Image captured at a wind farm at Maengdongsan Mountain, Yeongyang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea

A night sky scattered with sparkling, gem-like stars provided the canvas for this stunning photo of the Milky Way, which is from the official Samsung UK site. Incredibly, this photo took neither specialized equipment nor a professional photographer to shoot, but only required the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and two office workers—Hyuck-ki Lee and Seok-joon Hong from Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business. Below, we explore their journey into the realm of astrophotography, and find out how the pair managed to capture the grandeur of the Milky Way with the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

A Young Man’s Journey to Becoming a Self-Made Astrophotographer

The Galaxy S20 Ultra, set to shoot the night sky

When Hong first started pursuing photography as a hobby, he used a film camera that he had received from his father. As he visited more and more shooting destinations, he found himself becoming increasingly immersed in the world of photography. In 2013, he and Lee traveled to Tanzania, where Hong got his first taste of astrophotography.

“I’ve always been interested in astronomy, and I even built my own telescope in high school,” Lee related. “I love how, with astrophotography, one day you can be shooting the moon from your living room, and the next you may be capturing a celestial phenomena that has never been caught on camera before. However, the idea that you could capture the night sky in all its glory with only a smartphone was a new concept to me.”

Moonlight Park, Uiseong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea

Glimpsing the stars shining bright on a pitch-black night is impressive enough, but actually trying to capture the sight with your camera can prove tricky. First, finding a spot to shoot that is unaffected by the light pollution caused by cities and large towns can prove difficult. Second, if you don’t remain alert and attentive, you risk missing the fleeting moment to get just the shot you’ve been waiting for. Third, you have no choice but to lug your heavy camera gear to whichever far-flung shooting destination you may have chosen.

But Hong and Lee report that the Galaxy S20 Ultra is going a long way towards alleviating those challenges. “Utilizing the camera on the Galaxy S20 Ultra has saved me from a lot of the difficulties that I thought were unavoidable,” said Hong. “A Galaxy S20 Ultra and a sturdy tripod are all a beginner astrophotographer really needs.”

Image captured at a wind farm at Maengdongsan Mountain, Yeongyang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea

How to Take Stellar Pictures on a Smartphone

The images of the night sky that the pair captured from the valleys and foothills between Jeollabuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do were so dazzling that it was hard to believe they were taken with a smartphone camera. “Even when a photograph is taken of the same thing, from the same place, at the same time, different photographers can produce varying products based on their differing perspectives and intentions,” Lee reported. “In many cases, differences in composition and angle combine to create a completely different piece of work.”

The Milky Way by Hong (top) and Star Trails by Lee (bottom) demonstrate how each photographer’s style comes through in their work

While taking photographs, it is also important to be familiar with your equipment and make the most of the features it offers. “The Galaxy S20 is definitely superior in terms of portability,” said Hong. “It also has the advantage of offering Pro Mode, which allows you to take photos manually and gives you more control over your settings, and ultimately the final results. I will definitely keep taking the S20 out into the field because of how it complements my DSLR camera.”

The Galaxy S20 Ultra offers improved low light photography and stability, producing extraordinary nighttime shots with minimal blur and noise. “Capturing good images of the night sky requires long exposure times­, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra is very well-suited to this kind of photography,” emphasized Lee. “Equipped with a 108-megapixel sensor and nona-binning technology for better low light performance, the camera on the Galaxy S20 Ultra is capable of capturing beautiful night-time photos.”

Hong and Lee also offered tips for those looking to try their hand at astrophotography. Lee recommended that burgeoning photographers start off simple, saying, “Static shots of constellations and the moon are easy to shoot, so are a good place to start. Make sure that you focus on the beauty of what you are trying to capture instead of the resulting pictures, and you will be rewarded with splendid pieces of work.”

“These days, chances for socialization are few and far between,” Hong commented. “So, for those looking to pass the time by getting into photography, I strongly recommend taking trips to remote areas with the Galaxy S20 Ultra. You don’t need a high-end DSLR camera to take great-quality pictures of constellations these days. You can also use astronomy apps to help you find constellations to take pictures of as well. From there, simply take out your Galaxy S20 Ultra and start creating special memories with your loved ones.”

With the Auto camera mode of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, you can produce optimal photographs without having to further adjust the camera’s settings. This rings true in all lighting conditions, even in low-light and backlit environments, and requires only a tap of the shutter button.

However, should you want to spice things up with a bit of flair, there are plenty of new and improved functions and modes that add style and originality to photographs and videos. These features not only add a new element of fun, but are easy to use. Find out how below.

Pro Mode: Get Technical with It

For those more versed in the technicalities of photography, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge′s Pro mode lets users dial things in DSLR-like fashion, with control of exposure, shutter speed, ISO and white balance to more accurately produce one’s desired results.

Also, by applying its new Dual Pixel technology, Samsung enabled a Multi AF function on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge that offers responsive and fast autofocus performance under all lighting conditions.

• In Camera, select MODE > Pro.
• Tap the various icons to adjust settings accordingly.

Food Mode: Full-Flavored Photos

Previously only available through download, Food mode now comes pre-installed on the latest Galaxy devices. Because who doesn’t love snapping and sharing images of their lunch with the world? Use it to take drool-worthy images that emphasize the vivid colors of intricate desserts, “homemade” meals and artisanal cocktails.

• In Camera, select MODE > Food.
• Tap on the screen or drag the circle to move the highlighted area.

More Fun with Motion Panorama

With the all-new Motion Panorama mode, conventional still panorama shots are brought to life by capturing moving objects.

For example, during a hike, you can capture not only a panoramic view of the mountains, but also the movements of trees swaying in the wind and birds flying through the frame. Likewise, use it at a soccer stadium to capture an active, wide angle view of the big game. After all, it’s these little moments that make such experiences memorable.

• In Camera, select MODE > Panorama.
• At the top of the screen, tap the Motion On icon. Select On.
• Tap the Camera button and take a panoramic shot by moving the device in one direction.
• To view the video clip, locate the image in Gallery.
• Tap the Motion Panorama icon at the top right of the screen.
• Tilt your phone or swipe the screen to interactively view the animated image.
• You can share Motion Panorama as a video file or an image file.

Motion Photo: Moments On the Move

The same motion effect can also be applied to standard images. By enabling Motion Photo, you can record a short video clip of the brief action leading up to the captured moment. Or, in the case that you don’t press the shutter at the right second, you can extract the best frame from the video, and share or print it. This is especially handy for capturing those time-sensitive moments, such as baby’s first steps or the grand finale at a fireworks show.

• In Settings, select Applications > Camera.
• Turn on Motion Photo.
• In Camera, tap the Camera button and take a photograph as you normally would.
• To view the video clip, locate the photograph in Gallery.
• Tap the Motion Photo icon at the top right of the screen.

Hyperlapse: Go Full Speed

The Hyperlapse mode in the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge has been vastly improved in terms of image quality, stability and visibility compared to the former Fast Motion mode. Hyperlapse automatically selects stabilized frames by analyzing the recorded video, changing the video speed according to the movement of the scene, and compressing it to a shorter format.

So, whether you want to capture a seaside sunset or a neighborhood walk-through, Hyperlapse is the way to do it.

• In Camera, select MODE > Hyperlapse.
• Tap Record button. (The time displayed in parenthesis on the right side shows the actual time of recorded footage, while the time on the left shows the length of the video after the Hyperlapse effect is applied.)
• Tap Stop icon and save.

Pick a Mode, Any Mode

In addition to the previously mentioned default modes, you can also add other modes by selecting Download at the top of the MODE menu.

Dual Camera mode is one example. While the previous version only displayed the photographer and photographed subject in the same still image, the upgraded version now uses multitracking to allow for simultaneous video recording from the front and rear cameras. Both videos can then be applied to a single screen to create one single video clip.

• In Camera, select MODE > Dual Camera.
• Tap the Dual Camera icon at the top of the screen. Select your preferred shape and drag it to your selected location on the screen.
• Tap the Camera button to take a picture or the Record button to take a video.
• To view, locate the video (or still image) in Gallery, then tap the Dual Camera icon.
• At the bottom of the screen of the video, choose Single view, where you can switch back and forth between the recorded videos, or Dual view to watch them both at the same time. (Still images can only be viewed one at a time.)

Not only have the features and filters of the newest Galaxy mobile cameras been updated, but the camera UI has, as well. As such, you can easily arrange your favorite camera modes according to your preference to make the mobile photography experience easier and more efficient than ever. Happy shooting!