Astrophotography
featuring Mohammad Yassine @nerdybeardo
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Astrophotography is the art of taking photos of astronomical objects, celestial events, and stars in the night sky. It is a highly technical hobby, but the images you get of the beautiful night sky are worth it.
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You might think you need a fancy camera to become an astrophotographer, but believe it or not, most recent smartphones will do the trick. You can also use any old DSLR camera to take photos of the night sky.
In addition to a camera, the essential tools are a tripod and a star tracker. You need a tripod so that you can keep your camera in place for the duration of your photograph. A star tracker is a rig attached to the tripod that rotates with the Earth, allowing your camera to continue focusing on the same astronomical objects over long periods.
For recommendations on gear to get for astrophotography, check out AstroBackyard. They have starter guides for equipment, as well as tips and tricks to help you learn astrophotography. We also recommend stopping by your local camera store for second opinions.
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What makes shooting astrophotography different than conventional photography is that you are trying to capture a very faint light source from trillions of miles away. This means you will have to make some adjustments to your typical photography practices.
For example, it is important to be in a dark environment so that light from the night sky is visible. If you are trying to shoot at your home, turn off all outdoor and indoor lights to see if it improves conditions. This might be difficult in an urban environment, but nothing is stopping you from adventuring out into the countryside for a night of astrophotography!
It is also important to adjust the exposure when shooting astrophotography. Exposure is a term that encompasses the amount of light that reaches your camera when taking a photo, and it is a key element in any type of photography. However, it's especially important in astrophotography to ensure that you fully capture the beauty of what can easily appear as a night sky.
One way to increase exposure is by taking photos for longer by adjusting the shutter speed. Decreasing shutter speed means the actual time taken to capture the photo is longer, resulting in more light being captured in the photo. You can also work with aperture and ISO – two other camera settings that contribute to photo exposure.
To learn more about mastering exposure and other photography elements, head to Adobe.com for some great guides. You can also check out Great Big Photography World for advice on shooting astrophotography specifically.
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While astrophotography can be more of a solo activity, there are lots of places to share your photos and love for the night sky with others. You can sign up for AstroBin, a free website that has been the leading hosting platform and social network for astrophotographers since 2011, to post images, peruse the marketplace for equipment, and engage in technical conversation with fellow astrophotographers.
Beyond clouds
and sky.
We all see space every night.
We’ve all thought about it too.
And these days, you can look further and better than ever before. Then also capturing photos that are uniquely yours.
Space is a lot closer than it once was.
Technique over tools
Telescopes and cameras can get highly specialized and expensive.
But there’s no need to get all those gadgets.
A simple camera, tripod, and star tracker capture stunning images on their own.
It’s more about learning the techniques to get a good photo and taking your time with it.
Editing it your way
Astrophotography has many elements of traditional photography.
Moe puts it best: you’ll see a bit of the photographer in every astrophoto.
The most important part is to “stay true to the data.”
No adding elements. Or bringing in fiction.
Other than that, how you represent the data is up to you.
Discover more hobbies.
Speed Puzzling
Cycling
Embroidery
Discover more of Moe’s astrophotography on Instagram @nerdybeardo.