Nature Photography How To

Nighttime is the right time to capture a wide variety of dramatic images, and the Milky Way in the evening sky is one of the most popular and impressive subjects. If you pass up this great opportunity because of a misconception that your gear and skills are insufficient, this video from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel will change your mind.

Instructor Christian Mohrle is a highly acclaimed German landscape photographer whose expert shooting and editing tutorials are among the most popular we post. This lesson is a combination of the two skills, as he demonstrates both how to capture and process images of the Milky Way for maximum impact.

You may want to take a few notes because this 24-minute tutorial is a bit longer than most. We also suggest downloading the demonstration file with the link beneath the video so that you can follow along and make the editing adjustments yourself as Mohrle explains the steps.

Like with all types of landscape photography it's essential to choose the best conditions and time to shoot, and this is where Mohrle begins. He considers "prime" time to be between midnight and 5am because "during these hours the Milky Way is at its highest above the horizon and the galactic core is nicely visible." So plan on missing some sleep if perfect photos are your goal.

When scouting for locations it's very important to remember that the Milky Way rises in the southeast, crosses the southern horizon, and sets in the southwest. And depending upon where you live, the time of year plays a huge role as well. Obviously, if clouds cover the sky you may as well stay in bed.

Once you have a great location and ideal conditions the next step is choosing the right gear, and Mohrle demonstrates why you don't need high-end professional equipment to get the job done. And don't forget to bring a study tripod, because this accessory is an absolute must.

Mohrle moves on to properly configuring the camera, covering all the important settings. Then he suggests several key shooting techniques that are unique to this genre of photography. He concludes the lesson by demonstrating an editing process he recommends for color grading, masking, sharpening, and other critical adjustments.

Head over to Mohrle's instructional YouTube channel once you’re done watching today's episode and browse through his other shooting and editing videos.

We also suggest checking out the beginners guide we posted recently with everything you need to know about processing Raw files for perfect light, color, and detail.