Capturing the Night Sky

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We often hear the saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. It is indeed true; images can invoke one’s feelings and fuel imagination to no end. Images can be either created through colors and different mediums, or captured by cameras. The art of photography is a great field where one can capture beauty, as well as create it; endless possibilities exist for anyone who holds a camera. Fleeting moments can be saved to be remembered by future generations; one fascinating subject that has captured the hearts and minds of many is none other than the night sky.

Photographing celestial abodes up above can yield wonderful and magical results. If you are an amateur photographer, all you need is a Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera, a sturdy tripod and a creative mind, and you can easily start your journey in astrophotography. Here are a few types of astrophotography that people enjoy pursuing:

Wide Field: True to its name, it uses wide angle lenses, which means that the lens can take in a larger area of space. This type can be easily done with a digital camera, and can capture a clear sky full of bright stars, star trails and star clusters.

Time-lapse: Have you ever seen a video with the moving northern lights? Well, this kind of video can be made by taking pictures at different time intervals and then viewing them in order giving us a beautiful experience of the changing lights in the sky. The images can also be stacked together in a photo editing program to create stunning images.

Telephoto Lens: Images of moons, planets, and celestial objects in our solar system can be captured with a good telephoto lens. These lenses can zoom in on objects extremely far away, and if it is made from quality glass the results can be stunning. You can also opt to take it up a notch and use a telescope with your camera. These can be used via a special mount that allows photographers the opportunity to capture even more distant objects.

Telescope Photographing: Astrophotography can also be through the use of more sophisticated equipment. Some opt to use a telescope to photograph objects in the deep space beyond our solar system, such as distant galaxies and nebulae. These images can be rich in beautiful colors and literally look other-worldly.

If you intend to give this form of photography a try, remember to go to a spot far away from city lights. You are also advised to do a little bit of studying about the various phenomena that you are interested in capturing and the best time of the year to do so.

References
space.com
skyandtelescope.com
theartofnight.com

 

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SCIplanet is a bilingual edutainment science magazine published by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Planetarium Science Center and developed by the Cultural Outreach Publications Unit ...
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