I've been interested in nature, wildlife, and scenic photography all my adult life. But the first time I pointed my camera at the sky (deliberately, anyway) was the 2017 solar eclipse. I was in the 98% totality zone, so I bought my first piece of astro gear (a solar filter in a cardboard lens sleeve) and took some images. The lesson learned is that there is a world of difference between 98% and 100% totality. It shall always be a great disappointment in my life that I was too lazy to drive a few miles south that day.
Next came Comet NEOWISE in 2020. I drove out to the badlands to see if I could catch some images - and surprisingly, I could! I went out again the next few nights, and got some decent results.
It was fun, and challenging, which I enjoy. (I show images to friends, and they will often remark that it sounds like a lot of work. I say, if it were easy, it wouldn't be any fun.) I tried more targets, read a lot, bought some entry- and intermediate-level gear. And now I have a new hobby. Besides, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the wonderfully dark skies we have here.
I am a daily visitor to APOD. I would look at the incredible images and wonder, "Wow, I wish I knew how they did that!" Then, last Tuesday, I clicked the link under Neven Krcmarek's beautiful "Seven Sisters versus California", and lo - there were the acquisition details! Just what I was looking for! So I ponied up for the Ultimate membership. I am particularly interested in the advanced plate solving feature - often my biggest problem imaging DSOs is just finding the darn thing. But I am also appreciative of a community that seems especially tolerant of eager, if ignorant, newbies like me.
To all who took the time to slog through this lengthy intro, my thanks. I hope to become an active, and perhaps in time, even useful, member. I've posted images of the above-described adventures, plus some newer ones, to the public area.
Next came Comet NEOWISE in 2020. I drove out to the badlands to see if I could catch some images - and surprisingly, I could! I went out again the next few nights, and got some decent results.
It was fun, and challenging, which I enjoy. (I show images to friends, and they will often remark that it sounds like a lot of work. I say, if it were easy, it wouldn't be any fun.) I tried more targets, read a lot, bought some entry- and intermediate-level gear. And now I have a new hobby. Besides, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the wonderfully dark skies we have here.
I am a daily visitor to APOD. I would look at the incredible images and wonder, "Wow, I wish I knew how they did that!" Then, last Tuesday, I clicked the link under Neven Krcmarek's beautiful "Seven Sisters versus California", and lo - there were the acquisition details! Just what I was looking for! So I ponied up for the Ultimate membership. I am particularly interested in the advanced plate solving feature - often my biggest problem imaging DSOs is just finding the darn thing. But I am also appreciative of a community that seems especially tolerant of eager, if ignorant, newbies like me.
To all who took the time to slog through this lengthy intro, my thanks. I hope to become an active, and perhaps in time, even useful, member. I've posted images of the above-described adventures, plus some newer ones, to the public area.
