Cut the Cord: Designated iPhone Remote Shutter Release Cable

I got this one straight from The iPhone Photography School. It's super simple. I already use my iPhone headphones with volume controls as a remote shutter release cable. Since I seem to have a bunch of extra Apple headphones, it wasn't much of a sacrifice to cut the cord and remove the extra headphone parts - leaving the volume buttons behind.

It makes me feel like I have a special photography tool in my kit, and not just a random pair of headphones. It's a great addition to my slapdash photo kit. Thanks iPhone Photography School!

P.S. This is my 200th post, what up!!!

Apartment Balcony Star Trails, Where to Next?

Here are a couple more typical star trail photos from my balcony. I think after this I'm going to start venturing out because I'm getting a little bored of the same scenery. It's just so easy to leave my point and shoot camera out overnight while I'm asleep! My next location might be a local park that I found out is open until 11pm. Most parks close an hour after sunset, so these late hours are perfect for a couple night sky pics before bed!

266 images stacked in StarStaX, ISO 800, 15 sec each

266 images stacked, ISO 800, 15 sec each. Notice the spider web on the gutter!

271 images stacked, each ISO 800, 15 sec

My next location a few blocks down the road, open late!

July 11, 2013 Crescent Moon with Venus

Here are my best shots from my balcony tonight. The crescent moon and Venus set a little after sunset, but I was able to get a few pics on what feels like the first clear night in weeks!

37mm, 3.2 sec, ISO 100

18mm, 1.3 sec, ISO 100

Busy sky: Light trails and fireworks over Brownsburg

I made this image on July 3, 2013 from my balcony in Brownsburg, Indiana. People were setting fireworks off in the surrounding neighborhoods, and plenty of flights were coming and going for the long holiday weekend. 

405 images stacked in StarStaX, each ISO 400, f/4.5, 18mm, 20 sec

When I got back from visiting my family in Dayton for the 4th, I took a couple more from my balcony to capitalize on the somewhat visible skies (fairly hazy really, but at least it stopped raining for the first time in like 9 days).

192 images, ISO 800, 15 sec each, point and shoot camera

Light trail time exposure firefly photos on iPhone

Wondering how to take time exposure light trail photos of fireflies on an iPhone? Try the app Slow Shutter Cam () in light trail mode, sensitivity all the way up, and use Apple headphones with (+) volume button as a remove shutter. I used a tripod with Glif adapter for these, but you can also use a makeshift binder clip tripod adapter as long as you don't have a lot of wind.

Several minute exposure in twilight

I noticed most of the fireflies fly UP as they light up, forming little commas

Fireflies and fireworks on the 4th of July

Had the tripod up high to look down on the fireflies. Viewing side-on you lose a lot of depth and viewing up they are lost against the sky.