stars are out tonight... let's take some pictures

Well, I'm back in Albany and my 4th and final year of medical school is in full swing! I'm doing a rotation in the NICU, and I'm absolutely loving it. I worked in a NICU as a nursing assistant before medical school, so it holds a special place in my heart. Some of the best people I have ever worked with are NICU nurses. They are incredible people with the biggest of hearts.

Anyway, more about the NICU and medical school later... for now, here are a few star pictures from our trip to Idaho. I love it there, and looking at these star photos almost makes me feel like I was laying on the dock again. I can't help but take a deep breath - expecting to feel the same fresh air fill my lungs. But alas, we're back in Albany with the humidity (though it's not as bad as last year).

I used a shutter speed of 30 seconds, which accounts for the blurry stars. Even when using a tripod, the Earth moves just enough... maybe next year we'll try to get star tracks! (I took these pics with my little sister Lisa... http://itooksomepictures.blogspot.com/)

The Big Dipper... Can you see it?

(You can see it now...)

Tips on taking photos of stars 

(from my own, nonexpert, experience):

1. Use a tripod (this is absolutely a must)
2. Shoot in manual mode (or shutter priority)
3. Keep your ISO as low as possible to avoid too much noise. (I used 200-300, but some people go up to 1200)
4. Use a shutter speed of around 30 seconds
5. Adjust your aperture accordingly (you really need an aperture of f/2.8 or so) 
6. Use manual focus (unless you can get your camera to focus on a light on the horizon)
7. If available, use a remote to avoid extra camera shake
8. Be prepared to get frustrated... and take a ton of photos for maybe a couple of decent shots
9. Be happy you're outside, enjoying nature! 

Priest Lake is my happy place. So many lovely memories. Where is your happy place? I'd love to hear about it!

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