This article is a comprehensive tutorial on how to take pictures of the Milky Way for beginners.

And with a bit of practice, you can nail shots like the cover of this article, captured by Joseba Koldobika with the help of PhotoPills ;)

So this article is for you whether you've never photographed the Milky Way and want to start learning or you already have some experience capturing it.

After reading it, you'll know:

• How to find the best inspiration for your photo ideas.
• How to plan your Milky Way shot.
• The best camera for Milky Way photography.
• The best lens for shooting the Milky Way.
• The best Milky Way photography gear.
• How to master the Milky Way photography settings.
• The full workflow to take a picture of the Milky Way.

Oh!

And if you want to learn more and become a true Milky Way photography expert, I invite you to read our super detailed Milky Way Photography guide.

A guide that you can download for free below!

Now let's take a look at what you should do to take good pictures of the Milky Way!

"Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them." - Marcus Aurelius

Content

1. Get inspired by the best Milky Way pictures
2. Plan your picture of the Milky Way
3. Use the best Milky Way photography gear
4. Learn how to take a picture of the Milky Way
5. Learn how to take pictures of the Milky Way with a smartphone
6. Find inspiration following the best Milky Way photographers
7. Persist, persist, persist

1.Get inspired by the best Milky Way pictures

Getting inspired to capture amazing Milky Way photos can sometimes be tricky.

If you're just starting out, you might feel a bit lost on where to begin. But finding a good idea is key to planning your shots.

On the flip side, if you're a seasoned photographer with thousands of photos under your belt, you might feel like you've done it all, or maybe your creative spark has dimmed.

That's why finding inspiration is so important:

1. Having a look at this selection of pictures can be a good starting point.

2. Checking out the work of other photographers can be a goldmine for fresh ideas. Here's a great resource to get started: 15 Stunning Milky Way photographers you need to follow.

3. Keep an eye on the PhotoPills Awards.

From my own experience, I can say that browsing through others' photos is the best way to reignite your creativity. It always works for me.

Now, let me show you a few examples.

A diagonal, vertical or horizontal Milky Way (1)

This picture showcases a serene lavender field at night, with rows of lavender stretching towards the horizon. The rows of lavender create strong leading lines that draw the viewer's eye from the bottom of the image towards the center and beyond.

In the center of the field, there's a small stone building, adding a touch of rustic charm to the scene. The small stone building acts as a focal point, providing a sense of scale and human presence in the vast natural landscape. Its placement is slightly off-center, which makes the composition more dynamic and interesting.

The distant mountains on the horizon add a layer of depth, making the scene feel expansive and vast. They also help to balance the composition by anchoring the lower part of the image.

The sky is the star of the show here, quite literally.

The Milky Way is captured with stunning clarity, filling the upper part of the frame and casting a magical glow over the entire landscape. The gradient from the lighter horizon to the dark, star-studded sky adds a natural vignette effect, focusing attention on the center of the image.

The image primarily uses complementary colors: the deep purples of the lavender and the blues of the night sky, punctuated by the warm yellows and oranges near the horizon and on the building.

The combination of the deep purple hues of the lavender and the twinkling stars creates a tranquil and mesmerizing atmosphere. The warm light reflecting on the building contrasts beautifully with the cooler tones of the lavender and the night sky, adding depth and visual interest.

This color harmony is visually pleasing and adds to the overall mood of tranquility and wonder.

A panorama of the Milky Way (2)

This photograph is an excellent example of how various compositional elements can come together to create a powerful and captivating image. The combination of the serene snowy landscape, dramatic mountains, and the star-filled sky results in a visually stunning and emotionally evocative scene.

Let's have a deeper look at it...

The foreground is dominated by a snow-covered landscape, with smooth, rolling hills. The pristine snow adds a sense of purity and calmness to the scene.

On the right side of the image, there is a person standing on a snow-covered hill. The individual is illuminated with a pinkish-red light, which adds a dramatic focal point and provides a sense of scale to the expansive landscape.

The midground features a series of majestic, rugged mountains. These mountains are partially illuminated by the warm glow of either a setting or rising sun, which contrasts beautifully with the cool tones of the snow and the night sky.

The jagged peaks of the mountains create a dramatic silhouette against the sky, adding to the overall grandeur of the scene.

The background is dominated by a breathtaking starry sky. The Milky Way is prominently visible, stretching across the entire width of the image. The clarity and detail in the stars and Milky Way are impressive, providing a sense of wonder and vastness.

The gradient in the sky, transitioning from the darker upper part to the lighter horizon, adds depth and dimension to the photograph.

The contrast between the warm tones on the mountains and the cooler tones of the snow and sky creates a visually appealing balance. The use of the pinkish-red light to highlight the person in the foreground adds a unique touch, drawing the viewer's eye and creating a point of interest amidst the vast landscape.

The color palette is dominated by cool blues and whites, typical of a snowy landscape at night. The addition of warm tones from the sun's light on the mountains and the artificial light on the person provides a striking contrast.

Overall the image evokes a sense of awe and solitude, capturing the silent beauty of a winter night in the mountains. The inclusion of the person adds a human element, emphasizing the vastness of nature and the smallness of human presence within it.

A Milky Way with the Moon (3)

This photograph is a masterful example of how natural elements can be used to create a powerful composition. The combination of the rugged landscape and the awe-inspiring Milky Way makes for a visually stunning and emotionally engaging image.

The composition cleverly uses natural framing with the rocks at the top of the image. This framing technique creates a tunnel-like effect, drawing the viewer's attention towards the center of the image where the Milky Way is prominently displayed.

The use of the cave-like opening at the top adds a sense of depth and perspective, making the scene feel more immersive. At the same time, the contrast between the dark rocks and the illuminated sky, along with the detailed textures of the rocks, adds depth and visual interest.

The lighting coming from a shining Moon in the right hand side (you can't see it, but you know it's there) is skillfully managed to highlight the textures and details of the rocks and cliffs while maintaining the darkness needed to capture the night sky. The contrast between the illuminated and shadowed areas creates a dramatic effect.

Thanks to the Moonlight, the exposure is balanced to bring out the details in the dark foreground and midground without overexposing the stars and the Milky Way.

The foreground is filled with large, rounded rocks that lead the eye into the midground and towards the background.

The midground features a dramatic landscape of jagged mountains. These mountains are partially illuminated, which creates a strong contrast with the darker foreground and adds depth to the image. A dead tree branch on the left side adds an organic element to the rocky terrain, contributing to the overall rugged and wild feel of the scene.

The background is dominated by a stunning view of the Milky Way galaxy. The clarity and detail in the stars and the Milky Way are exceptional, filling the upper portion of the image with a sense of wonder and vastness.

The color palette is dominated by cool tones, primarily blues and grays, which enhance the night-time setting. The subtle green of the vegetation on the cliffs adds a bit of color contrast.

The image evokes a sense of mystery and adventure, capturing the rugged beauty of a remote, wild landscape under the night sky. The natural framing and the starry sky create a captivating and immersive experience.

A winter Milky Way (4)

This photograph masterfully combines elements of landscape and astrophotography to create a breathtaking scene.

The hills and the Milky Way arch frame the waterfall, drawing attention to the central elements and adding depth to the scene. The small human figure at the base of the waterfall acts as a focal point and provides a sense of scale, emphasizing the vastness of the scene.

The foreground features a flat, rocky terrain leading up to the base of the waterfall. The ground is sparsely lit, emphasizing the natural textures and giving a sense of scale.

The midground is dominated by the waterfall, which cascades down between two rugged hills. The waterfall is centered in the frame, drawing immediate attention and creating a strong vertical line that contrasts with the horizontal landscape. The hills on either side of the waterfall add depth and frame the central feature, guiding the viewer's eye towards the water and the person standing at its base.

The background is a stunning display of the night sky, with the Milky Way arching across the entire image. The winter Milky Way forms a natural arch that mirrors the shape of the hills, adding a harmonious symmetry to the composition.

The color palette is dominated by cool tones, primarily blues and grays, which enhance the night-time setting and the cold, rugged landscape. The subtle reds and pinks in the winter Milky Way add a beautiful contrast, enriching the overall visual experience and highlighting the celestial features.

The image evokes a sense of solitude and awe, capturing the majesty of the natural world under the vastness of the cosmos. The combination of the waterfall, rugged hills, and star-filled sky creates a powerful and contemplative mood.

A Milky Way with other fenomena (5)

This picture beautifully combines elements of landscape and astrophotography to create a visually stunning and emotionally engaging image.

The Milky Way and the aurora create a natural frame over the landscape, drawing attention to the central part of the image and enhancing the sense of depth. The small size of the hut and the person against the vast landscape and sky provides a powerful sense of scale, emphasizing the grandeur of the landscape.

The foreground features a grassy, slightly rugged terrain that leads the viewer's eye towards the middle of the image. The texture of the grass and the light reflecting off the ground provide a rich, tactile quality.

There are two main focal points in the foreground: a small, illuminated A-frame hut on the left and a person holding a light on the right. These elements add a human touch and a sense of scale to the vast landscape.

The midground is dominated by a serene expanse of land leading to a body of water, creating a sense of depth and tranquility.

The background is a spectacular display of the night sky, with the Milky Way arching over the scene and a vibrant aurora glowing on the right. The clarity and detail of both the stars and the aurora are impressive, providing a sense of wonder and otherworldliness.

The mountains in the distance add to the depth and grandeur of the scene, creating a harmonious balance between the earth and sky.

The contrast between the artificial light and the natural glow of the aurora creates a dynamic visual effect.

The color palette features a mix of cool tones from the night sky and the aurora, with warm tones from the hut's light. This combination creates a visually appealing contrast and enriches the overall scene.

The green of the aurora adds a striking and vivid element to the composition, standing out against the darker blues and blacks of the night sky. The hut's warm light contrasts beautifully with the cool tones of the surrounding landscape, drawing attention and adding a sense of coziness and shelter.

The image evokes a sense of tranquility and awe, capturing the serene beauty of a remote landscape under a mesmerizing night sky. The presence of the illuminated hut and the person adds a feeling of warmth and human connection to the vast, natural setting.

PhotoPills Awards (6)

If you need more examples to get inspired, check the PhotoPills Awards where dozens of PhotoPillers like you submit their best Moon photos every day.

You'll find them in our Instagram account (follow us!) and in the PhotoPills app (My Stuff Menu > Awards).

But wait, there's even more...

Got an awesome photo you're proud of? You can share your own shots with us and inspire fellow PhotoPillers! ;)

Besides these examples, check out this article I put together featuring a collection of the best Milky Way photos of 2023. It's packed with incredible shots that are sure to spark your creativity!

2.Plan your picture of the Milky Way

You can't just show up at any hour, set up your tripod wherever you want, fiddle with your settings, and expect to capture a stunning photo.

It doesn't work that way.

You have to plan your shots.

Planning is crucial for any photo, but it's especially important for capturing the Milky Way.

That's where PhotoPills comes in.

PhotoPills is the ultimate tool to help you plan your Milky Way shots. It provides the 3 key pieces of information you need: the shooting spot, the shooting date and the shooting time.

Let's check out the two features in PhotoPills that are perfect for planning your Milky Way pictures:

• The Planner.
• The Night Augmented Reality (AR) view.

Plan your Milky Way picture from home with the Planner

In the next video Rafael will teach you...

• How to easily plan the best possible Milky Way photo for a given date with PhotoPills.
• And if you know the photo you want to take but don't know when it happens, you'll learn to determine the exact date and time that the Milky Way will be exactly where you want it to be.

To plan a photo of the Milky Way you have to follow these steps:

1. Place the Red Pin on a potential location.

2. Set the date of the photo.

3. Activate the Milky Way layer.

4. Change the time with the Time bar until the Milky Way is in the position you want.

5. Move the Red Pin to adjust the shooting spot.

6. Save the plan using the Save button.

7. When you're in the field, at the Red Pin position, use the Augmented Reality view (AR) on the Planner to visualize on your smartphone where the Milky Way will be.

You have a step by step guide in section 7 of our Milky Way photography guide.

Plan your Milky Way picture in the field with the Night AR view

Here you have a short video where Rafael explains how to plan a picture of the Milky Way in 1 minute with the Night Augmented Reality view:

Keep learning...

If you want to master Milky Way photography planning, read the following guides:

• How to plan a Milky Way shot.
• How to plan your Milky Way ideas step by step.

And if you want to go a step further, check these videos:

• How to Plan a Photo of the Milky Way (with Moon).
• How to Plan a Photo of the Winter Milky Way | Step by Step Tutorial.

3.Use the best Milky Way photography gear

You don't need a lot of gear to successfully capture the Milky Way.

Here's some of the basic gear you need:

• A sturdy tripod to get sharper pictures when photographing at very slow shutter speeds.
• A camera that has a sensor able to capture a wide dynamic range and that keeps noise to a minimum, especially at higher ISO settings.
• A short lens that's super fast (the lower the f-number, the better).
• An intervalometer. I recommend using an external intervalometer, but if you don't have one, use a shutter release. When shooting, the less you touch the camera the better.

Have a look at my recommendations below.

Best camera for Milky Way photography

To snap stunning shots of the Milky Way, make sure your camera:

• Has a sensor that's great at capturing high dynamic range, meaning it can handle the intense contrasts between the darkest and brightest parts of the night sky.
• Reduces noise, especially at high ISO settings, to keep your night sky images clear and crisp.
• Boasts good resolution to capture all the tiny details of the stars and galaxy.
• Features stabilization technology to keep your shots sharp during long exposures.

After lots of testing and comparing different camera models, here are my top picks for cameras that really shine at Milky Way photography:

• Nikon Z6 II.
• Sony a7 IV.
• Canon R6.
• Fujifilm X-H2S.
• Panasonic S1.

If you want to go deeper into the subject, check my thoughts on what I consider the best camera for Milky Way photography.

Best lens for for shooting the Milky Way

The best lens is the one you have, the shorter and faster the better...

But...

To nail your Milky Way photos, make sure your lens is:

• Very fast (f number as low as possible).
• Short.
• Not distorting a lot.
• Not vignetting too much.
• Not affected by coma.

After years testing and comparing many camera lenses these are, in my opinion, the best lenses to photograph the Milky Way:

• Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED (DSLR) and Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S (mirrorless).
• Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM.
• Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM (DSLR) and Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM (mirrorless).
• Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR.
• Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art.

Have a look at what I consider the best lens for shooting the Milky Way.

4.Learn how to take a picture of the Milky Way

Photographing the Milky Way is easier than you'd think.

The settings you should use to capture the Milky Way are:

• Aperture between f/1.4 and f/2.8, or the largest aperture you can.
• Maximum shutter speed between 8-20s, so calculate it with the PhotoPills Spot Stars calculator.
• ISO between 1600 and 6400, depending on how much noise your camera produces.

These are the basics.

But if you want to learn how to take a picture of the Milky Way, follow the steps below:

1. Get to your shooting spot in advance.

2. Place the tripod at the shooting spot.

3. Prepare your gear.

4. Set the shooting mode to Manual (M).

5. Set the shortest focal length you can (<35mm).

6. Set the largest aperture you can.

7. Focus at the hyperfocal distance.

8. Frame using the highest ISO available in your camera.

9. Adjust the shutter speed using the NPF rule rule.

10. Fine tune the ISO.

11. Set the white balance to 3900K.

12. Take a test shot, check the histogram.

This is a summary of the workflow that you should follow.

If you need a detailed explanation of every step along the way, have a look at:

• Our dedicated article on shooting the Milky Way.
• Section 9 of our complete guide on Milky Way photography.

5.Learn how to take pictures of the Moon with a smartphone

One of my favorite photography sayings is, "the best camera is the one you have with you."

Not everyone owns a fancy camera, but almost everyone has a smartphone.

Believe it or not, you can snap an awesome picture of the Milky Way with either an iPhone or an Android if you follow a few simple steps.

Here's how to do it.

How to photograph the Milky Way with an iPhone

Before we start, I must warn you that to photograph the Milky Way you need a high-end iPhone with Night mode.

Night mode makes it possible to take better pictures in very low-light situations. With this control, you can set a specific amount of time for Night mode's exposure.

Alternatively, you can download my favorite iOS camera app called Halide.

While Milky Way photography is challenging for the optics and image sensor of an iPhone, you should still be able to capture some nice shots.

You just need to follow these steps.

1. Select the Apple ProRaw file format

In your iPhone, go to Settings, Camera, and then Formats. High-end phones will show you an Apple ProRaw format. You need to enable it.

Shooting in ProRaw is highly recommended in night photography.

ProRAW is not a traditional RAW file format, but rather a package of information that includes an advanced DNG (Digital Negative) file. This format retains more image data than the standard file format used by the iPhone, allowing for greater flexibility during editing.

2. Mount the iPhone on a tripod

It's very important to have your iPhone on a tripod. This will keep your camera from shaking when you touch the shutter button.

If it's not on a tripod, you're going to end up with blurry shaky looking stars.

3. Use the PhotoPills Night AR view

Now that your iPhone is mounted on the tripod, you need to know where to point it to. In other words, you must know where the Milky Way is going to be.

So open PhotoPills.

Then, go to My stuff and select your plan. Tap Action and select Send to Planner.

In the Planner, tap the Night AR button and use the Night AR view to find out where the Milky Way is going to be.

Finally, frame your iPhone accordingly.

4. Set the shutter speed

Apple offers a bunch of manual controls to help you capture photos just the way you want. However, they're a bit hidden, so it's totally understandable if you haven't found them yet or have been frustrated trying.

To uncover these controls, there's a simple trick, although it's not immediately obvious. When you're in the Camera app, just swipe up anywhere on the screen above the shutter button.

If you swipe up on the horizontal row of camera mode labels, a short swipe will do. But if you're swiping on the viewfinder image, a short swipe might be mistaken for a tap-and-swipe, showing the in-image exposure control instead. So, make sure to do a longer, more decisive swipe on the viewfinder.

Either way, the hidden camera controls will pop up below the viewfinder.

Once you see the controls, you can tap a button to explore its options, use sliders or buttons to tweak settings, tap the original button to hide the options, and swipe down in the same way to hide all the controls. The tricky part is that not all controls might fit on the screen at once. For example, if you're on an iPhone 13 Pro and searching for the Timer or Filter buttons, you may need to swipe left on the controls to bring those buttons into view.

Note: Keep in mind that all except Depth (the rightmost one) are in Photo mode, though some may appear in other modes too. Note that not all controls are available on every iPhone model, and certain buttons, like the Low Light button, only appear in specific situations like low-light conditions.

Tap the Low Light button. Since your iPhone is on a tripod, it gives the option to go all the way up to 30 seconds.

Remember that in Milky Way photography, 2 conditions define your shutter speed:

• You need to keep the shutter open as much as possible to capture as much light as possible, and thus get more stars in the photo.
• You need to limit the exposure time to prevent stars from trailing, and thus get the stars as big bright spots.

But since you iPhone doesn't display a histogram, you'll have to apply the try & fail strategy. (If you use Halide, you can see a histogram).

When using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, I recommend to adjust the shutter speed between 8s and 20s using the NPF rule.

So start from there and adjust the shutter speed until you don't get Star Trails.

5. Set the self timer

Select the self timer button and set it to 3 seconds.

That way, when you hit the camera shutter button to take the picture, the camera won't be shaking when it's finally taking the photograph.

6. Take the photo

Now that everything is set, press the shutter to take the photo!

How to photograph the Milky way with an Android phone

Astrophotography is a genre that requires some of the most extreme and specialized gear. But it's actually rather impressive what you'll be able to coax out of your Android phone's camera.

And the coolest thing about it is that you only need your phone's native camera app.

Alternatively, you can download my favorite Android camera apps:

• Pro Cam X Lite
• Pro Cam X (HD Camera Pro)

Now, let's have a look at the steps that you should follow.

1. Select the RAW file format

In your Android phone, open the Camera app and tap the Settings gear in the upper-left corner.

Go to Format and advanced options, and then turn on the RAW copies toggle.

If you've downloaded Pro Cam X,

1. Open the app and give it the necessary permissions.

2. Tap the More icon at the top and change the image format to RAW.

When you capture a photo, the app saves the images in JPG and RAW formats.

2. Mount the Android phone on a tripod

It's super important to set your Android phone on a tripod. This way, your camera stays steady when you tap the shutter button.

Without a tripod, your stars will look all blurry and shaky.

3. Use the PhotoPills Night AR view

Now that your Android phone is mounted on the tripod, you need to know where to point it to. In other words, you must know where the Milky Way is going to be.

So open PhotoPills.

Then, go to My stuff and select your plan. Tap Action and select Send to Planner.

In the Planner, tap the Night AR button and use the Night AR view to find out where the Milky Way is going to be.

Finally, frame your Android phone accordingly.

4. Set the camera to Pro Mode

Android phones come with a range of camera modes, but Pro Mode is often the most exciting and powerful option.

Pro Mode, also known as Manual Mode, is a camera mode that allows you to manually adjust various camera settings, such as shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and more.

To access Pro Mode on your Android phone, follow these steps:

1. Open the Camera app on your phone.

2. Tap the "More" or "Mode" button to access additional camera modes.

3. Look for the "Pro" or "Manual" mode and tap on it.

5. Set the ISO

Change your ISO at the bottom to about 800.

I believe that's a good starting point. Anything higher than that it's just going to be way too noisy.

6. Set the shutter speed

Remember that in Milky Way photography, 2 conditions define your shutter speed:

• You need to keep the shutter open as much as possible to capture as much light as possible, and thus get more stars in the photo.
• You need to limit the exposure time to prevent stars from trailing, and thus get the stars as big bright spots.

But since you Android phone doesn't display a histogram, you'll have to apply the try & fail strategy.

When using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, I recommend to adjust the shutter speed between 8s and 20s using the NPF rule.

So start from there and adjust the shutter speed until you don't get Star Trails.

7. Focus to infinity

An Android phone doesn't auto focus well in the dark, so you have to manually focus.

Here, I suggest you practice during the daytime.

Go ahead and try to manually focus to Infinity Focus where everything is in focus. Once you have the setting, let's say 0.7, you need to set your focus to 0.7 at night, when you can't see anything.

8. Set the self timer

Select the self timer button and set it to 5 seconds.

That way, when you hit the camera shutter button to take the picture, the camera won't be shaking when it's finally taking the photograph.

9. Take the picture

And now, press the shutter button and take your picture of the Milky Way!

6.Find inspiration following the best Milky Way photographers

For most of us, the spark comes from seeing the amazing work that others create.

Like I mentioned earlier, it's not just about finding inspiration, but also about learning.

Milky Way photography is a unique hobby that demands a lot of planning, patience, and persistence. Often, you won't get the perfect shot on your first try.

That's why it's super important to learn from those who have more experience and have been capturing stunning Milky Way shots for a while now.

The best way to up your Milky Way photography game is by learning from the pros – those dedicated Moon photographers who consistently produce incredible work.

To make it easy for you, I've rounded up some of the best Milky Way photographers to inspire you.

Check out their work and give them a follow to get some awesome Milky Way pictures right in your feed! :)

7.Persist, persist, persist

Taking photos of the Milky Way is an art that gets better with lots of practice and trying out new things. If you want to get better at it, dive in and enjoy the process!

To keep your learning journey exciting (which I always recommend), check out these awesome articles:

• 50 tips for photographing the Milky Way
• Ultimate Milky Way photography cheat sheet for beginners

And then...

Experiment with different compositions.

Plan some wild Milky Way shots.

Play around with various Milky Way settings.

And most importantly, unleash your creativity.

When you get that perfect Milky Way shot, share it with us and the PhotoPillers community for a chance to be featured in the PhotoPills Awards!

Your amazing work will be seen by thousands of people ;)

Antoni Cladera is a landscape photographer commited to the environment. Artist of the Spanish Confederation of Photography and member of the Spanish Association of Nature Photographers (AEFONA). He's part of the PhotoPills Team.

Special thanks to Sandra Vallaure, a great photographer and friend, for her tremendous help in making this article possible.

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