I fell asleep in a cow pasture while skyshooting and awakened with a cow staring into my face.

About focusing, remember that you not only find a bright star to get it to its smallest pinpoint, but *pay attention to the dim stars!* Dim stars will completely vanish when out of focus and reappear when in focus. It's best to pick a bright star surrounded by dim stars to watch the dim stars appear as the bright star narrows into focus. Nice video, Nick!

Agreed on the not going alone. I was doing some star shots just south of Moses Lake and the breeze going through the weeds and the random noises while surrounded by pitch black is super unnerving.

Clear Skies everyone!

This video was perfect. Thank you so much for sharing. I especially love how real you are and how simple you made everything. Can't wait to take my first shot!

It's so refreshing to see a person like you on here, producing videos that any camera enthusiast, particularly new ones will find easy to understand and feel comfortable with. I have been shooting photographs for over 40 years and make much of my income from my fine art images, yet I still find myself watching KZfaq videos, always in search of a new tidbit of information to help me. So often videos are produced by people who should never do so. Your down to earth attitude and demeanor makes your videos the perfect resource for novices. The last thing they need is to be overwhelmed with a pile of technical jargon when trying to learn. As well, more advanced enthusiasts will find your videos a pleasure to watch and they just might learn something! Well done!

ive seen and talked to many people about astro shooting and your summary is one of the best i've come across. good work man

If you go out alone (like I usually do) be sure to tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back. I've done many night sessions without trouble but last November I tripped in a hidden hole and broke my wrist. (The camera was okay!...we all know that is our first thought :) !) Luckily it wasn't my ankle and I was able to get to my car and drive to ER. Although healed, the wrist occasionally sends me reminders that I broke it when I am focusing or holding the camera for long periods. So, keep shooting and be smart!

I have always wanted to learn and seeing how you composed your images is wonderfully explained. Thank you.

This was such a thorough tutorial! Thanks for getting straight to the point. Great video!!

Wow, it isn't often I sit and watch a 14 minute KZfaq tutorial, but this video was so informative. Thank you for being as descriptive and detailed as possible while keeping the explanations free of the heavy jargon.

You're a rare kind, dude. You share your stuff very spontaneously and with all honesty. You're like a talking book. You don't wate words. You don't stutter. Damn, you're so inspiring. Keep it up.

Very informative. I didn't know that light painting was even a thing until now. Thank you.

Heading out to Utah's mighty 5 in a few months. Really looking forward to giving astrophotography a shot. This video was a huge help! Thanks for the info, dude!

Hey Nick! I am so thankful to you for posting this video tutorial, I just took my first successful starry milky way picture over Mount Rainier at Sunrise Point and your advice helped me succeed. More power to you! Thanks a lot, really appreciate your teachings!

This guy is so wholesome! What a great, helpful, informative video. Thank you!

Nicely done. Cool tutorial. All I wanted in one place.

9:53 lol, me the other night at the lake during the Quadrantids meteor shower while practicing astrophotography, a pack of coyotes that at first seemed distant, ended up right next to me. It'd be a better and safer experience with a shooting buddy, especially when shooting in the pitch black as it needs to be for the photo. The sound from a conversation alone will keep most wildlife from bumping into you in darkness.

This is the most awesome video I have seen about artistic photography. Photography is an art form. Thanks for the useful tips Nick.

For whatever it's worth, your cinematography is on point. It's real. It speaks to the story. You've earned a subscription.

Thank you so much for making this tutorial, alone in the dark. Love it!

You should show us the processing part as well!

Probably the most practical and succinct tutorial for night/star shots I have yet to see (or read). Thanks!

Just getting started working with Nightscapes, this was very helpful, I really appreciate the way you broke all the components down thru examples. Highly recommend this video, and yes I've subscribed. Looking forward to more well done tutorials!

Very useful video. I think I learned something from almost every sentence! Thanks.

Mate, thank you so much I've looked at taking up photography for a while, you have just pushed me into doing it. Not to bring the moment down, I have leukaemia. I just want to have a hobbie. Your videos are inspiring. Thanks so so much

I found an old ruin of a castle today and I thought this would be great in the dark for a starscape! So this video has just blown my mind and prepared me totally for what I need to achieve! Thank you Nick awesome episode!

Thanks for taking the time to film this. It really was super helpful and I look forward to testing these tips out on the field.

Nice video mate. Tip for your light painting - face the palm of your hand towards the subject you want to be "painted" shine your headlamp or flash light off the palm of your hand. Now you can move the palm of your hand back and forth slightly like you were doing in the vid. It will reflect off your hand onto your "painted object" and take away any of the harsh light. Then you can grab the milky way / painted object all in a single exposure or two if you're really close to the subject and out of hyper-focal range for the complete image. Enjoyed the vid:)

Absolutely top shelf tutorial man! Great video, hit on tons of really key points. I'm subscribed.

I'm so glad I came across this video! Great explanations and demonstration of what one might actually expect to see. Very, very helpful!

The first one at 6:56 was actually my favourite one by far! Great tips altogether, and I love the irony of how important light sources are to 'take photos of the sky'. Thanks for the great video!

Thank you for the video. This made me improve a lot. Step by step and i made similar with kinda more editing but im happy with it. You are the best

this is the only thing on my bucket list. this is the only sight i want to see. i've never seen our galaxy before and i will cry once i see it. i can't wait.

So far one of the best and most informative videos I've watched - thank you

Nick, glad I've run across your videos! Great work, very inspiring -- thanks for making them!

Do you have any tutorial of the post processing you did on this image?

Great video man, I had to laugh to myself when you said dont do it alone....I actually moved my tripod to the back of my ute and sat inside with the doors locked one night as I got freaked out.....lol...The human mind.:)

Absolute awesome tutorial, by far one of the best I've seen on astrophotography. Will definitely be using your videos for referencing when I'm in the field...Happy New Year 😉

Thanks Nick, This really helps. I'm an old pro but for the life of me since my D2X wore out I have not been able to take a shot of the stars that wasn't blurry or just awful. This really helps. In 1984 I went out to the desert in Arizona to spend the night at the Rodin Crater project. I brought along a 4x5 camera, and the high speed polaroid (3000 ISO?) I had a 90mm Schneider lens. I focused it, on what I don't remember. Pointed the camera up at the sky, took a 15 second exposure (I think this is correct, no longer than a minute) and got two meteor trails. Of course my first thought was, "This isn't so hard....." It was about 8 years and many rolls of high speed Ektachrome before I saw another meteor trail in one of my photos. I'm impressed that you shoot a 1.4 lens wide open. Normally a lens like that should be a bit soft. But your results are great, so cool.

do you have the processing follow up? I'd love to know how you incorporated the light painted layers

Just found this, must be a new old one now 😀. Subbed to see more.

your video was soooooo sooo helpful I can not describe how good and precious this video is! thank you Nick

Great video Nick, I saw your old film and I think you really did a good job of this new version, supercool that you included your light painting tips too.

Incredible stuff. Thank you.

5:58 But hey... what about "backfocus" on a photo lens? On a professional videocameralens you can adjust the backfocus (distance from lens to sensor). the photo cameralenses are not backfocus calibrated, right?

This was an incredibly helpful video thank you, started doing astrophotography about a year ago and having videos such as this to learn from is amazing - thank you

Nick, I thank you for creating this video! You have really helped me in my progression as a photographer!

Great video mate!! learned a lot!

Did you change the focus on your lens at all for the foreground images of the tree?

light painting is the neatest thing ever, shows the creative aspect of photography. well done!

Canon! Yessss! Man, you are down to earth for being an astrophotographer. Great video. Thanks!

If going out into the wilderness I always bring my two friends, Mr. Smith and Mr Wesson!

Very cool tutorial, where in eastern Washington, that's where I live! Secondly I see several shots from different people, some are pointing South and others North. This makes me confused haha

That is so helpful. I took my first night shot this evening before watching you Vid and was so amazed that I wanted to see what I could do to improve it and you answered all my questions.....can't wait to get out again.

Very valuable Especially the hint about the brightness of the viewfinder. Yes the tree was much more fun with light painting. Really great.

Chucky approves, Chucky subscribed, Chucky wants to play. Great video, thanks. :)

Very helpful. Would love to see how you edit your shots as well

Nick, the final result looks Awesome! The tree almost looks 3 dimensional. There is so much depth perception in the picture. Thanks for sharing this video.

thank you for explaining and showing your technique visually like this ! I just bought myself a camera kit, the SL1 Canon. Very excited to begin this new hobby ! thank you much sir !

I have a 16-24 Nikon lens. When figuring the 500 rule that you mentioned, do I have to adjust for the crop sensor. The lens itself is for Fx, and my camera is the d7200. Thanks

I dressed myself like a man the first time I did this, the whole experience still creeps me out to this day.

These are some awesome tips you have here Nick! You are a volume of information!

By far the most useful video for starting astrophotography... Congrats

You're so lucky with that tree. Every single time I go out to shoot, the wind ruins my foreground :(

Great video Nick, thank you for sharing. One question however, the only setting you don't mention is Whitebalance! What shoukd it be for optimum quality please?

Much respect to you Sir, i don't think i have ever learned so much in a 15:00 min. video and on top, you seem to so much enjoy doing those videos, so for that, thank you so much. New subscriber and forever follower for sure.. Best regards, Jean-Marc from Québec Laurentians.

Very nice and detailed video of the whole process, appreciate the trouble you went through to make this video. Fully understand the dilemma of doing it all alone, I did it a couple of weeks ago and man is it creepy out there in the jungle all alone. a big thumbs up for the video !

Watching this in 2019, time to update again ;) cheers!

Thanks for the tutorial , is it possible Astrophotography photos in entry level DSLR like cannon 1300d?

This guy is so down to earth, there was no filler content, only education!

I enjoyed this video. It was quite imformative. I learned a few things about my camera, that I didn`t know. I`m looking forward to summer, to try these tips out. Thanks Nick.

Hey Nick. For some reason, only your astro photography tutorials were the most helpful ones for me. I would consider myself as a beginner, but most tutorials are either way advanced or too basic to be of any help. Thanks for the effort you put into the videos :) I use a d3200 and a roikinon 16mm f 2.0. I can only shoot upto ISO 1600, but even then it has a lot of noise :( The foreground shot technique using ISO 400 will be of big help to remove noise from the objects. But the sky will still loose a lot of the detail on 1600. Do you think I should go upto 3200 and use some other techniques to remove the noise from the sky? I have only Ps Lightroom. Sorry for the lengthy question :)

Lol 😂 you kept saying “ we”, as you explained everything so I assumed you had someone with you. Hahaha

Great tips thank you so much! It took my photography to the next level! You are definitely a great teacher.

probably the best tutorial that i have seen on how to do astrophotos thank you !!!!

I acidently started with a iso 40000 once. XD

Hi Nick ! Can I Use 18-55mm kit lens to photograph the milky way with Canon 70D Body ?

Excellent tutorial Nick! Really helpful tips. Thank you and Cheers!

Superb instructions and tips! The light painting was really cool. Going to take these into account when I visit some national parks later in the year.

Hey Nick. Good video man. Listen: i have a Nikon D610 full-frame with 24-85 1:3.5-4.5f aperture. I will go in 2 weeks to take pictures to the Matterhorn in Switzerland. Is my camera with this lens capable to take a picture of the milkway? I'm really confused. Hope you can help me.

How do i know where isthe milky way ?? should i just take the picture randomly and start to looking for it?

Ah great, some really good tips in there Nick, much appreciated for sharing the knowledge.

Thanks for the great video. It's nice to learn from someone that knows what they're doing, but doesn't act like a know it all. Keep up the good work and I'll keep watching. Thanks

Imagine a dark shadow showing up on the image :D

I don't go out alone. I always take my AK with me lol I'm not alone

Great job Nick , easy to follow and great advice. Enjoyed it mate

Hi Nick , after watching this i got my first in focus photo of the stars, really well explained the 500 rule and focus tips were spot on. I live in the UK we have a few dark sky regions so I'm going to get into more. i just want to say thanks for posting this video and your photos are great, cheers mate, Gabby

could you actually see Milky Way with naked eye?

"The thing I see most people mess up is the focus..." shoots majority of tutorial video with himself out of focus.

Breathtaking end result, superb!!! Thanks a ton

Your advice is very helpful. I usually shoot in RAW and I use a 55mm f2.8 macro lens because the stars at the edge of the frame retain their shape better than when using a 50mm f1.8, the Rokinon 12mm f2.8 180 degree fisheye works well too. I also turn off all long shutter speed/high ISO noise reduction in the camera and apply noise reduction during post processing in the computer.

Thank you for this video and all tips!!! I just came back from holidays in Canada where I managed to do my first starry night photos. Super exited !

Great video. The comment about not being alone made me smile, I had exactly the same thought when I was out last night.

Learned allot, thanks. Especially the focusing. I was making micro adjustments and then reviewing each shot magnified.

Excellent intro into Astrophotography Nick. Thank you.

That was extremly inspiring! Thank you Nick.

Very nice video. Well explained. Exactly what i needed To see To start my first milky way picture. Thanks

Your video really gave me some great tips and reminders. Thank you for posting it!

Lol this was the first video I saw of you and I had to come back and comment on it. It cracked me up when you said “don’t do it alone” while your voice almost cracked... you’ve come a long way on your videos.