Making multiple images as you are photographing the Milky Way can give you more opportunities for creative projects. You can stack images for noise reduction. Combine photos for time-lapse. Ensure that if the skies change during the night, you already have some clean photos “in the can.’

Intervalometer

Many cameras these days have a built-in intervalometer. This allows you to make multiple images without touching the camera. Whatever settings are used the camera will continue to make additional copies. You can program the camera to create images that can be combined for a time-lapse video. The story you can tell with multiple photos is very different from the still image.

If your camera does not have this feature built in you can get one. Even if you do have an intervalometer built in, should you wish to do a lot of time-lapse you might want an auxiliary as an addition. These tools can be generic or OEM. The generics work fine, just make sure you get one that is compatible with your camera’s remote port.

With an exterior unit, there’s no need to touch the camera to activate which can be handy if you are making stacks of images for noise reduction. See the still frames below:

Time-lapse

How do you know how many images are enough to create a time-lapse? Depends upon the story you wish to tell. The length of time you want your video to run will determine how many frames you need to capture. Most time-lapse videos use 24 frames per second. You don’t want to bore your viewer so time lapses tend to be between 10 to 20 seconds with one minute at the top unless you got great stuff going on. I tend to make more images than I think I’ll need. (Of course, I was limited to 120 images this go round.) Images can always be left on the ‘cutting room floor.’

Determine how many frames you need by multiplying the time by 24. For example, if you need 20 seconds, 20 x 24 = 480 frames. The shutter speed with which you are working will determine how long it will take to complete your session. Clouds on a sunny day you can be done in under 10 minutes. Milky Way stars can be 20 seconds or more per frame. 9600 seconds equals 160 minutes or over two hours for the same 20-second video. My video was rendered out to 17 seconds at 4K resolution. I processed that video in Screenflow, a MAC screen capture program, adding pan, zoom and slow motion to extend the run time to 25 seconds.

TLDF (Time-lapse Deflicker)

A great APP to help clean up and process your time-lapse videos is Time-lapse Deflicker. Many times you will get a slight change in the exposure which results in an annoying flicker in your movie. I’ve found this APP to be super for processing. You can try it out for free and use it with 720p files. You can dial in higher resolutions by investing a bit in upgrades. I recommend going all the way to the full program as it is only $34.99 for full-size files. You can obtain 1080p capabilities for a lesser price. But if you have a full-size video file you have the ability to pan and zoom if you are working on a 1080p timeline.

Still frames and noise reduction

Multiple images can be used to help tame the noise created by making long exposures with high ISO. For Mac users, the program is called Starry Landscape Stacker and retails for about $40. PC users have a free program called Sequator. Both software take multiple images, line them up so the stars align. At the same time, anything that is not a star is considered noise and is removed. You’ll need to play with various numbers of images to stack to find your happy place. Technically, more images stacked equals less noise. You’ll find there is a point where less noise reduction becomes apparent by adding more images.

Red rock formation in sedona, AZ with milky way
The sky noise was reduced in this image by using Starry Landscape Stacker. It is $59.99 for MAC. It’s worth it if you do much of this type of imagery. Learn more here about my use of Starry Landscape Stacker. PC Users get a free download of the Sequator program which does much the same thing.

Multiple cameras

When photographing the Milky Way I enjoy working with multiple cameras. This allows for different compositions, lens choices, time-lapse and more. While I like working with two cameras I’m not a fan of carrying two full-size tripods. Platypod to the rescue. I used a Platypod eXtreme plate with two Platypod Handles and a Benro ball head. This gives me the ability to mount the camera from almost on the ground to 22 inches above. It works out to just over two pounds but breaks down for easy packing in the camera bag.

Platypod eXtreme base with two Platypod Handles and a lightweight Benro ball head was used for my second Olympus OM-D EM1 Mark III camera support and the time-lapse images.

Milky Way workshops in Sedona

These are just a few of the concepts and ideas we explore during the Milky Way Sedona Workshops I put on. You can learn more at successful-photographer.com. If you don’t see a date that works for your schedule, get in touch and let’s see what we can work out in a private workshop.

Yours in Creative Photography, Bob