So how did I do it?
Location, location, location...something you hear all the time, but in this instance, it is something very important. If you are surrounded by lights, you will not see stars, let alone a sky filled with them. After choosing a secluded location suited for stars to pop out, you need to choose a time. Time is important; it needs to be dark, but it can't be overcast and the moon can't be shining at full blast, for obvious reasons.
I was in Cordoba, Argentina; and it was 22:00. The moon was making it's appearance in about an hour, so I had to make it snappy.
Equipment: Nikon D700, Nikkor 14 - 120mm, tripod, LED headlamp, red-light torch, Laser pointer.
Having some available light did not hurt; for the photograph of the tree and purple night-sky it came in very handy. The porch light was on a couple of meters away, and in the distance Cordoba's city lights created a really cool purple effect without disrupting the sky.
The same with the other two images; there were street lights shining through an opening in the bushes, creating just enough subtle light for some needed assistance.
You may have noticed I mentioned a red-light torch and Laser pointer; two pieces of gear that comes in very handy. The red-light does not mess with your vision as much as white light, giving you perfect night vision. Whereas the laser pointer gives your camera something to focus on in the low light.
Camera settings are pretty straight forward; Aperture F3.5 with an exposure (shutter) of 20.0" (anything higher would leave star trails); ISO was set quite high, 1250.
Tip: Shoot in RAW (Always)
Tip: If you don't have a remote, use your timer (remember to turn off the laser before the shutter triggers)
Give it a try and enjoy!
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