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Author Topic:   Tips for photographing nighttime rocket launches
JBoe
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Posts: 959
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 11-21-2013 04:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Tuesday night was my first ever viewing of a space event and even though it was a little chilly and there was a delay it was well worth it. I did bring the camera and well those pictures won't be making it no where near here!

But I was wondering if anyone had advice in how to photograph a night launch and capturing such a small target in the night sky. I found that autofocus was a big pain. Thanks again for the help!

Glint
Member

Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 11-21-2013 08:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Glint   Click Here to Email Glint     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's what I do for fixed photographs such as this one.
  1. Use a tripod.
  2. Use a cable release, if available, to avoid jiggling the camera. (Alternatively, you could use the shutter's self-timer, but you might miss a few seconds of ascent waiting for the shutter to open.)
  3. You can use the bulb 'B' exposure setting, or select your camera's longest shutter setting (i.e. 30 seconds).
  4. Use a fast speed setting of at least iso 400.
  5. Use a moderately fast aperture setting, say f5.6, but not too wide open as it will help compensate for minor focusing errors.
  6. Pre-focus if possible. If there's enough light to focus on the horizon, do so. If not, use the moon or a bright planet or star - whatever's available. Once focused, switch to manual focus so that the camera won't go crazy trying to focus when you want to take the shot.
  7. Once you've seen a launch from a given site you'll know which direction to point the camera next time.
And don't be afraid to experiment. Others may have additional tips I've missed as well. Good luck!

SpaceDust
Member

Posts: 115
From: Louisville, Ky USA
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 11-21-2013 12:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceDust     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is a little old since it was for a night shuttle launch, but maybe it will help you and others out.

Gonzo
Member

Posts: 596
From: Lansing, MI, USA
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 11-21-2013 03:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gonzo   Click Here to Email Gonzo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Glint - your rule 3 is only good for stationary objects or at least objects that move VERY slowly (like the stars/moon). The problem is, with a long shutter time, the object moves and becomes blurred. Since the OP was asking about a launch, a long shutter time would give him/her a long streak as the craft moves through the sky.

So, if you are tying to take a shot of a rocket at night, that will be a tough row to hoe. The problem is, the brightness of the flame is going to either overexpose or underexpose the rest of the frame. For example, if you try to expose to get the rocket in the dark, the flame will be severely overexposed. On the other hand, if you shut down your exposure to get something of the flame, you will lose the ship and probably most of the rest of the scene. So it would be best to overexpose the flame and go for the rest of the scene.

To do that, since the rocket will be moving (quite quickly actually), you'll want a SHORT shutter speed to stop the motion. But to do that at night, you'll need very fast film (minimum ASA 800, probably 1600 or even 3200 if you an do it). That will then allow for shorter shutter speeds and smaller apertures (4.0-5.6 would be ideal for this). And to do this, a GOOD tripod and a cable release is MANDATORY!

As far as focus, let your camera stabilize at the outside temperature and then find something at the infinity focus point. Then lock the focus there. I say find something at infinity and then lock it because at cooler temps, you can actually focus BEYOND infinity. So just moving the focus to the "infinity" mark and locking it could actually be very blurred.

In any event, good luck and be prepared to experiment. All cameras are different and all have their nuances.

JBoe
Member

Posts: 959
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 11-21-2013 04:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great info guys, thank you all so much for helping me out! Too bad I have to wait till next month! Oh well, more time to practice. By the way, I'm assuming that what was listed in all your tips is similar to photographing celestial object, right? Thanks again!

mjanovec
Member

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 11-22-2013 12:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Gonzo:
Glint - your rule 3 is only good for stationary objects or at least objects that move VERY slowly (like the stars/moon). The problem is, with a long shutter time, the object moves and becomes blurred. Since the OP was asking about a launch, a long shutter time would give him/her a long streak as the craft moves through the sky.

Click on the link that Glint provided and it will become clear that he was purposly describing how to take a "long streak" photo.

Glint
Member

Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 11-22-2013 10:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Glint   Click Here to Email Glint     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
Click on the link that Glint provided and it will become clear that he was purposly describing how to take a "long streak" photo.

Thanks for pointing that out. I could be wrong, but I thought this new new thread of JBoe's was a follow-up to his conversation in the Minotaur 1 thread in which he mentioned observing the launch from Edgewater, Maryland. In that case and from that distance the best you could hope for would be obtaining a time exposure of the arc during powered ascent, with little or no chance of glimpsing much of "the ship" itseslf.

Gonzo
Member

Posts: 596
From: Lansing, MI, USA
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 11-22-2013 12:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gonzo   Click Here to Email Gonzo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My apologies then for misreading JBoe's original question. There's a couple things I missed, first of which was the connection to the long arc photography and second that he was that close to the launch. I assumed (incorrectly) that he was watching a launch up close. So my apologies for taking his question out of context.

The truth is though, he did thank us for all our suggestions. And IF he had been closer, my suggestions might have mattered. But as it is, for a distance shot where you are aiming (sorry for the pun) an arch shot, Glint's suggestions are certainly valid.

JBoe
Member

Posts: 959
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 11-22-2013 01:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks again for the help. Edgewater is approximately 150 miles from Wallops Island so I was only able to briefly see the glow of the liftoff followed by an orange-red spot. I couldn't make out any of the Minotaur. But now I know where to look and with all of your suggestions I will hopefully capture the arc trail.

Philip
Member

Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 11-22-2013 01:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If you want a long trail of the launch, a longer exposure time will do, however know that a full moon needs to be photographed at ISO 100 at f/6 with 1/1000th second exposure.

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