Find Darkness:Escape light pollution! Visit a certified Dark Sky location for the clearest night sky views.
1
Tripod for Stability:A tripod is essential to hold your camera perfectly still during long exposures for capturing crisp starlight.
2
Ditch the Flash & HDR:Turn off Flash and HDR on your phone. Flash won't reach the stars, and HDR can slow down your camera.
3
Optical Zoom Only:Use your phone's optical zoom for the best image quality. Digital zoom reduces image quality by enlarging pixels.
4
Pack Extra Battery Power:Fully charge your camera and bring a backup battery to avoid missing shots due to a dead battery.
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The Right Apps:Use camera apps to control shutter speed on smartphones for long exposures.
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Apps:Popular options include Slow Shutter Cam, Average Camera Pro (iOS) Camera FV-5, and Night Camera (Android).
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Follow the 'Recipes':Use these recommended camera settings for Milky Way and star trail photos as a starting point and experiment to find what works best for you.
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