I have a sad life....

fjrabon · Dec 15, 2012

molested_cow said:
Just lots of air planes running into my shot!

ah, that makes more sense.

NancyMoranG · Dec 16, 2012

Both are great shots, and hope I can get one even close to it one day.
as a newb, you stacked photos ? Wouldn't leaving shutter open give you same effect of star trails? No PP products, but does the Windows Live Gallery or the Nikon program (with my camera purchase) do anything like stacking
thank you, and happy shooting,
Nancy

molested_cow · Dec 16, 2012

Nancy, yes you can, but there are many more risks.

If you are shooting film, you will do it in one attempt. However, you will not know if the setting is successful until you get the print.

In digital, there is a risk of damaging the censor if you expose(over heat) for too long. Well, that's really not a related issue here, but just a warning.

The reason why I did stacking is I can test the setting before going for the full exposure. I decided that I wanted to do 5min exposures each, so I can check the setting at the end of the first exposure. If I like it, it will be set to go. If not, I keep on tweaking.

Secondly, a lot of things can happen within that 45min of total exposure time. A boat with light can wonder into the shot. Clouds can move in. Rain may start pouring. If you are shooting a 45min exposure in one attempt, that shot will be ruined and you will have to do it all over again. Doing it in separate shots means you can save what you already have. It also gives me more to play with for post processing, editing things I want to exclude etc.

I don't think Nikon or windows gallery allows you to do stacking. It's basically layers over lapping each other. You choose what you want to keep or exclude. I am using photoshop. I don't know if Photoshop elements or light room allows you to do it. Perhaps others can chime in.