Step 1: Choose the Right Location.

Find a location away from city lights and light pollution. Look for a spot with a clear view of the night sky. National parks, rural areas, or high elevation locations are ideal but your own back garden can work too!

 

Step 2: Prepare Your Equipment. 

Make sure you have the necessary equipment for astrophotography. You will need a camera with manual settings, a lens with a low aperture (f/2.8 or lower is ideal but up to f/6 should be ok), a sturdy tripod, and a remote shutter release. 

 

Step 3: Set Up Your Camera.

Mount your camera securely on the tripod. Attach the lens and make sure it is clean. Set your camera to manual mode and disable any image stabilization or noise reduction settings. Set the ISO to a high value (e.g., 1600 or 3200) to capture more light.

 

Step 4: Frame Your Shot.

Compose your shot by pointing your camera towards the area of the sky you want to capture. Consider including interesting foreground elements to add depth to your photo (For widefield Astrophotography). Experiment with different angles and compositions.

 

Step 5: Focus on the Stars.

Switch your lens to manual focus and set it to infinity. If your lens has a focus scale, align it with the infinity symbol (∞). Then use the live view mode to manually focus on a bright star or distant light source.

 

Step 6: Adjust Camera Settings.

Set your shutter speed to a long exposure time. Start with a shutter speed of around 20-30 seconds for wide field and adjust if you see trailing stars). If you are shooting a deep sky object at a larger focal length (between 50 and 300mm, then you need to limit your shutter speed to around 0.5 to 5 seconds) Open up the aperture to its widest setting to let in more light. Experiment with different settings to achieve the desired effect.

 

Step 7: Use a Remote Shutter Release.

To avoid camera shake, use a remote shutter release or set a timer delay on your camera. This will minimize any movement caused by pressing the shutter button.

 

Step 8: Take Test Shots.

Take a few test shots to check the exposure and composition. Review the images on your camera's LCD screen and make adjustments if necessary. Pay attention to the histogram to ensure you're capturing a good range of light.

 

Step 9: Capture the Night Sky.

Once you're satisfied with your settings, continue to take multiple exposures as you will stack them later. Note that the earth rotates and you will need to re-centre your target every 5-20 mins (depending on your focal length). Carefully do this with the tripod. 

 

Step 10: Stacking & Processing. 

Once you have finished, Transfer your images to your computer and use stacking software such as Deep Sky Stacker or Siril to stack your images together. Then use photo editing software to enhance your astrophotograph. Adjust the levels, contrast, and colours to bring out the details. Be careful not to over-process and maintain a natural look.

 

Remember, untracked astrophotography requires practice and patience. Experiment with different techniques and settings to improve your skills. Enjoy the process and have fun capturing the beauty of the night sky!

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See some of my untracked astrophotography images below.