NorthernPixl

Meteor Shower Field Guide

A complete meteor shower field guide built around your own camera, lens, operating system, and editing software - pack list, on-site setup, starting settings, and a full meteor-compositing workflow, downloadable as a PDF.

Want more than one guide? Bundle & save →

Already bought a guide? Enter your code:

Preview

01 · Before you leave

  • Camera body, battery full + sparesA proper session runs a continuous intervalometer burst for hours, that drains a battery far faster than a normal walk-and-shoot session, especially in the cold
  • Wide, fast lens (14-24mm, f/2.8 or faster)The whole point is catching whatever streaks across the sky, which can appear anywhere in frame, not just near the radiant, so the widest lens you own genuinely does more work here than a longer one. Remove any UV/clear filter before shooting, it can ghost against a bright meteor or the moon
  • Sturdy tripodThe camera sits in exactly one position for the whole session, any drift between frames makes the later compositing step (section 04) harder to line up

+ 11 more items in the full pack list

What's inside the full guide

  • 02Setting up on siteFraming and the interval-shooting sequence for catching meteors.
  • 03Starting settingsExact ISO, aperture and shutter speed worked out for your camera and lens.
  • 04Compositing the meteorsA full compositing workflow for stacking meteors into one frame.

You might also like

Star Trails Field Guide→Aurora Borealis Field Guide→

Recommended Gear

Ready for a long night watching the sky

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Artcise Carbon TripodA rock-solid foundation is non-negotiable for long exposures on the windy Northumberland coast. Carbon fibre absorbs vibration better than aluminium and saves weight on long hikes.Viltrox 16mm F1.8My go-to for the Milky Way. The ultra-fast F1.8 aperture lets in huge amounts of light, allowing me to keep ISO lower for cleaner images of the night sky.Samyang 14mm F2.8An ultra-wide alternative. The extra width (14mm vs 16mm) is crucial when I need to fit a massive foreground element, like Bamburgh Castle, and the entire arch of the Milky Way into one frame.Remote ShutterEnsures absolutely zero camera shake for long exposures. It also allows me to lock the shutter open for 'Bulb' mode exposures longer than 30 seconds.Vallerret Senja LRS Zipper MittEssential for cold weather photography. The zipper allows instant access to my fingers for adjusting camera dials, while keeping my hands incredibly warm during freezing Northumberland mornings.