Astrophotography with Smartphones & Action Cameras

For best viewing experience watch video in 1080p 60fps.
You do not need an expensive camera for night-sky photography. With today’s smartphones and action cameras, it is easy to capture excellent pictures and time-lapse videos of stars, planets, satellites, meteors and airplanes. Hardware and software are rapidly improving --with artificial intelligence, RAW images, HDR and 5K videos available for many devices.
I used iPhones and GoPro HERO action cameras in this video. My favorite iPhone Apps are Nocturne by Unistellar and Stars Camera.
Several different smartphones and action cameras are good for astrophotography.
Smartphones:
1. Samsung Galaxy, S21 Ultra, Samsung Galxy S20; Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
2. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
3. Google Pixel 6 Pro, Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 4 XL
4. Huawei P40 Pro
Action Cameras:
1. GoPro HERO 11 Black, Gopro HERO 10 Black, GoPro HERO 9 Black, GoPro HERO 8, Black
2. SJCam M20 Action Camera
3. DJI Osmo Action
4. Insta360 One R, Insta360 1-inch 360 camera
Astrophotography requires a perfectly still camera. Use a sturdy tripod, that won’t move in the wind. I weight the tripod with an external camera battery and sometimes rocks. The camera may need to run all night long to take star-trail photographs or time-lapse videos from dusk to dawn.
Like all photography, scene selection and lighting are of utmost importance Follow the photographic rule of thirds. Consider the impact of lighting sources, such as the moon, sun, artificial lights and reflections from clouds, haze or water. They will create interest and can impact the visibility of stars, planets and airplanes.
I prefer doing astrophotography when the night sky has a partial moon, so that the foreground is illuminated, with changing shadows.
Videography by Ken Kramm, September 19, 2022. Magistar, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons... When My Spirit Calls, Native American Flute in D minor, Ephemeral Rift, ccMixter, Creative Commons 3.0
I prefer doing astrophotography when the night sky has a partial moon, so that the foreground is illuminated, with changing shadows.
Videography by Ken Kramm, September 20, 2022. Magistar, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons... When My Spirit Calls, Native American Flute in D minor, Ephemeral Rift, ccMixter, Creative Commons 3.0

[@davew5583]

Kenneth mate, wow. Fantastic vid and phenomenal pics. I’m sure it’s not just me. PMA :) can’t wait till your back, regular, posting your chilled out attitude, and chilled online presence. I can’t do any more than send you a smile :)

[@Yellow.Dog.]

Thank you from your old stomping grounds in northern Michigan! God bless.

[@LavalampDM]

Hello from California. I learned a lot from watching your video. Thank you!

[@robbaia7248]

Thunderstorm in schenectady 2day. Perfect timing 4 ken

[@chili1593]

I always wondered how to do this. Thanks so much!

[@Japan_Trip_Gourmet]

I am glad to meet you That was a fantastic, fantastic video! Thank you very much. I just bought a Gopro myself, and I hope to be able to take such wonderful images someday😊

[@jackwalsh1468]

Ken, do let the channel know that you're safe and well. How did you faire with the surgical procedure??? Cheers, Mate.

[@Getawaymoments]

Well done. Shot some milkyway TL with Hero10 this summer and the results were excellent.

[@sipapito]

Hope you are recovering well and may you and your family have a Happy New 2023!

[@LEXPIX]

Good stuff Ken. I'm impressed wit the results from the GoPro.

[@KennethKramm]

GoPros keep getting better and better. Mine is 4 years old. The current GoPro HERO take photos and night lapses much better than the one shown in this video. Very little editing is required…. And they shoot 5k

[@ptonpc]

Great to see you back :)

[@DebT-yl1fw]

great video, sending prayers for your health, we miss you.

[@RobertsBulgaria]

Marvellous.

[@lancechristy2595]

My neighbor it’s good to see you again

[@jimrika2]

Thank you, I can't wait to try this.

[@robaldridge6505]

Glad to see you back Sir, I miss the old days when photography wasn't pixled... I haven't smelled developing chemicals for so long... Thank You Kenneth.. Hope you are doing OK.... God Bless you and yours...

[@charlesknight3204]

Ken … Wonderful video; excellent information; readily usable; outstanding job!!! My friend, you have been, are now and shall be in prayer!!! Me and mine wish you and yours all things great and good; take care, be safe, get well soon, all my best and God bless!!! Chuck Knight from Buffalo, Texas. 🤠👨‍🌾✝️🙏🖖👍👋

[@lopezexplora]

Great video , amazing stargazing. Thank you for sharing 🥾🥾

[@ronaldhoppus9015]

Cool video Ken. Hope you are doing well. Thanks

[@bubbalake4139]

Great video! Ken! Love time lapse! Something about the night sky that makes you feel so little and opens up the imagination! So much is unknown about space! It's what dreams are made out of!

[@NikonRules303]

I have always wondered how you do that. Thanks! I have both a GoPro 8 and a IPhone 12. I will give it a try. “When I look at the sky, which you have made, at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places - what are human beings, that you think of them; mere mortals, that you care for them?” ‭‭

[@claymoresteel]

Could you do some hiking recipes just at home? Perhaps including sprouts

[@BigmacbushcraftCoUkOutdoors]

Great video as always Ken, loved the choice of soundtrack too. Never managed to get a grip of taking night photos but I'll give it a go again using your tips. Keep up the great work. ATB Mac

[@seunghoonlee1919]

nice video thank you

[@robbaia7248]

I love ya man. Im praying 4 u 🙏 u have been a comfort. From homeless in schenectady

[@KennethKramm]

Thank you Rob

[@itorIamop]

Didn't think about application for night photo. It will help since my experimentations so far are not very succesfull! Thanks! Good music by the way!

[@KennethKramm]

Thanks my friend

[@myyou2b]

Thanks for doing this for us, Ken.

[@davidallen6970]

thank.you.dear.heart.from.uk.dear.kenneth.

[@Grepadu]

Wow! I'm looking forward to this series. I had an uncle who used to take timelapse of cloud formations moving across the sky. Thank you for this. Peace.

[@KennethKramm]

Thank you. The sky is amazing to watch

[@DailyPassenger]

What a lovely vlog. Very relaxing footage 🤘I love astrophotgraphy videos espcially where I get to learn something and you did really good job here🔥🔥New fan from Bangalore 😍😍

[@KennethKramm]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Much appreciated

[@LindaG858]

Keep in touch, Kenneth..

[@franciscobovallecillo9957]

Is very nice video, congratulations. Please Kenneth can you tell me the name of the author a wonderful verse, in dark of the night.....thanks a lot

[@LMay64]

Thank you. You've captured beautiful footage in your past videos.

[@KennethKramm]

Thanks you. Smiling. Much appreciated, my friend.

[@davidhiggins3924]

Don't you miss the west Texas dark skies?

[@JamesSmith-bg5sv]

Very nice! Can you give us a link for the music?

[@KennethKramm]

Links for the music are listed in the last paragraph of KZbin video description

[@Chief6998]

Hope your doing well Kenneth :)

[@jimsullender3435]

civil war camp gear

[@David-ru2hk]

🤷 ƤＲＯ𝓂Ｏ𝕤ᗰ

[@rafaymustafa5109]

hey! May i please get your business email?

[@bushcraftbasics2036]

This is great, thank you.

[@redsorgum]

That was awesome!👏👏👏👏