• Link to Facebook Link to Facebook Link to Facebook
  • Link to Instagram Link to Instagram Link to Instagram
  • Buy Fine Art
  • Photography Workshops & Classes
Photography Magazine Extra
  • Home
  • Pamela GoodyerBuy Fine Art from Iconic Photographer
    • Product Endorsements by Pamela Goodyer
    • Photography Lessons in New Jersey
    • Pamela Goodyer, Iconic Photographer – Speaking Engagements
    • Buy Fine Art
    • Alien Photography
    • Aliens in Photography by Pamela Goodyer
    • N.J. Photography Book
  • Workshops
  • Hot Spots by State
  • Featured ArticlesFeatured Articles
    • Ultimate Guide Top USA Photography Locations
    • Cherry Springs State Park Photography
    • Mount Rainier National Park Photography
    • Pocono Waterfall Photography Locations
    • Maine Lighthouse & Milky Way Photography
    • Maine to Canada Travel Photography
    • Mount Rainier National Park Photography
    • Catskills N.Y. Castle & Milky Way Photography
    • Jasper National Park Photography Guide
  • TravelTravel Photography Destinations
    • Wilderness Photography & Preparedness
    • Hotel Reviews – Where to Stay and Where Not to Stay
    • Restaurant Reviews for Photography Hot Spots
    • Photo Magazine Extra’s Top Hotels & Photography Spots – 2018
    • The Best Bed and Breakfasts & Great Photography Locations
  • Ghost Hunting
    • Quickly Learn Ghost Hunting Photography
    • Ghost Hunting Locations – Where to Ghost Hunt
    • Ghost Hunting/Photography Gear
    • The Inn at Jim Thorpe Investigation
    • The Most Haunted Places in New Jersey
    • Ghost hunting N.Y. castle
  • How To/ReviewsOur How-to section and reviews
    • Photography Tips – Master Photography by Pamela Goodyer
    • How to shoot dark sky photography
    • Waterfall photography simplified
    • Basic Photography – Beginner
      • Aperture priority
      • ISO
      • White balance basics
      • Shutter speed – beginner
    • Shooting Sports Photography
    • Night Sky photography – how to
    • Neutral density filters explained
    • Think Tank camera bags review
  • Milky WayEverything you need to know about milky way photography.
    • Milky Way Photography Locations
    • Where to do Milky Way Photography in New Jersey
    • Dark Sky photography info
  • Contest
    • Photography Contest
    • Photography Contest Winners
  • Services
    • Hotel and resort photography
    • Effective, Affordable Advertising
    • Photography Advertising
    • Photography Business Consultant
  • Drones
  • Store – GearPhotography Gear, Cameras, Tripods, Backpacks and more.
    • Store T-Shirts, Mugs and More
  • Stuff
    • Feature Photographers
    • Film
  • About Us
    • Contact
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

How to Shoot The Milky Way – Photography

Milky Way Photography Information

Milky Way Photography Basics

The Milky Way is our galaxy, full of stars that sparkle in the night sky. When we look towards its center on a dark evening, we can see a bright, milky cluster of stars and dust. Astrophotographers take pictures of this phenomenon, utilizing long exposure techniques to create captivating night sky images. To get the perfect shot, you must be in the right location with the correct gear and patience to make a masterpiece. The most important thing is to know is when to do Milky Way Photography and how to see it. 

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?

Months: The Milky Way Core can be seen from March to October, disappearing below the horizon for the rest of the year. It appears in the early morning hours in March and becomes visible earlier each month. The best time to catch a glimpse of the core is during summer when it can be seen immediately after sunset, providing an ideal viewing opportunity for stargazers and photographers.

New Moon: Timing is crucial to seeing the Milky Way. This celestial event can only be seen on clear nights without a visible moon, limiting the window for viewing. The moon rises during the day and sets at night, the ten days before the new moon each month. CHECK THE NEW MOON SCHEDULE HERE.

HOW TO FIND DARK SKY LOCATIONS

Light Pollution: The best way to experience the full wonder of the Milky Way is to escape from areas with heavy light pollution. However, it may be possible to see some faint traces of the galaxy from places with mild artificial lighting; the most spectacular views can be found in remote locations far from cities and civilizations. Check out our How to Section for more details, including using a light pollution map to guide you to dark sky locations. See the light pollution map link below.

PHOTOGRAPHY T-SHIRTS & MORE

T-shirts for sale, milky way

Think Tank Camera Bags

The only bag we use!

think tank camera bags
PNG Think Tank Camera BAGS

SURVIVAL FOOD

survival food and gear with an alien guy with food buckets

PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR  FOR MILKY WAY


LIGHT POLLUTION MAP:

Light pollution map

CAMERA:

You will need a camera to control your ISO, shutter speed, and aperture manually.

LENS:

A fast, wide-angle lens of 1.4 – 2.8 is ideal. If you use a 3.5 or higher (slower lens), you must increase the ISO. The higher the ISO, the more grain or digital noise or grain will appear in your photos.

TRIOPD:

A good, sturdy tripod is essential for night photography. If it gets windy, you will need a sturdy one. Remember that when you buy one, it should be sturdy enough to withstand the wind but small enough to fit in your suitcase.

SKY MAP:

Sky Guide is available through the iTunes Store for $1.99. It has a 5 out of 5-star rating on both the current (3.2) version (1200+ ratings) and all previous versions (8600+ ratings).

FLASHLIGHT:

Our choice is Coast brand for flashlights. The ideal flashlight will have high lumens, and you can zoom in and out on the light emitting from the flashlight. Get the HP7, PX45, or the G50. Ideally, go with the  HP7.

MOON PHAZE MAP:

The best time to go is during a new moon; you want to be in the darkest area possible. The week before the new moon, when the moon has not risen, is a perfect time to go, so be sure to check the moonrise chart to see when the moon will be up.

REMOTE SHUTTER RELEASE:

When painting with light and over a 30-second exposure, you must have a shutter release to use your bulb mode. You can use the remote release or your camera’s built-in two-second timer when exposing your pictures.

CAMERA SETTINGS FOR MILKY WAY


ISO:

Start with ISO 1600 – 3200. This is a common starting point, and you will adjust from here.

APERTURE:

Depth of field isn’t critical on these shots, but letting light into the camera is; therefore, you should shoot wide open if. If the depth of field is essential to you, try not to go too high. (Wide open =the lowest aperture your camera will allow.) You must increase the ISO a little, which will give you digital noise.

SHUTTER SPEED:

Now that the ISO and aperture are set in manual mode roll your shutter speed until your meter reads (0) zero. Take a test shot and adjust from there. Remember, the earth is rotating. If you leave the shutter open for too long, you will see star trails that will not make for a crisp image. You can create star trails specifically, but that’s not what we are going for here since we started with Milky Way photography. We want crisp, non-star trail images when doing this.

Here is the formula to avoid star trails— 500 rule – Divide 500 by the focal length of your lens. So, if you have a 24mm lens on a full-frame camera, you will set your shutter speed to 20 sec. (500/24 = 20.83). If you are using a crop sensor camera, first do the math of the crop sensor to find the focal length. Cannon is 1.6, Nikon is 1.5. Convert to full-frame focal length, then use the formula. Nikon 18mm x 1.5= 27mm – 500/27 = 18.51 seconds.

WHITE BALANCE:

In live view mode, you can change your white balance settings and see what they look like. You can also shoot in shade or cloud mode as a standard setting and adjust things later when editing.

LIVE VIEW:

To focus in the dark, use your camera’s live view, hit the zoom button, and focus on a bright star. You can also use the infinity setting on your lens, but do several test shots to determine accuracy. It can be off a little on some lenses. You can also light it up with a flashlight, focus, then gently, without touching the focus ring, put the camera in manual focus so it will not search for the focus. You must do this each time you move your camera to take your next angel.

WHEN TO VIEW THE MILKY WAY:

The best images are usually of the dense part of the Milky Way. We can see this part of the milk way in the southern sky. During March, April, and May, the Milky Way rises above the horizon in the pre-dawn hours. In June, at about 10:00 p.m., you will see the Milky Way. From July until October, you can see the Milky Way as soon as it sunsets, and it becomes dark enough to see about an hour after sunset. In November, the Milky Way no longer comes above the horizon. You will have to wait until March if you want to stay away really late or get up early to see her again.

See our Milky Way Hot Spot Locator and our Night Photography Information. 

Milky Way Photography Locations

Enter Here to find the Darkest Skies in the Lower Forty-Eight.

THE MILKY WAY GALAXY

This year, our focus for photography locations will be the Milky Way Galaxy. We are thrilled to explore as many Dark Sky locations as possible to capture the magnificence of this cosmic wonder. While we have a few prime Milky Way spots nearby, such as New Jersey and parts of New York and Pennsylvania, we are willing to travel further for the darkest skies. Some potential local destinations include the Catskill Mountains, the Adirondacks, and Cherry Springs State Park. However, flying to other locations may become necessary, and we can only hope for clear weather conditions when booking flights a week ahead. When driving to your chosen location, planning your trip around the current weather forecast is key.

THE UNIVERSE

The Milky Way is a vast expanse of glittering stars spanning the Universe’s length. Photographing this cosmic masterpiece was an endeavor – a breathless journey into the heart of the unknown, full of risks and rewards beyond imagination. With bated breath, we gazed through the lens at the galaxy that stretched before us, our hearts quickening with anticipation. Every shot taken was a triumph over the darkness; each moment spent beneath its twinkling lights was an unforgettable memory that would stay with us forever.

As experts in astrophotography, we know that photographing the beauty of the Milky Way requires more than technical knowledge and skillful manipulation of camera settings. It is an art form all on its own – one that demands patience, dedication, and a deep appreciation for the wonders of our Universe. The challenge lies not only in the technical aspects of photography, such as shutter speed and aperture settings, but also in finding a location with minimal light pollution. This is essential to showcase the true magnificence of our galaxy.

A photography journey: With each passing moment, we were transported further into the depths of this cosmic masterpiece – an ethereal landscape punctuated by sparkling stars and nebulae that glimmered like jewels against a velvet sky. We lost ourselves in its vastness, marveling at every burst of color as if it were painted just for us. But even as we reveled in the glory before us, we knew there was still more beauty to uncover within this sprawling Universe.

Pamela Goodyer’s Alien Experiences

As I continued photographing the Milky Way, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at its sheer scale. It was as if I were looking at an endless sea of stars, each twinkling like a diamond in the sky. The beauty was indescribable, and I knew no photograph could fully reflect its true essence.

As I moved deeper into the galaxy,  my eyes were drawn to a particular star cluster that shimmered in shades of blue and purple. It was like nothing I had ever seen – a celestial oasis amidst the vastness of space. Eagerly, I adjusted my camera settings and began taking pictures. I took more and more images until, suddenly, something caught my eye. There! In the corner of one photo lay a curious streaking light that seemed out of place amongst all the other stars around it. Could it be..?

Excitement surged through me as I realized what I might have just caught on film: an alien flashing itself in our image! This discovery would change everything for humankind—proof that life is beyond our world! However, we needed to study this image further to confirm its authenticity before sharing it. As we continued photographing, we wished moments beneath these twinkling lights for us would last forevermore. See our ALIEN PHOTOGRAPHY PAGE.

More Places to Do Photography in Maine
Bass Harbor Lighthouse.
August 26, 2016

Acadia N.P. Bass Harbor Lighthouse

keep acadia national park milky way at thunder hole
July 12, 2016

Acadia N.P. Thunder Hole – Milky Way Photo Hot Spot

Baxter state parse moose wasting across the water.
July 12, 2016

Baxter State Park Maine – Photography Hot Spot

Orchard Beach Maine
July 12, 2016

Old Orchard Beach, Maine Photography

Jordan Pond splash by Pamela Goodyer. A fine art piece.
June 15, 2015

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park Photography

Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. We do absolutely nothing with your data. We only track how many people visit. We respect privacy.

OK

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Policy
Accept settingsHide notification only
error: Content is protected !!