Startrails

On this page: Startrails — Parents: Fotografische Techniken — Photography, Technology & Science at the Tenckhoff Photo Archive.

Star trails are mesmerizing photographs that capture the movement of stars across the night sky as glowing circles or arcs through long exposure. This technique requires a stable camera setup and often involves combining multiple images into a stunning final composition.

Startrails over an industrial chimney

The industrial chimney in Buchholz-Krautscheid stands for around 115 years of battery recycling and is therefore a local symbol of international industrial history.

Startrails above trees on La Palma, Canary Island

During one of the 200 shots, a part of the trees was dodged with a bright flashlight in order to be able to recognize them later in the finished picture.

Startrails in black and white

Startrails over trees and clouds in black and white

And then the clouds came from the sea - despite a recording altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level, this series of recordings was a race against time.

Startrails over La Palma

We had rented a nice little house at over 1,600 meters above sea level, which offered ideal conditions for star trail photography.

Startrails with rocks over the Atlantic

The interesting rock formations in the north of La Palma can also be used as objects for star trail photography.

Startrails with palm tree over La Palma, Canary Island

Putting up a startrail tent over the palm trees of La Palma is not easy with the wind and the long exposure times.

Startrails over volcanoes

Startrails over the volcanoes of Lanzarote

Many of the 200 pictures were usable, so that beautiful star trails can now be seen over the volcanoes of Lanzarote.

Star trails over the Hanfcreek

Star trails over the Valley of the Hanfcreek

A "touch of start trails" above the Hanfbachtal in difficult shooting conditions.

Photo technique: "Startrails"

On the recording technique of start trails, i.e. the supposed movement of the stars on concentric circular orbits around the North Star.

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