When the sun goes down, the stars come out to play

A relatively short (1 hour) star trail I took last night. The moon was pretty full hence it looks so light. The bright star you can see on the bottom left is actually venus and not a star.

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(171 comments)

andrewlee1967 says:

Very cool shot Carl!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

truthwithelegance says:

wonderful. i especially like the leading lines on the ground which draw further attention upwards - great shot!

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

SecretVodka =) says:

Hi my friend,

This shot is soooo good. I remember when I shoot this kinda shot. I took quite a patient. You dida very good job =)

What f stop did you use? f16?
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

c@rljones says:

Thanks everyone, glad you liked it, I really liked the idea of the track leading up the scene as well :)

@SecretVodka, I actually used f/5.6 for this shot, f16 wouldn't have given me enough light i don't think to properly illuminate the scene.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

so little time... says:

Excellent shot!
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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Rob.Hudson says:

Wow! You've excelled in this one. We're having some particularly clear skies at the moment so I guess that you'll be showing us some more stunners.

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

annfrau says:

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Uli1001 says:

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Michael.DK says:

Beautifully done!

Commented with SIC
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

dserane says:

That's beyond cool, it's really outstanding, like the heavens opened up and gave a dance just for you and your camera. Carl this is really really special, words escape me!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Jasya says:

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Gergana Efremova says:

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

whiteblot says:

excellent! How did u make it?

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

bass_nroll says:

amazing! perfect!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Doc Tony Photography says:

this is nice!

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Ozventure says:

"Relavitely short." Ha. What do you call "relatively long" then? ;)

Great shot, though the stars are very much more interesting to me that the road.

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

abro says:

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Stu Worrall says:

stunning shot belial!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Yves. says:

Just awesome again, Carl!!!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Jon Block says:

That's really quite something! Fascinating trails.

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Porcelaingirl° {renovating her life} says:

fantastic :)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

HW.Wang says:

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Sad Ferret says:

Stunning, I love the track too, but I've never seen anything like that sky before. Also wondering what time of the evening it was, it's nice there's enough light to see the landscape.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Ha-r-bin says:

Cool!
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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

PS06 says:

A trademark Belial night shot!
Excellent work Carl, the exposure looks perfect. i know you've taken shots previously with a much longer shutter speed, but even an hour sounds a long time (plus nr?) your patience has been rewarded again.
Nice one.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

c@rljones says:

Crikey, what a response! Thank you all very much, i'm glad you all like the shot.

@sadferret, it was taken approx 23:00ish, but again, the moon was pretty full so it gets very light out there on a clear night. For those who never venture out when the moon is full you should give it a go, you really dont appreciate how much light you can get off the moon until you're out in it.

@Simon, thanks mate. I didn't use noise reduction on this one actually, it seemed light enough for it not to create huge amounts of noise unless you view it in it's original 3800xsomething resolution..
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

night photographer says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called UK Night Photography, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

this is amazing! get it in the UK night photography pool right now! It deserves to be in there!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

mrubcic says:

This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Outbj....... in a new world says:

This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

www.diegomccormick.com says:

Nice

This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

wadetibb says:

This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

tropicalrips says:

This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

atomicshark says:

Very well done!
This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Pablo Roces says:

This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Laura Travels says:

well done!!!

This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

bitzcelt says:

yup, this is way cool. I like any picture that you can go and get a pint and then come back a find your camera hard at work catching a brilliant pic.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Svetlana I says:

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Zule 3.0 says:

Yay! Stunning... Excellent job.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Sabba. says:

Incredibile!very gooooooooooooooood.=)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

carafoo says:

Wow Awesome!!! :) Great job!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Alpozzi Alberto says:

Wow! Fantastic EXPLORE! Great shot! I love this photo!

Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

c@rljones says:

lol @ bitzcelt, you know, i never thought of just heading down to the pub and coming back!! A sure sign of some miss-spent evenings on your behalf :))

I just noticed this pic on the explore front-page too, thank you everyone for dropping by and commenting, am very flattered so many of you liked it.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

MGildersleeve [deleted] says:

What iso did you have it at?
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

ßlϋeωãvε says:

Cool shot. It's interesting comparing what you and I captured on the same night but from different parts of the country. Your trails are really bright and smooth - I need to upgrade my camera. It's peaceful to be out on nights like this.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Giuseppe Parisi - Help Me In The Contest! says:

ISO: 200? F stop to 5.6 I already know
Was it completely man-made lights free?
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

iam4ranny~away far away says:

Congratulations this made EXPLORE !

Please add your Beautiful Photo to:
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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

ellie 6 says:

Oh, you suffer from insomnia too :( ... nice way of spending sleepless hours... I guess we all have insomnia at some point in our life.
Beautiful, great star trails !
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

SuperKarmen says:

Thanks.. your photo its.. simply perfect.
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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

c@rljones says:

@MGildersleeve + roger_taylor, was taken at ISO 400 and as roger said F/5.6. There's only 1 small village between the location and the sea, so not much man made light to capture and as it's such a clear night, not any cloud around which always highlights the artificial lights a lot more.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Etc.Ja.An says:

Magnificient Shot!!!!!!

This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

c@rljones says:

I've just uploaded another star trail different location, but shows how the stars rotate around the pole star

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Rinaldo_ says:

Great long exposure work and photo!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

jondeeley says:

hey this is ammasing love ur work
**** I found this photo following a set link in the Explore My Sets - Add 1, Comment/Fave 3 Group ****
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Marchegiani_ says:

What a stunning shot! Congratulations!
Your out-of-this-world photo has become a legend in Global Village 2, and has been awarded this Ticket to the Moon

Please join your fellow travellers in the Lunar Village,
and post this photo in the pool up there.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Bob West says:

just fantastic.....
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

David Giral says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Very Long Exposure (30 seconds or more), and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

Excellent Shot!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

goodeye22 says:

This is wild, I've never done one of these before. I must say , Your shot is awesome.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

mosesfrancis says:

Has been posted at www.flickrville.com
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

A. Saleh says:

superb shot

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

artur.borzecki says:

what a nice shot. I like that paths made by starts.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

n ï c o l å s says:

hey man
how did u do this?
super !!!!!!!!!!

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Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

are you my rik? says:

awesome work! how do you get your battery to survive an hour exposure?
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

c@rljones says:

Thank you all so much for your comments, awards and greetings, guess i've got a day of scanning through everybody's photostream ahead of me today to repay the kindness.

@are you my rik. I use a BG3 battery grip with my 400D so it holds 2 batteries, and i'm using 1000mAh instead of the 750mAh batteries which it comes with :) SO that helps :)

@nikkito, it's quite easy really, you just need a tripod, a camera with a shutter release cable and some patience (or somewhere to hide for an hour), Just leave the camera shutter open as long as possible, point it at some sky and you'll get some star trails :)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Billy M. (Brazil) says:

Cool!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Kirpernicus says:

Fine long exposure work!

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Eye Candy!, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

n ï c o l å s says:

_Belial i´ve tried once
but its really difficult to get a cool focus when using a manual mode (of course autofocus is almost imposible when it´s so dark). oh and it happened to me that the pic was overexposed...
well, maybe different places, different illumination and different photographer. oh yeah
that´s the reason :P
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

LucaPicciau says:

Sensational long exposure! Congrats.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Etienne_C says:

Awesome, very good !
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

qui-bon says:

Wow!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

c@rljones says:

@ nikkito, yep focusing at night is an adventure in itself, all the advice i can offer is get a damn strong torch and take it with you! Then try to highlight something you want to act as a focal point and try auto focus on that point or manually focus, it's a skill that improves with time :)
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

ian han says:

Blummin' marvelous :D
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Wolfgang Staudt says:

“Hi, you are invited to post this lovely work to “ Oneness – Labyrinth" where it will count as three trophies towards your winning total. It gave me feelings of Love Joy and Beauty and deserves a place in the Labyrinth."
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

valdecasas says:

I love it! I always wanted to make such a nice shot
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Karles23 says:

Wow, its Incredible.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

essenz_a says:

Second Place Award-

*Excellent Photographer Awards*

very amazing pic! compliments!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

orvalrochefort says:

superb long exposure
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

BenGoode says:

Stunning! It's really amazing actually.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Wildtouch says:

I like the fact that the landscape shows detail from the moon light. The dirt road in the photograph make me feel like I could drive right up and get a closer look. I also enjoy the comments and information that you place for your photographs.

I found this photo because you asked me to Explore My Photostream

Keep The Wind In Your Hair.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

n ï c o l å s says:

_Belial thanx a lot for the tip man !
gracias !!!!!!!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

PATAGÓN says:

Amazing!!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

twana h. [deleted] says:

there are no words
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

pirano says:

Well, disregard comment made a few moments ago on another star trail, since this answers my question. :) This is excellent, particularly like the 'lightness'.

I found this photo because you asked me to Explore My Photostream
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Andy Sum says:

Great photo. Really like how the road leads into the star trails. You certainly have the patience to get a great photo.

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Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

almostheRENI says:

I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Mr. Theklan says:

A+++ Grade Photo
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

whoops vision says:

A+++ Grade Photo
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Christopher Chan says:

Sensational !

A+++ Grade Photo
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

pigmentia says:

A+++ Grade Photo
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

the cat & the exercise bike says:

i wish i had the equipment to do startrail photography. you work in this area is brilliant, but the composition of this one really caught my eye. i think it has to do with the solid, earthiness of the trail versus the everchanging stars. great capture

I found this photo because you asked me to Explore My Photostream
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Jon Hawkins says:

Absolutely brilliant. Makes me want to try this myself.

I found this photo because you asked me to Explore My Photostream
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

c@rljones says:

Thank you all very much, this is one of my favourite star trail shots it has to be said, i just love the foreground detail and the path leading us up the frame.

@Jon Hawkins, you should give it a go, it's really not that hard to do, you just need a camera that has a "bulb mode" or anything to let you keep the shutter open for long enoguh. Then get yourself some coffee, an mp3 player or radio and sit tight for a few hours :)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

rmrayner says:

To see this working is a joy... there's less instant "digital camera" gratification when it takes an hour to take it!
**** I found this photo following a set link in the Explore My Sets - Add 1, Comment/Fave 3 Group ****
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Andy Μartin says:

Very nice! Andy
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

c@rljones says:

Thank you both, this is still one of my fave star trail images i've taken, the conditions were just right for illuminated foreground here, just a shame i just missed polaris in the shot but i still like it, thank you both.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken in Gwynedd , Wales (map)
Taken on May 2, 2007
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When the sun goes down, the stars come out to play

Comments

andrewlee1967 says:

truthwithelegance says:

SecretVodka =) says:

c@rljones says:

so little time... says:

Rob.Hudson says:

annfrau says:

Uli1001 says:

Michael.DK says:

dserane says:

Jasya says:

Gergana Efremova says:

whiteblot says:

bass_nroll says:

Doc Tony Photography says:

Ozventure says:

*abro* says:

Stu Worrall says:

Yves. says:

curious_spider says:

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Anything Pretty [deleted] says:

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Jon Block says:

Porcelaingirl° {renovating her life} says:

HW.Wang says:

Sad Ferret says:

Ha-r-bin says:

PS06 says:

c@rljones says:

night photographer says:

mrubcic says:

Outbj....... in a new world says:

www.diegomccormick.com says:

wadetibb says:

tropicalrips says:

atomicshark says:

Pablo Roces says:

Laura Travels says:

bitzcelt says:

Svetlana I says:

Zule 3.0 says:

Sabba. says:

carafoo says:

Alpozzi Alberto says:

c@rljones says:

MGildersleeve [deleted] says:

ßlϋeωãvε says:

Giuseppe Parisi - Help Me In The Contest! says:

iam4ranny~away far away says:

ellie 6 says:

SuperKarmen says:

c@rljones says:

Etc.Ja.An says:

c@rljones says:

Rinaldo_ says:

jondeeley says:

Marchegiani_ says:

Bob West says:

David Giral says:

goodeye22 says:

mosesfrancis says:

A. Saleh says:

artur.borzecki says:

n ï c o l å s says:

are you my rik? says:

c@rljones says:

Billy M. (Brazil) says:

Kirpernicus says:

n ï c o l å s says:

LucaPicciau says:

Etienne_C says:

qui-bon says:

c@rljones says:

ian han says:

Wolfgang Staudt says:

abro says: