My Journey: From Campfire Snapshots to Astrophotography

It all started with a simple snapshot by a campfire in 2012. I was camping on our property, a few hours west of Brisbane, with my eldest son. Goofing around near the fire one night, I pulled out my basic point-and-shoot camera. I knew how to turn it on and nothing else.

When I got home, I discovered I had accidentally captured the stars in the background of a campsite photo. It wasn't a great photo, but it was inspiring. I was instantly hooked with the thought of being able to capture the stars.

The Pursuit of the Night Sky

I have always loved looking at the moon and stars. That first photo was a revelation, I could photograph the night sky in all its glory!

After a lot of reading, watching YouTube tutorials, and the odd course, I upgraded my gear and started experimenting in manual mode. It was a steep learning curve, and still is, but I met the challenge head-on.

Every photo on this site began with that single click. Unless otherwise noted, they are single-shot photographs, a result of practice and patience.

 

A Cosmic Time Machine

My passion grew beyond just the camera's capabilities. I developed a thirst to learn about the Moon, stars, and beyond.

Sometimes I sit and ponder the incredible scope of what I capture. A photo of the Orion Nebula, for example, is 1,344 light-years from Earth. What I captured was light that was emitted over a thousand years ago!

It's like traveling back in time. Astronomers use this "cosmic time machine" effect to study distant objects like galaxies and nebulas, helping us understand how the universe was created and evolved.

 

Sharing the Experience

Over a decade later, I've spent countless hours studying and practicing to truly understand what I'm trying to achieve in my photographs. I use different cameras, tripods, mounts, lenses, and even telescopes to get the shot.

Combining landscape photography with astrophotography has shown me the vastness and complexity of both fields.

This site is where I share my photos, techniques, and experiences. My goal is to "shed some light" on the fascinating world of astrophotography and night sky imaging.