LED lights for Video

An ultra cheap LED Lights setup. For video.
Runs on DC(batteries)
2Stripes of 42 LED s each.
About 100watts of Tungsten bulb.
Cost 3USD(yup $3)

LED Light on AC power

AC to 12v DC converter.

Finding your way in the Night Sky. Locate Pole Star

Locate the Pole Star. That's it.
You can do that by-
Finding out the general GPS coordinates(the first two digits) of the area u live it, eg. North India it's between 20 to 30degrees North and Jaipur is 26North, 75East or 26N75E.
This means the Pole Star is 26degrees over the horizon (ground level) (forget the East part)
To get an idea of how much is 10degrees, close u hand into a fist and raise it to your eye level, and stretch out your arm as much as you can.
The area that gets covered by all the knuckles is 10degrees (Field of View)
Generally the Pole Star is just above the tree-top level or 3fists above the ground level, on a terrace of a building, the place you standing is considered to be the ground level.

An easier way is to locate the constellation Big Dipper or the "cooking pot with handle" looking bunch of 7 bright stars, (never on top of ur head) always in the Northern Hemisphere.
The two stars at the edge of the pot/dipper point towards the Pole Star.

Basics of Urban Astro-Photography

1. Any SLR camera, (now some Point&Shoot cameras ) is good enough to do a whole lots of Astro-Photography.
2. A tripod or a cushion or a wall to keep the camera at the same eXact Spot.
3. a Cable Release (5USD/400Rs.) This is used to "press the shutter" as doing so with your hand will lead to vibrations!

Map the Night-Sky.

I think I will try to "do the Obviously impossible", count the stars!
Well now will Digital Imaging becoming so accessible and the tools been in Public Domain, ie. FREEWARE, (Thumbs up to StarStax,  DeepSkyStacker)

I plan to shoot different constellations, about 88 constellations are officially recognised.
While at this, I will "try to see" if Myths-Legends from our age "fit the stars" better than say a Big Bear when all I can seed is an  deep Pan-Pot-Dish


Started with the Northern Hemisphere, ie. Ursa  Major, i.e. Big Bear/Dipper.

Northern Hemisphere(about 20percent of the are above the North pole, the Green Cross Hair Marks the Pole Star Polaris.

Field of View FoV, use your fist it's 10degrees wide, Full Frame!

To get an idea of how much is a "numerical" FoV say 30degrees?
Clinch your hand into a fist, and keep it stretched away from the eyes, n what your fist covers Horizontally is about 10degrees.

Non-Full Framer should use the (Multiplier 1.6) effective Focal Length.

My First Photo Book

Got my First Photo Book in HAND! feels awesome,

I think this is Art-shit as it's too expensive too make a 35pages book for 2500Rs. Though It''s a LARGE BOOK 12x30inchs 1foot by 2and half feet.

even if I make the size smaller the rate doesn't change (much)
but still it's worth..
the layout was too loose, but now that i have seen the real life size, it's better to do-design the next one.
will need to caption the photos, n write a little about Earth rotates, n Pole star in above the north pole, we don't live on a flat planet.

Failed Astro-photo attempts.

I am thinking of putting all the attempts that i have made n don't result in anything, i have been doing astro photography since 2008-Jan-1. n for 4 years never got anything worth while

Now i changed my technique, I started using Stacking, i.e. take 30sec exposure NON-STOP for 45-60mins.

With stacking and Sensor Noise removal, I can shoot stars from my home or anyplace with plenty of street lights too.

Astro-photography from an Indian City.

Astronomical photography is supposedly possible in "Very Dark" places.
Well theory says yeah kind of.
But that doesn't mean you cant take amazing photos from the road outside you Buildings in Mumbai or Jaipur

All these photos have been shot from Jaipur City Vaishali Nagar Queens Road Jaipur.
out side my home.