A First: Sunburst/Starburst Tips and Tricks

So one of my goals I set on New Year's Day was to share some of what I have learned on my blog. If you follow along you know that I am a teacher by trade. Despite this fact, I have felt super hesitant to do any sort of "teaching" on the blog as I find myself feeling unqualified to do so. However, I have been so grateful for all of the people who have put themselves out there to share what they have learned because it has helped me in my photography journey. It only seems right to give back a little and hopefully help someone move forward a step or two on their own journey. So, without further ado here are a few tips and tricks I have learned about shooting sunbursts and starbursts (along with some of my favorite sunburst shots)...

Tips/Tricks (see below for more details)
1. Shoot in RAW
2. Choose a larger aperture number
3. Meter off the sky
4. Take your shot and then change your perspective and repeat!

Settings: ISO 200, 29mm, ss1/160, f/25

Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area, Quincy, WA - June 2012

1. Shoot in RAW - I do this for all of my photos, but with sunbursts especially it makes processing easier.

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/500, f/18 

Washington State Ferry - December 2011

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/100, f/22

Birch Bay, WA - April 2012

2. Choose a large number aperture - My go to for getting the best sunburst shape is f/22, but I have gone as low as f/11 or f/16 in certain situations. And one time even as low as f/5.6, but I think that had more to do with the angle of the sun and camera than the aperture. I have also gone higher such as f/25. Usually the higher the number the more defined the sunburst. In some cases this means using a tripod because the aperture is letting in so little light that your shutter needs to be open longer to expose properly.

As I read on a site when I was first researching how to shoot sunbursts, this is similar to when you squint your eyes thereby letting in less light (just as higher aperture numbers do) and the points of light become starburst shapes. And yes I did try this as I was reading and yes it did help me understand shooting starbursts (just in case you find yourself squinting at a light as you read this :o).

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/320, f/22 

Clark Lake Park, Kent, WA - March 2012

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/640, f/20 

Puyallup Fair, Puyallup, WA - September 2012

3. Meter off the sky - I use spot metering and when I shoot sunbursts I expose (or meter off of) the sky. This can be a little tricky as you are shooting directly into the sun, which can make seeing your light meter difficult. Two things I do about this: 1. Wear sunglasses. Even though this distorts the image color a bit, it helps your eyes not get blinded by the bright sun. And 2. Hold the camera still (or use a tripod) and press down the shutter button halfway so the light meter shows up on your LCD screen and adjust your shutter speed while continuing to hold the camera still.

In many cases when you meter off the sky with the sunlight in the picture it can create an image that is a bit underexposed, but that can be adjusted in post processing.

Settings: ISO 200, 24mm, ss1/320, f/25 

Long Beach, WA - February 2012

4. Take your shot and then change your perspective and repeat! Some of my favorite sunburst shots have come from laying on the ground or standing up when I have started in a different position.

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss1/320, f/5.6

Point Defiance Park Dahlia Test Garden in Tacoma, WA - August 2012

You can also use some of these tricks (shoot in RAW and high aperture number) to capture starbursts (the same as sunbursts, but with lights and not the sun)!

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss13.0sec, f/22

Lewis and Clark Bridge connecting Oregon and Washington

with the Lights of Longview, WA - January 2012

"In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” - Phil Collins

As a side note, if some or most of this sounds like a foreign language to you (which has been the case for me many times over the course of my photography learning) this post does assume that you are shooting on manual. If you aren't I highly recommend you check out Courtney at Click It Up a Notch's posting on shooting manual mode. It is what got me started and I am so happy I have made the switch to manual! 

And of course, if you have any questions please feel free to ask in the comments or through email. 

(I would love to know what you thought of my first tips and tricks post! Feedback is always welcome! :o).

I Learned: Sunbursts at Fort Ward 09.10.11

Another photography first for me this weekend was capturing sunbursts. During an exploration of Fort Ward Park on Baingbridge Island, I saw the sunburst through the trees and I attempted to capture it. It did not work out and I was discouraged. Before giving up completely though, I decided to do a quick search on my phone and found a blog, that I can't remember the name of, where the suggestion was a high aperture and patience. With these both in place I was able to transfer the beauty of the sunburst from in person to my memory card :o). I went a little crazy taking them after that, but I was very excited that I had added a new skill to my photography arsenal.

My goal was to capture the sunburst and the sun on the water. In post processing, I adjusted most of the basic settings and used a graduated filter on the sky. This was only my third or fourth time with the graduated filter and I am not sure how it worked out. I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 100, 41mm, ss1/100, f/22 (full manual)

"The earth has received the embrace of the sun and we shall see the results of that love." - Sitting Bull

Linking up with I Learned at Click it Up a Notch. Be sure to see what everyone else has learned this week! 

Normandy Park Sunset 09.04.11

I had planned on posting a picture of lily pads I took on Saturday, but last night I had the privilege of witnessing a stunning sunset. I just had to share it! We raced the sunset last night and had planned on going to Des Moines Beach Park, but when we arrived we found everyone else had the same idea. We decided to drive up the hill and found a street with an amazing view. I felt a little like I was trespassing but it was a public street and the view was one I could not pass up. I have come to believe that sunsets are good for the soul and I always feel blessed to watch and photograph them. I love the quiet and serenity of the moment.

In post processing I did some minor work with the basic settings, I reduced the temperature and tint and upped the blacks, fill light, highlight, vibrance and contrast. I did all of this in Lightroom, but was feeling like I wish I had Photoshop and knew how to use the clone tool as I would like to remove the branches hanging down from the tree. Do you think they detract from the photo? I can't decide if they add an interest or distract. I would love to know your thoughts.

Settings: ISO 100, 55mm, ss1/125, f/10 (full manual)

"The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire." - Pamela Hansford Johnson

Linking up with Monday Moments and The Creative Exchange. Head over and check out the other beautiful photos!

 

A Moment in Time 08.21.11

Last night I set out to photograph the sunset at a local park. Upon arriving at the park it became clear that the setting was not going to yield what I wanted. Jumping back in the car with the sun slipping further below the horizon, we raced to find the perfect spot. The sunset was stunning and I was able to create some beautiful shots, but that was after one stop on the side of a country road. While I plan to post sunset pictures later in the week, the photo below is from the stop before the sunset. My goal was simply to capture a moment in time. The shot is straight out of camera with a minor crop. I planned to edit it more but everything I did just seemed to pull focus to the details and distract from the picture as a whole. I would love to know your thoughts, so please share!

Settings: ISO 100, ss 1/5, f/20 (on a tripod, full manual)

“Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph." – Matt Hardy

Project 64: Cadet Blue at Del Ray Beach 08.09.11

My favorite place to be is the beach. I feel the most centered and content when walking barefoot in the sand listening to the waves crash on the shore. I have been to many beaches in Washington and Oregon and find that each has something special to offer. This photo was taken at Del Ray State Park in Oregon, which is a beach I have never been to before. It was the last day of visiting my dad in Astoria and my brother and I had just finished lunch. We were driving and I noticed that a bit of the sun was coming out and turning the edges of the clouds Cadet Blue, the color of the week at Project 64. Other than the color of the sky, the first thing that struck me about Del Ray beach is that it is secluded and peaceful. Walking over the dunes from the parking lot to the sand the sights and sounds of the ocean were revealed. This day they were doing construction on the beach (moving sand) and even that did not disrupt the calm atmosphere. 

My goal with the photo was to express the vastness of the ocean and communicate the beauty of the sky. I find that scattered clouds add so much to the sky. I also wanted to showcase the color. In post processing I adjusted the color levels to play up the blue and worked with the contrast. I find the composition interesting with the many lines and the reflection of the sky, but I am wondering if there is something missing. Can it hold its own or does it need a vertical line? 

Settings: ISO 100, 1/80, f/20 (full manual mode :o) with a tripod)

“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.” - Robert Henri


This is an entry for Project 64: Cadet Blue. Check out the other entries and find out more about this fun and inspiring challenge!

Astoria Column Sunset 08.06.11

After waiting for the sky to clear for most of the day, there was finally a break in the clouds just in time for sunset. I headed up to the Astoria Column, which overlooks the city of Astoria Oregon. I did not climb the 166 steps to the top this time but stayed in the parking area to view the sunset. This picture was taken toward the end of sunset and involved a long exposure time and a high aperture. In post processing, I played around with the color levels to pull out the pinks, oranges and purples. There is something I love about the composition as it looks like a painting. The blurry appearance was unintended, but in some ways I feel it adds to the overall painting feel. My goal was to capture the contrast of colors with the sky and the landscape while conveying this magical time of day. 

While I feel that this photo has a ways to go to be what I want it to, I did have a moment during this shoot that made me feel like I at least look like I know what I am doing. A fellow photographer asked if my name was Kim. When I told him it wasn't he said that she was a local woman who took a lot of beautiful pictures around the area. I was happy to look like a local photographer :o).

Settings: ISO 100, 1"3, f/16

"The sacred lamp of day
Now dipt in western clouds his parting day." 

- William Falconer, The Shipwreck