Looking To The Heavens
The Milky Way over Deer Harbor - Orcas Island, Washington
I love watching the sun go down and watching as the stars come out, just a few at first - then countless stars, planets and galaxies unfold before your eyes. As a photographer, Milky Way photography offers a truly mesmerizing view of our vast galaxy, presenting the night sky's beauty in a manner that is not only captivating but also deeply awe-inspiring. The intricate details of the Milky Way, comprising an array of stars, nebulae, and dust clouds, form an elaborate tapestry that serves as a breathtaking backdrop for photographers aiming to immortalize the splendors of the cosmos. The art of capturing the Milky Way demands a blend of patience, expertise, and the appropriate gear, turning it into a gratifying challenge suitable for photographers at any proficiency level. Whether set against a tranquil landscape or mirrored on still waters, Milky Way photography possesses a unique capability to evoke a profound sense of marvel and peace in its audience, rendering it a favored option for individuals eager to infuse a hint of the universe's magic into their living or working spaces.
While I’m no expert at Milky Way photography, I was bitten by the bug one summer’s evening on beautiful Orcus Island. Located in the San Juan Islands on the northwest coast of Washington state, its serene beauty by day is only eclipsed by the stars overhead at night. It’s very dark there which affords magnificent star viewing. It had been a very warm day and the warmth carried over into the summer night. I walked down to Deer Harbor docks taking in the unique aroma of summer plants and the ocean in the harbor. As I walked out onto the docks I stopped to take it all in and what I saw took my breath away. There to the south was the core of the Milky Way over San Juan Island! My jaw dropped seeing it so clearly and I knew I had to try to capture the moment but how? I didn’t have my big camera or tripod, just a small travel camera. It did have night settings for stars but I’d never used them before. Determined to try, I changed the settings to night/star mode and added a 2 second delay to reduce camera shake when I pressed the shutter release.
My next challenge was where and how to set up since I didn’t have my tripod. The best shot seemed to be up where I could include some of the boats and dock in the foreground. There was a railing there I could set the camera on but it wasn’t pointing up high enough. With nothing else around, I used the strap to prop it up at the right angle and prayed it didn’t tip over and fall into the water! I then rechecked everything, set it back up and gently pressed the shutter release. After two seconds it began taking a long-exposure picture letting the starlight in. The test shot looked promising but the dock lights were too bright and threatened to drown everything else out. I made another adjustment and tried again. Closer… One more and bingo! The right amount of light on the docks and still I was able to capture the Milky Way. I was elated - and hooked!
For me, star gazing and chasing the Milky Way is a spiritual experience. Looking out into the vastness of space, it’s easy to see that we are so small by comparison. Psalm 19:1 says the heavens are telling of the glory of God, and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. To capture a moment of Milky Way magic and being able to share that moment is a great honor for me. I hope that this and other similar works evoke a deep sense and awe and wonder for you.
Shooting the Stars: Believe it or not, it doesn’t take fancy or expensive gear to take pictures of the stars or Milky Way. Sure they can help expand your options but even a modest camera or your cell phone camera can take star pictures. Here’s a few tips:
To take star pictures with your cell phone, find a location away from city lights to minimize light pollution. Use a tripod or prop your phone against a stable surface to avoid camera shake. Adjust your phone's settings to a high ISO (start at 800), long exposure (around 15-30 seconds), and manual focus set to infinity. Some phones have a Night Mode that takes a 3-5 second exposure which you can try. Experiment with different exposure times to capture the stars clearly without streaks. If you’re getting “streaky” stars reduce the exposure time. Consider using editing apps to enhance your star photos' brightness and clarity. Remember that practice and patience are key to mastering this type of photography with your cell phone.
Using your camera, check for a night or star mode. If it has one, start with that. If not, use a tripod, set your camera to Manual mode, set your Aperture to the lowest f stop possible like f 2.0, and set ISO to Auto or start at 800. Also set your camera to at least a 2 second delay to reduce camera shake when you press the shutter button. Your camera may have difficulty finding anything to focus on so turn it to Manual focus and zoom in on the brightest star you can find. Zoom back out when you’ve got the best focus possible. Take a test shot and adjust your settings as needed. Again, consider using editing apps to enhance your picture’s brightness and clarity. Patience and practice and keys to getting better at taking night pictures.
Foregrounds make it interesting and provide perspective against the vastness of space.
If you seriously get the bug to chase the Milky Way, consider taking a class from an expert. While you can learn a lot from a bunch of YouTube videos, you can learn more and get feedback from great instructors like Kristine Rose and her Milky Way Magic course.
Tons of training options and apps help you improve and even plan your shoot like Photo Pils (yup - funny name but it will show you where the MW can be seen from any point on earth). Be safe and go chase some stars!
Explore - Capture - Inspire