How to Create a Starburst Effect | Guide by Urth
Enhance your photography with an in-depth look at the star explosion effect. Learn what settings and approaches you need to capture beams of light, and how Star Filter Kit is your goal for creative brilliance.
What is the effect of a star explosion?
‘Diffraction’ is a photographic term you may be familiar with. Otherwise, diffraction basically means scattering of light. As photographers, we understand this optical phenomenon as a bad thing because it is associated with a loss of sharpness. But diffraction is also responsible for creating the dreamy starburst effect in photos where the sun or a harsh light source creates a pointed beam of light.
What does aperture have to do with the starburst effect?
The starburst effect in photography is largely controlled and determined by your aperture, and more specifically, your aperture blade. If you ask two photographers to capture the same sun, they will likely produce different starburst effects due to their choice of lenses and the number of aperture blades the lenses have (unless, of course, they use the same lens!).
A lens with an even number of aperture blades will produce a star explosion with the same number of spikes, i.e. a lens with 8 aperture blades will produce a star explosion with 8 spikes. On the other hand, a lens with an odd number of aperture blades will produce a double, i.e. a lens with 9 blades will produce a star explosion with 18 spikes.
“Starburst is a complementary effect so the best lens for starburst photography is the one you will use.”
What aperture is used to create the star explosion effect
Light will enter your lens and be diffracted across your aperture blades, but the starburst effect is most pronounced when your aperture is narrow, at f/11 or higher. The thing is, the narrower you are (towards f/16 or f/22), the more pronounced the starburst. However, the narrower your aperture, the more likely you are to lose sharpness.
Use f/11 as a starting point but do some testing at f/13 and f/16. You may notice a difference in the starburst effect, but it may be more difficult to determine the loss of sharpness, if any, unless you look at the image on the screen.
What lens to use for starburst photography
Starburst is a complementary effect, so the best lens for starburst photography is the one you will use. For example, if you want to capture a wide expanse of a unique landscape, a wide-angle lens may be the best choice. Using a wide-angle lens, adjust your aperture to f/11 or more and the starburst effect will add a level of creative depth to the resulting image.
You may reconsider your lens choice for starburst photography if you are not satisfied with the effect your lens produces. As mentioned earlier, the actual effect is determined by the number and shape of the aperture blades, which will differ from lens to lens. If a six-star burst doesn't cut it, you may have to look into a lens with more, or an odd number of aperture blades for a much sharper starburst.
You can also reconsider your lens choices if your current lenses are particularly prone to flare. All optical glass and lenses are manufactured differently. Expensive lenses will handle harsh sunlight much better than cheaper lenses. Ideally, your lenses or lens filters will be layered to prevent too much lens flare.
“Starburst effect photos are often taken in the forest because the sun can be filtered through the leaf canopy.”
Blur the sun
Shooting straight back into the sun or other hard light source is always a challenge. In this case, you cannot protect your lens with a hood and as a result, you may notice that the lens flare actually blurs your image and prevents the sharp starburst effect.
One way to deal with this is to partially obscure the sun. This can be tricky depending on the location of the sun in the sky. Observe the scene in front of you and see what you can use to block out the sun. A building? A bridge? A cloud? Tree? Starburst effect photos are often taken in the forest as the sun can be filtered through the leaf canopy – a natural roof that allows for reduced intensity and maximum starburst.
Too much coverage won't result in an explosion. Insufficient coverage will create too much lens flare. Make sure to only partially cover the sun to strike a balance between removing flares and striking outbursts.
What if you don't want to cover the sun? Then, you may need to make sure that you are shooting at the right time. Photographing the sun while it is directly overhead may be too difficult to render adequately. But the quality of the atmosphere differs between the peak and the horizon, which is generally much more hazy. So if you wake up at dawn or shoot in the late afternoon when the sun is at its lowest, you should be able to avoid the lens flare you typically experience when looking down a barrel at the greatest light source in the universe.
If the above information is required, there are many things to consider when it comes to starburst photography. We've made things easier thanks to our Stellar Filter Kit, allowing you to create stunning star explosion effects in 4-point, 6-point, or 8-point stars.
For more information on our Star Filter range, see Star Filter Kitas well as some sample before and after images below.
Summary
Hunting for star explosions isn't just about chasing the sun. Following the rules and techniques above, or using our Stellar Filter Kit, you can create stunning depth in your images using any light source from street lamps to sparkling seas. Make sure your lenses and/or filters are sparkling clean, then set up your heavenly photography.
Photo by Chiara Zonca
#Create #Starburst #Effect #Guide #Urth
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