A Celestial Dance: 7 Hours of Star Trails and an Aurora Surprise!
This past weekend, I embarked on a dedicated astrophotography mission from my farm here in Australia. The goal? To capture the mesmerizing movement of the stars across the night sky over an extended period. The result? A stunning 7-hour star trail image, made even more spectacular by an unexpected guest: the Aurora Australis!
Capturing the Cosmos
The magic happened thanks to some serious dedication and the right gear. I used my Sony A7RV paired with a Laowa 15mm lens, set to a wide aperture of f/2.8. To capture the natural colors of the stars, I dialed in a white balance of 4400K, with a slight boost in saturation to really bring out those celestial hues. Each exposure was 2 minutes long, at ISO 320. I opted for a lower ISO, finding that higher settings tended to blow out the stars and diminish their vibrant colors.
In total, I took 210 individual photos, which were then meticulously stacked using Affinity Photo to create this seamless trail of starlight. Keeping the camera running for all 7 hours required an external battery pack – a necessary tool for such an ambitious shoot!
The Unexpected Aurora Spectacle
As I began processing the images the next morning, I was absolutely thrilled to discover that approximately 30 minutes of the Aurora Australis had graced my frames. This ethereal phenomenon, often called the Southern Lights, painted a soft pink glow across the horizon, adding an incredible layer of natural wonder to the star trails.
It's always rewarding when nature decides to put on a show, and the Aurora Australis is a particularly special treat! This experience reinforces my belief that sometimes, the most extraordinary moments in photography are the ones we don't plan for.
Technical Notes:
- Camera: Sony A7RV
- Lens: Laowa 15mm
- Aperture: f/2.8
- ISO: 320
- Exposure: 2 minutes per shot
- Total Photos: 210
- Stacking Software: Affinity Photo
- White Balance: 4400K (with saturation boost for emphasis)
I'm incredibly pleased with how this shot turned out and the unexpected visual elements that came together. It's a testament to the beauty of the night sky and the thrill of capturing its fleeting moments.
