help you determine the best time and location for your shoot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Technique | Expose To The Right (ETTR) |
| Filter | Cokin Clearsky Light Pollution |
| Camera settings | Aperture: Maximum allowed by the lens, ISO: Maximum allowed by the camera with noise under control, Shutter speed: 15 seconds or more |
| Camera equipment | Sturdy tripod, remote camera trigger |
| Apps | Sky Map App (e.g. Star Walk, SkySafari), Milky Way Calendar, Photopills App, LightPollutionMap.app |
| Post-processing software | Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom |
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What You'll Learn
- Use a light pollution filter, such as the Cokin Clearsky Light Pollution filter, to block the orange/yellow glow of street lamps
- Use the ETTR (Expose to the Right) technique to capture enough light in highly light-polluted areas
- Plan your shoot for when there is less moonlight, using Milky Way calendars and apps like Photopills to check moon illumination and galactic visibility
- Use a sturdy tripod to avoid camera shake during long exposures
- Use a remote camera trigger to avoid camera movement and causing motion blur
Use a light pollution filter, such as the Cokin Clearsky Light Pollution filter, to block the orange/yellow glow of street lamps
The Cokin Clearsky Light Pollution filter is an essential tool for photographers looking to capture the Milky Way in light-polluted environments. This specialised filter targets and blocks the specific yellow/orange colour spectrum emitted by common street lamps, which can be a nightmare for astrophotographers. The sodium and mercury vapour lamp spectrums are bright and can travel long distances, making them highly visible in astro-photographs taken with long exposures.
The Cokin Clearsky filter blocks this unwanted light before it reaches your camera sensor, preventing the yellow/orange glow from polluting your images. This results in cleaner, more accurate colours that require less time-consuming colour correction in post-processing. The filter's effectiveness can vary depending on the strength of the light source and the amount of atmospheric haze present.
By using the Cokin Clearsky Light Pollution filter, you can mitigate the negative impact of light pollution on your Milky Way photography. This filter is designed to address the specific colour spectrum of street lamp light pollution, enhancing your images and saving you time in post-production.
Additionally, you can employ techniques such as the "expose to the right" (ETTR) method, which involves overexposing the scene to capture enough light. This technique is particularly useful in conditions of extreme light pollution. Remember to also utilise your camera's settings, such as adjusting the aperture, ISO, and focal length, to optimise your Milky Way shots.
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Use the ETTR (Expose to the Right) technique to capture enough light in highly light-polluted areas
The Expose to the Right (ETTR) technique is a useful method for capturing the Milky Way in light-polluted areas. ETTR involves overexposing the scene to capture as much light as possible. This results in images with a better signal-to-noise ratio, as seen in the histogram, which appears stacked to the right.
To achieve the ETTR effect, increase the exposure time and push the histogram as far right as possible without clipping the highlights. This can be done by reducing the exposure slider and adjusting the histogram to stack more towards the centre of the graph. However, be cautious not to overexpose too much, as important details may be lost and cannot be corrected in post-processing. Start with one stop of overexposure and gradually increase if needed.
While ETTR can help capture the Milky Way in light-polluted areas, it has limitations and may result in noisy images. Post-processing is required to enhance the details of the Milky Way, particularly the galactic core. Additionally, the ISO settings can be adjusted to manage noise levels. Lower ISOs, such as 400 or 800, can help achieve low noise levels without requiring very high ISO values.
The ETTR technique is most effective in locations with low contrast and dynamic range. It may not work in all areas with varying degrees of light pollution, and different workflows and shooting techniques might be needed to capture the Milky Way. It is worth noting that the Milky Way's position changes seasonally, and planning your shoot during periods of less moonlight can help reduce light pollution.
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Plan your shoot for when there is less moonlight, using Milky Way calendars and apps like Photopills to check moon illumination and galactic visibility
Planning your shoot for when there is less moonlight is crucial for capturing the Milky Way in light-polluted areas. Fortunately, there are various tools available, such as Milky Way calendars and apps like Photopills, that can help you determine the optimal times for your photography endeavours.
Milky Way calendars, such as those provided by Capture the Atlas, offer valuable insights into moon illumination and galactic visibility for different regions worldwide. These calendars provide dates, moon illumination details, galactic visibility, and the position of the Milky Way. By referring to these calendars, you can strategically plan your shoots to coincide with periods of reduced moonlight, increasing your chances of capturing clearer images of the Milky Way.
Photopills, a popular app among photographers, offers a comprehensive suite of features to aid in planning your Milky Way shoots. The app provides detailed information about moon phases, moonrise and moonset times, and, most importantly, galactic centre visibility. By tapping into Photopills' Moon Pill feature, you can access critical data about moon phases, including new moons, full moons, and crescent moons. This knowledge will help you identify the nights best suited for Milky Way photography.
The Planner feature within Photopills allows you to set the date and time of your shoot. It also includes a Galactic Center Visibility Panel, enabling you to visualise when and where the Milky Way's galactic centre will appear in the night sky. This functionality ensures that you can strategically plan your shoots to align with optimal visibility conditions. Additionally, Photopills offers augmented reality capabilities, allowing you to confirm the direction of the Milky Way on location. This feature enhances your ability to compose and frame your photographs effectively.
By utilising both Milky Way calendars and apps like Photopills, you can effectively plan your shoots to minimise the impact of moonlight. This proactive approach ensures that you are well-informed about moon illumination and galactic visibility, increasing the likelihood of capturing stunning images of the Milky Way, even in light-polluted environments.
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Use a sturdy tripod to avoid camera shake during long exposures
When shooting the Milky Way, you will be working with long exposures (15 seconds or more), so it is essential to have a sturdy tripod to avoid camera shake during these long exposures. A flimsy tripod will shake during the exposure, especially if there is a light wind, and this will blur your photograph.
To avoid this, invest in a good-quality tripod that is strong enough to support your camera and lens without shaking. Check the weight capacity of the tripod to ensure it can handle your equipment. You should also consider the tripod's height and adjustability to ensure you can achieve the desired angle and height for your shots.
Another option is to use a remote camera trigger or a hard-wired shutter release that connects to your camera's USB/accessory port. This will allow you to take the picture without touching the camera, reducing the risk of camera shake. If neither of these options is available, set your camera's timer to go off a few seconds after you press the shutter button to minimise the risk of shake.
A sturdy tripod is a crucial piece of equipment for astrophotography and will ensure your images are sharp and clear, even with long exposure times.
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Use a remote camera trigger to avoid camera movement and causing motion blur
When shooting the Milky Way in light-polluted skies, it is important to avoid any camera movement that can cause motion blur and ruin your photograph. To do this, it is recommended to use a remote camera trigger.
One option is to use your camera's app to trigger the shutter remotely. This allows you to take the shot without physically touching the camera, reducing the risk of motion blur. Another option is to use a hard-wired shutter release cable that connects to your camera's USB or accessory port. This cable allows you to trigger the shutter without touching the camera itself, preventing accidental movement.
If you don't have access to a remote or a cable, you can also use your camera's built-in timer function. By setting a delay of at least 3 seconds, you can press the shutter button and let go before the timer goes off, reducing the chances of camera shake.
Using a remote trigger or the timer function is especially important when shooting the night sky, as any movement during the long exposure times can result in blurry images. By avoiding camera movement, you can ensure that your photographs of the Milky Way are sharp and clear, even in light-polluted environments.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning the “Expose to the Right” (ETTR) technique, which is specifically designed to overcome conditions of extreme light pollution. This technique involves over-exposing the scene to capture enough light and improve the visibility of the Milky Way. However, it is important to note that ETTR has its limitations and may not work in all light-polluted areas, requiring further post-processing to enhance the details of the Milky Way.
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Frequently asked questions
A technique called Expose To The Right (ETTR) can be used to overcome conditions of extreme light pollution. ETTR involves over-exposing the scene so that enough light is captured.
Set your camera to Bulb mode and adjust the aperture to 2.8, ISO to 6400, and focal length to 16mm. Remember to shoot in RAW format.
Yes, Sky Map Apps such as Star Walk or SkySafari can help you locate the Milky Way. The Photopills App can also help you confirm the direction of the Milky Way and plan the paths of the Sun, Moon, and Milky Way using its Augmented Reality Night mode.
A sturdy tripod is essential to avoid camera shake during long exposures. A remote camera trigger is also recommended for exposures longer than 30 seconds.
You can use software like Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Lightroom to enhance your photos. Adjust the exposure slider, histogram, saturation, vibrance, white balance, contrast, and tone curve to bring out the details of the Milky Way.
