How to Photograph Star Trails in 6 Simple Steps

Taking pictures of star trails might seem challenging, but it’s quite achievable. Follow this straightforward guide to begin your astrophotography journey:

Choose a Dark Location

To capture clear star trails, pick a spot with minimal artificial light. The darker the area, the better your images will be. You can use online light pollution maps to evaluate the darkness of your chosen site. Here in New Zealand, we’re fortunate to have many truly dark sky locations (Bortle Class 1), such as the Central Plateau in the North Island or much of the South Island away from towns. Class 2 zones can also produce good results, but Class 3 areas (near smaller towns) are generally not worth the effort. Another tip: even if there’s some light pollution nearby, aim your camera toward a darker part of the sky.

Also consider the moon phase—shooting when the moon is below the horizon makes stars appear brighter. A sliver of moon can illuminate the foreground nicely, but it’s best to avoid shooting when the moon is more than 20% illuminated. Apps like PhotoPills can help you plan around lunar phases.

Use the Right Equipment

Essential gear includes:

A camera with a wide-angle lens (e.g., full-frame 16–35mm f/2.8 or a prime lens around 14–24mm with a wide aperture like f/1.4–f/1.8; even an f/4 lens can work)

A fully charged battery or an external power source for long sessions

A sturdy tripod to keep the camera completely still

An intervalometer remote (unless your camera has a built-in interval shooting mode). Basic timers work, but they require you to stay close to the camera—which isn’t ideal in cold conditions. Set your intervalometer with the exposure length, no delay, a 1-second gap between shots, and the total number of exposures

Warm clothing and supplies (sleeping bag, chair, hot drinks) if you plan to stay outside during winter shoots

Adjust Your Camera Settings

Mount your camera securely on the tripod.

Switch to manual focus. Use your camera’s zoom function to focus on a bright star, adjusting until it appears sharp and small. Don’t assume infinity focus is correct—most lenses have a unique sweet spot.

Set a low ISO (around 400–800) to minimize noise.

Select a wide aperture (between f/1.4 and f/4) to capture more light. A narrower aperture (e.g., f/4) offers greater depth of field but requires longer exposures.

Choose your shutter speed based on how long you want the star trails. Longer exposures create longer trails.

Take a test shot to check exposure before starting the full sequence.

You can capture a separate foreground exposure before or after the star trail sequence.

Determine Exposure Length and Session Duration

There are different approaches to exposure length. Some photographers take many short shots (e.g., 30 seconds) and blend them—this requires more storage and processing time. Others prefer longer exposures (8–10 minutes) with fewer total frames.

Longer exposures allow more light, better foreground detail, lower ISO, and smaller file sizes. However, if one exposure fails, it can create a gap in the trails. Longer exposures may also produce thermal noise (hot pixels), especially on warm nights.

Aim for at least 90 minutes of shooting for noticeable trails. You can shoot all night if you have enough battery.

Compose Your Shot Thoughtfully

A compelling foreground greatly enhances star trail images. In the Southern Hemisphere, pointing south produces classic circular trails (circumpolar trails). In the Northern Hemisphere, aim north.

You can also shoot east or west for linear star paths. For example, New Zealand photographer Andrew Francombe captured a beautiful westward-facing star trail image at Cathedral Cove using 10-minute exposures over three hours.

Use PhotoPills for Planning

PhotoPills is an essential tool for planning shoots. It shows moon phases, Milky Way position, and light conditions for any location and time.

Use the Night AR mode to preview the sky during the day and confirm your composition. This helps you avoid unwanted elements (like the Milky Way) and pick the best shooting window.

Editing Your Star Trail Images

Use stacking software like StarStax (free) or Photoshop to blend your images.

StarStax is user-friendly and offers fun modes like “comet style,” but it works best with JPEGs.

Photoshop supports RAW files and provides more editing flexibility. To stack in Photoshop, open your images as layers, select “Lighten” blending mode, and merge. You can then fine-tune the final TIFF file in Lightroom.

Final Thoughts

Star trail photography combines technical skill and artistic vision. With a dark sky, the right gear, and some practice, you can create stunning images of the night sky. Remember to experiment with settings, plan ahead, and most importantly—enjoy the process!

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