Photography tips

Starburst effects

Christmas lighting with stars in a deserted shopping street in the old town of Lucerne at night

Key tips

Use a small aperture like f/20 to purposefully create starburst effects around point light sources.
Use an aperture of f/16 to create deliberate starburst effects around point light sources in your image.
Use a small aperture like f/20 to create deliberate starburst effects around point light sources.

Photographs on this topic

3 photographs with tips

The exact camera settings for each shot are shown below it - a starting point for recreating the look yourself. Click through to a photograph for detailed photography tips on that specific shot, under "Photography tips for this image".

21 mm · f/20 · 1.3 s · ISO 1000

Night view of the Reuss weir in Lucerne with light reflections

12 mm · f/16 · 1.6 s · ISO 6400

View through a narrow alley in Lucerne's old town towards the Jesuit Church during the Lilu Light Festival.

30 mm · f/20 · 2.5 s · ISO 800