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Deep Space Astrophotography
Deep space photography is the most recent and specialised area of photography that I do. For me I define it as imaging nebulae (emission, reflection, dark, planetary and supernova remnants), galaxies and star clusters. Having only taken it up in October 2021 I quickly learned it is massively different to any other arm of photography. As with landscape astrophotography for many years I thought this branch of photography was beyond me and that I lived in much too light polluted skies to have any success. Whilst it is very different and has a steep learning curve it isn't difficult but is full of challenges and frustrations and can be done with regular camera gear although I would recommend investing at least in a computerized tracking mount and guiding system. I live in what is termed a bright suburban sky although I do have access to more rural skies and have been astonished as to what it is possible to capture from these relatively bright skies and a quick look around Flickr or AstroBin will show you what incredible images it is possible to capture from even an inner city sky.
Most of my images I have taken so far are stacks of images totalling 6 to 12 hours usually taken over several nights after which the processing begins using specialised (but often free) software and where as with my wildlife photo's I rarely spend more than 15 mins processing one image a deep space astro image will never usually be less than a day!.......................So very different but when you first start pulling the faint detail out of a nebula that you can barely see on a single frame it makes it all worthwhile. Give it a go you will quickly know if it has you hooked.
