In pictures: Hong Kong photographers show how to shoot night skies over city
We talk to two local experts on astrophotography who share tips on getting the best pictures of stars, galaxies and nebulas in our light-polluted city (and elsewhere)
When it comes to the galaxy we live in, travel photography doesn’t even require leaving home. Social media is flooded with all kinds of contrasting images of the night sky and the Milky Way, but they all have two things in common; patience on the part of the photographers, and – whisper it – some fairly simple photographic techniques. Taking images of the night sky really only requires four things: a DSLR (or compact camera with manual exposure), a tripod, clear and dark night skies, and dedication.
“For most of the time I use an ordinary DSLR and a sturdy tripod,” says Timmy Wong, a Hong Kong-based landscape photographer and astrophotographer (timmywongphotography.wix.com/timmywongphotography). A tripod is critical because the camera shutter needs to be left open for about 25 seconds. Any longer and the earth’s rotation will make the stars blur. Any shorter and not enough light will get in.
Using your widest angle lens, position the camera and tripod away from direct light, choose manual mode, then set the focus to infinity (or shine a bright flashlight on something about 20m away, auto-focus on that, then switch to manual focus). You can start with ISO 800, open the aperture as much as possible (f/2.8 or so, depending on the lens), and take an exposure for between 15 and 25 seconds.
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Using a shutter release cable, remote control or your camera’s self-timer function will help reduce camera shake and blur. If you have a high-end DSLR, use a higher ISO and decrease the exposure time, but it’s always a question of balance and experimentation. “I use ISO 800 to 6400,” says Mew Chu, an amateur astronomer who conducts creative night-sky photography courses in Cantonese around Hong Kong. “Due to the dim starlight it’s very helpful to have a high sensitivity.”
The MIlky Way above High Island Reservoir in Hong Kong. Photo: Timmy Wong
You don’t have to travel far to get the right conditions for astro-photography. Getting away from light in Hong Kong isn’t easy, but it is possible. “Sai Kung High Island Reservoir, the south of Lantau Island, and outlying regions like Po Toi Island are ideal for shoot the stars,” says Chu. Hong Kong Space Museum’s Astropark, near the High Island Reservoir, has stargazing facilities and is a fine place to practice astro-photography. “Shek O Country Park is more convenient, but light pollution is very serious and deteriorating,” says Chu, adding that even Plover Cove, once a famously dark area, is now subject to light pollution from development at Ma On Shan, and is now barely darker than the city.
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While light pollution is a concern to anyone interested in the night sky, it doesn’t rule-out astro-photography. In fact, shooting the stars from within the city can lead to dramatic images. “I like taking night sky photos in suburban areas as I can put both the sky and the city lights into my composition, though it’s really challenging,” says Wong.
Night sky above Hong Kong. Photo: Mew Chi
For Wong, whose favourite dark sky location of all is Galloway Forest Park in Scotland, a good night sky photograph is as much about composition as any other landscape photo. “Looking for foregrounds like waterfalls, rivers or even cliffs definitely increases the attractiveness of the composition,” he says. His winning entry in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2015 competition was taken at Sunset Peak on Lantau.
