Almost Got the sunlight star? Any tips

[Michelleltn]

I am trying to capture a sunlight star. I have seen them many times coming through trees etc. This was about 2:30 this afternoon.
I almost got one. What settings could I use or what could I do different to capture it. It looked like a star in real life. But it doesn't totally come through well in the picture.



Caught with my T2i
18-55 mm lens
Portrait mode
TV shutter speed 1/500
av 4.5
iso 100
focal length 29

also is there a program that you can upload photos to, edit them and also keep the shooting info. (I am using 3 programs to do it all and it is cumbersome. )
I can't do photoshop right now-it is a memory hog.(It will have to wait till I upgrade my laptop.) Until then I use zoomex browser (canon) photobucket and flicker. (Sometimes Picasa.)

Thanks

[zona5101]

you can use a star cross or vario-cross filter on the front of the lens.

[IABoomer]

Try a smaller aperture. Also, try putting more of the sun behind the object. If the middle shows too much, the intensity of that light can wash out the rays.

As a quick and dirty sample from a day I was just screwing around, I shot this (SOOC):



D40
1/125
f/16
ISO 200
70mm

[ravncat]

Yep, exactly,
Try a much smaller aperture, 4.5 leaves is too wide, without a filter.

[Michelleltn]

So smaller would be 2.8?

[Jonbar18]

Originally Posted by Michelleltn

So smaller would be 2.8?

Smaller would be 5.6. Common confusion, but the f/stop is a ratio (focal length : aperture) so a smaller f/stop (for example, 2.8 or 5.6) is actually a bigger aperture.

[MsKirpi]

I'm just learning too. I took this one last january after a heavy snow when the sun finally broke through. I didn't know really what I was doing (still have a lot to learn) so I kept moving around till I got the sun just barely peeking through. This was the best of several shots.



Exif data



Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/10.0
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 400

[Michelleltn]

Originally Posted by MsKirpi

I'm just learning too. I took this one last january after a heavy snow when the sun finally broke through. I didn't know really what I was doing (still have a lot to learn) so I kept moving around till I got the sun just barely peeking through. This was the best of several shots.


Exif data



Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/10.0
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 400

nice shot!

[Michelleltn]

Originally Posted by Jonbar18

Smaller would be 5.6. Common confusion, but the f/stop is a ratio (focal length : aperture) so a smaller f/stop (for example, 2.8 or 5.6) is actually a bigger aperture.

OK so higher fstop. (And try not to get so much of the sun?) I was afraid I would shield it too much behind the trees. I guess I can just try playing with it a bit, getting different amounts of light in. (Not like I am going to have to print all these.) LOL Love digital!

[MsKirpi]

Originally Posted by Michelleltn

(Not like I am going to have to print all these.) LOL Love digital!

That's why I love digital too! I can shoot zillions of photos to get a handful of good ones. And once in a while I come up with a real stunner! Problem is, I rarely know how I arrived at said "stunner" so it's tough to duplicate. Sigh....