There is an elusive giant cloud of space dust right around our North Star called the Polaris Flare. If it were bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, it would appear 100 times wider than the diameter of the full moon.
Coming to you from Nico Carver with Nebula Photos, this awesome video addresses the complexities of capturing the Polaris Flare in astrophotography. It is considered a challenging target even for experienced astrophotographers. Most would advise beginners to steer clear of it. However, Carver believes otherwise. He argues that with just a tripod, a stock DSLR, and a telephoto lens, anyone can capture this celestial wonder.
Carver's video offers practical tips drawn from his personal experience. He recounts a challenge where his Patreon members captured it without using star trackers, relying instead on short exposures. It showcases that, with the right techniques, capturing such a dim and difficult object is within reach for more people. The emphasis on practical, easily accessible gear underscores this point.
The video goes into detail about the necessary equipment and settings. Carver recommends a sturdy tripod, preferably with a pan-tilt or ball head. The importance of manual focus and the use of accessories like a shutter release cable and a lens warmer are also covered. He explains that heating the lens slightly prevents dew formation, which can be a problem during long exposure sessions. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Carver.
"I'm going to show you how to capture this crazy phenomenon with just a tripod, dslr, and stock lens....in this 2 hour video!"
It's wild this stuff can even be captured here on earth. This is so beyond anything I've done with a camera haha.