So who does not like a nice sun star image? Sun star images are popular for a reason; they are stunning. The quality of the sun star has to do with the lens. Getting a sun star is easy as I have written in previous blogs. You simply need the following ingredients:

• The sun on a hard edge (clouds can work)

• A small F.Stop (large number)

Since I have written about sun stars before I will not talk about them again here, rather I want to share a simple thought that people often do not think of when they are in the field shooting. Most people use the horizon as the hard edge to get the sun star. You can move your tripod lower and get it again as the sun rises. You can do this a few times. However, once the sun is up a ways people stop shooting sun stars. But, why?

          Most people will answer, "well, because the sun is no longer cut by a hard edge. The sun is too high off the horizon." This is the mental block that some photographers struggle with. The simple thought is that the horizon is not the only hard edge you can use. How about a tree?

You can use any hard edge. How about a vertical cliff or rock formation?

Yes, there are many hard edges, we are not stuck with only the horizon. The sun can be as high in the sky as you want, you can still achieve a sun star using any hard edge with your small F.Stop. The next time the sun is above the horizon start thinking about using other hard edged to get your sun star.

          Get out there and try it.