Getting Started in Astrophotography

Some of the guides out there will tell you that the first thing you need to do if you want to get started in astrophotography is to buy some really expensive cameras and books. Not true. The very first thing you need to do is defrag your computer. Don’t laugh, I’m being serious. You are going to be editing a bunch of pictures, and of course downloading and deleting a bunch of pictures and you need to get your computer ready. A fragmented hard drive is not ready.

Now you need to go buy some books (before the camera). While you are reading the books (well not at the same time of course but over the course of the few days it takes) go outside with the camera you already have and get a few images. See if you like being outside at night and how your images compare with what you want. This may help you decide just how much you want to spend on your new camera.

Then join some of the boards and groups dedicated to astrophotography. Get some personal advice and see what everyone recommends. Find a buddy that is willing to apprentice you. Sure you could go it alone, but with help you’ll have more fun and be able to troubleshoot faster.

Do you like astrophotography? How did you get started?

Photo Credit Ryan Wick

June 18th, 2009 by birdievogel | Posted in Astrophotography | (0)