The Milky Way is a
popular subject
Know
your
galaxy
Is there a more classic nightscape
photograph than one of our own Milky Way
streaming down to the horizon? Although
easily the most sought-after shot, actually
finding the Milky Way at its best and
brightest requires good timing. Although
technically speaking the Milky Way is
always visible, it’s often lost in the horizon’s
haze. It is visible in late spring through
to late summer, first as an early morning
object, and only from July onwards as an
easy post-sunset evening object. Images
won’t look great on your camera’s LCD
screen, but you can tease out incredible
colours and brightness in Photoshop.
Although you can capture it as it rises during spring, the easiest
method is to venture out in July, August or September when the moon
is down (the week before a new moon is perfect) if you want to get
the Milky Way streaming down to the western horizon. The technique
is no different to any other night-sky shot; maximise light without
surrounding stars trailing. On crop-sensor cameras, be careful not to
go much beyond ISO 800 (the risk of noise is high), and on full-frame
cameras resist passing ISO 6400 (it’s easy to overexpose).
How to image the Milky Way
Capturing the light of hundreds of billions of stars is easy
Below
Galactic selfie
Use a ten-second
shutter delay and
you can be in your
own images of the
Milky Way
Above
On location
By heading
to a dark-sky
area, you’ll
be less likely
to encounter
light pollution
25
secs
15
secs
©Gettyimages
© Jamie Carter
TheMilkyWayis a
popularsubject
Know
your
galaxy
Istherea moreclassicnightscape
photographthanoneofourownMilkyWay
streamingdowntothehorizon?Although
easilythemostsought-aftershot,actually
findingtheMilkyWayatitsbestand
brightestrequiresgoodtiming.Although
technicallyspeakingtheMilkyWayis
alwaysvisible,it’softenlostinthehorizon’s
haze.It isvisibleinlatespringthrough
tolatesummer,firstasanearlymorning
object,andonlyfromJulyonwardsasan
easypost-sunseteveningobject.Images
won’tlookgreatonyourcamera’sLCD
screen,butyoucanteaseoutincredible
coloursandbrightnessinPhotoshop.
Althoughyoucancaptureit asit risesduringspring,theeasiest
methodistoventureoutinJuly,AugustorSeptemberwhenthemoon
isdown(theweekbeforea newmoonisperfect)if youwanttoget
theMilkyWaystreamingdowntothewesternhorizon.Thetechnique
isnodifferenttoanyothernight-skyshot;maximiselightwithout
surroundingstarstrailing.Oncrop-sensorcameras,becarefulnotto
gomuchbeyondISO 800 (theriskofnoiseishigh),andonfull-frame
camerasresistpassingISO 6400 (it’seasytooverexpose).
How toimagethe MilkyWay
Capturingthelightofhundredsofbillionsofstarsis easy
Below
Galacticselfie
Usea ten-second
shutterdelayand
youcanbein your
ownimagesofthe
MilkyWay
Above
Onlocation
Byheading
toa dark-sky
area,you’ll
belesslikely
toencounter
lightpollution
25
secs
15
secs
©Gettyimages
© Jamie Carter