· By Shinpei Tsubogami
The secret to a great shot: stay still for 5 seconds
To capture the stars the shutter stays open for a few seconds, so please hold still for about 5 seconds. Because we never composite, those 5 seconds become the photo.
To appear sharp with the stars, hold still for about 5 seconds during each shot. The camera keeps the shutter open for several seconds to gather faint starlight. If you move during that time, you come out blurred.
No compositing, so the 5 seconds matter
In a composite, the sky and the people are shot separately and the people can be replaced later. MONDO PIECE never composites, so those 5 seconds, on that night and in that place, become your photo.
Easy poses for holding still
- Sit or lie down: you sway less than when standing.
- Lean on something: a rock or each other's shoulders.
- Hold small children: they move less in an adult's arms.
- Holding a smile is not easy, so we find a relaxed pose together.
The shoot takes about 30 minutes, and in between we point out the constellations with a laser.