How to Photograph Stars
It's almost impossible to photograph stars the way they're seen because the light is too faint. Most photographers have to be satisfied with star trails, long streaks that result from the Earth's rotation. These have their own beauty, however, especially when photographed with foreground objects.
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Instructions
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Use a film camera that can be set to long exposures. Most digital cameras aren't capable of photographing star trails.
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Load the camera with ASA 100 film, set the focus to infinity, and open the aperture all the way.
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Place the camera on a tripod and point it at the stars you wish to photograph. On your first attempts, just take photos of the stars; later try adding foreground objects.
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Open the shutter and wait. How long you keep the shutter open depends on how much ambient light is in the sky. Even though you can't see the light, if you're near a city, there will be light pollution and you won't be able to get long star trails. If you've driven to a remote location, you can leave the shutter open longer.
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Take care not to jostle the camera during the exposure. Keep an eye out for dew forming on the lens--once it does the shot is ruined. You'll also have to abandon your shot if clouds roll in, fog develops or someone shines a light into the lens.
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Close the shutter and write down the length of the exposure. If desired, you can repeat this process on subsequent nights, varying the exposure time. When the film is developed, check your results and adjust your exposure time on your next attempt.
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Tips & Warnings
If you can find Polaris (the north star), place it in the center of your frame. The star trails will form circles around it.
Don't try to photograph star trails when the moon is in the sky or within a couple of hours of sunset or sunrise.
