Kevin Butler Creative
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Sharing my journey as I learn the tools and tricks of capturing landscapes and wildlife. Constellation Studios is more than just a place.
Constellation Studios is a company that is all about the love of sound. More than just a building. A constellation by definition is "a group or configuration of ideas, feelings, characteristics, objects, etc., that are related in some way". This is Constellation Studios at it's heart. Whatever your project, whatever your need, Constellation strives to offer you with the tools, talent, and time you need.
06/03/2026
It’s rare that conditions align perfectly. So many things have to go right: the planning, the preparation, the weather, and the ex*****on. But sometimes you have to pivot.
I was planning on going out to Gardiner MT to shoot astrophotography at the entrance to Yellowstone National Park on May’s the new moon. The problem? Clouds were forecast to hit over that window. I opted to hit my window a few days early. I packed my gear and headed out at 11pm to drive the 90 minutes to my location.
I photographed all alone throughout the night. The results speak for themselves! I tried a few new techniques and adapted to overcome some environmental issues (annoying light pollution!).
If you’ve wanted to learn how to take epic photos of the night sky, here’s what you’ll need:
1. Camera (even an iPhone can work, but a modern digital camera is best)
2. Dark, cloudless and moonless sky
3. Sturdy tripod
4. A compelling foreground (if you want to see the Milky Way, you’ll be facing south/south east)
5. A plan (use to try out Milky Way alignments)
6. Patience and practice.
Keep in mind that capturing the photo is only the first half. Editing is where astrophotography and night-scape images take shape. Shoot in RAW for maximum editing flexibility (even phones can do this now!). Have patience, experiment, and have fun… oh and bring bear spray and/or a friend because it can be terrifying alone at night. 🫣
Wishing you good luck and clear skies!
Setting exposure for the sky in astrophotography is often harder than traditional photography. For starters, you can’t get a true visual of the exposure on the back of the camera without taking a shot. You’re also dealing with a moving subject and time is often limited.
As I’ve experimented with my setup, I’ve found these to be my preferred settings while using the Nomad star tracker by . Without a tracker you’re limited to the “500 rule”: take 500➗focal length. For me, 500/24 = 20s shutter speed. Due to my higher megapixel camera I usually stay safe closer to 15s which can require around 800ISO.
Still can’t figure it out? My best suggestion is to take lots of test shots and analyze them in post. Don’t forget to shoot RAW as that’ll give you the most flexibility in post editing!
Milky Way Astrophotography is a fun mix of creativity and technical skills. You plan, you scout, you show up in the middle of the night, get your settings/composition just right, and then massage the edit until it pops.
But. It’s also terrifying when you’re doing it in the wilds of Montana. While the Yellowstone National Park entrance is close to the town of Gardiner, it’s still a thrill to be in the pitch black, alone, where wildlife could appear at any moment.
In this image I captured 2 exposures. One for the foreground, and one for the sky. The sky shot was tracked with the Nomad to allow for a longer exposure to minimize noise. I love using the Nomad as it unlocks quality and freedom that you can’t get without a star tracker.
🤯👀 you can re-order the list of actions in messages. You’re welcome.
It’s amazing the power of just googling a solution to a problem you’re having. 💫
🫡 So long SSDs. I love file hoarding but I’m turning over a new leaf with these out of control SSD prices. Hopefully the AI craze settles down or companies start prioritizing human users over profit (pipe dream, I know 🤦🏼♂️). I feel the worst for new creatives just starting out.
What are you going to do to slim down your storage needs?
04/12/2026
❄️🏔️ Winter usually fills half of the calendar in Montana. The 2025-2026 winter came and went in what felt like a day. This was going to be my first winter with dedicated photography time and it ended up falling all on one day in March — unheard of in southwest Montana!
🌨️ But. The weather cooperated and dumper 10-12” of fresh snow in one of the most breathtaking places. I grabbed my camera and drone and set off on what was to become a 7 hour photography adventure.
🥾📷🚁 I got to try out my new water boots in the river, catch the sun on an untouched snowy reservoir, and hike a mile in snow up to my knees! I even got to recreate my favorite aerial panorama with nearly editical lighting conditions except in winter(photos 3-4)! While it was unforgettable, I’m bummed it was just one days worth of snowy photography!
❄
04/09/2026
This is for the by ! While it doesn’t help my chances, you should hit like and drop a comment with your favorite celebration emoji 🥳
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