Capturing the galaxy and its natural phenomena is an extraordinary experience that can be incredibly rewarding. But shooting such a complex and largely mysterious area in all its beauty presents many challenges. You may think this genre requires expensive gear, but with your current DSLR or mirrorless camera and a few accessories, shooting images from light-years away is possible.
Understanding the galaxy and the planet you’re photographing from is crucial, as the Earth won’t stop rotating to help you get clearer images. When venturing into the dark, preparation is key to overcoming light pollution – one of the biggest enemies of clear astro shots. Gone are the days of simple and quick shooting in single frames, capturing the best quality astrophotography requires lots of patience to shoot the night sky with multiple frames and long exposures.
What’s truly exciting about this genre is that it’s nearly as vast as the universe itself. Landscape astrophotography, deep sky and solar system photography offer countless photographic subjects and possibilities.
Over the next few pages, we’ll show how you can apply the photographic knowledge you already have and, with the help of pro astrophotographer, Ralf Rohner, explain how to extend that knowledge so you can capture the wonders of the cosmos in all their glory.
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Essential gear to master the night skies like a pro
With astrophotography, you will need a fair amount of technical knowledge to help you handle the lack of light. While there are many expensive astro cameras on the market, it’s not necessary to purchase one. With practice, you can achieve breathtaking results with your current DSLR