I really like star trail shots with a little bit of color or clouds in the sky, but obviously any long exposure shots of sunset or clouds will result in a bright blurry nothing. So, to compose this image I layered an appropriately exposed twilight image of the Moon with Venus, then left my camera in the exact same position until dark (after Venus and the Moon had set). Then I took star trail images like normal. I layered the images together in Photoshop and adjusted the colors.
I think if I had to do it again I would take a lighter "base" image at twilight and let the stars shine through just a bit, rather than having a primarily dark sky with just a hint of sunset. It turned out pretty much like I planned - maybe some more clouds next time for something more interesting, and less air traffic gosh darn it!
![star trail and twilight star trail and twilight](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheikP-dsxDUtv6_TVvwdavGKti7rV-RHJpQhwdh48tdxOrW41wFQXL1zSRmZqFFqjK52-Xwil_bUETr83QWmrwh0UN1oNzbdWECEzTEb-KZYLxDShcC2wroTGl89zxyDCnAhGbq1THX73d/s400/trailsmoonlayer.jpg) |
Layered and adjusted image. It would be more whimsical without the planes! |
![star trail and planes star trail and planes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVfJBQFx8oIs4so_gPO5OuJ62U8uKq9lOni0XyDRVVkfV10-4x0L6ukubfkYAIBzE01ElqpHne6x6pqdM-MQOp71-rn4tnn5PEN4S2RgFT3m4OHv3ncFWeebUOToDwcZahrbmSEySpTvv/s400/rebelxttrailsedit.jpg) |
Basic star trail image, about 270 frames with Canon Rebel XT, colors and contrast adjusted in Photoshop |
![moon venus at twilight moon venus at twilight](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNBfrDqDRFMm4xTvAC748VvzxkrFvDYzW5fyr4nIi_Rl6jAw_9zKlh5-xmRT55JPzbdFLidt1RgFClYnxLOuziK50IgrIi0ym0nWWFsE-MB0hF4YzmQYTmjHtLPjvLxQEz4EBYJOY5_1b/s400/venusandmoonattwilight.jpg) |
Base twilight image, original color, 18mm, ISO 200, 5 sec, f/4.5 |
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