My First "Real Camera" Milky Way Shot: Lessons Learned
After experimenting with astrophotography on my phone, I finally took the plunge and used a proper camera for my first attempt at capturing the majestic Milky Way. It's a whole new world of possibilities!
The Setup
Here's the gear and settings I used for this adventure:
- Camera: Nikon D750
- Lens: Nikon AF 50mm F/1.8
- Mount: Standard tripod (nontracked)
- ISO: 3200
- Exposure: 10 x 15 seconds
- Sky Conditions: Bortle 4
The Process
I stacked the individual 15-second exposures using Siril, a fantastic free and open-source tool for astrophotography. Following the stacking, I refined the image in Lightroom to bring out the details of our galaxy.
The Result
Here's the culmination of my first attempt:
Key Takeaways
This experience, while rewarding, also highlighted some essential lessons for future shoots:
- Shoot in RAW! This is the most crucial piece of advice I can give myself (and anyone else starting out). Shooting in RAW gives you so much more flexibility in post-processing to recover details, adjust white balance, and bring out the subtle colors in the nebula and stars. JPEGs are much more limiting.
- Experiment with stacking. While Siril did a great job, understanding different stacking techniques and their impact on noise reduction and detail enhancement will be important.
- Plan your shots. Knowing the best time and location for Milky Way visibility is key. My Bortle 4 sky was a good start, but even better skies await!
I'm excited to apply these lessons to my next astrophotography session and share more of the cosmos with you all!
