How-to: Photographing Carnival Lights

When was the last time you went to a carnival? You know, the traveling show you looked forward to as a kid that marked the start of summer. Yes, they are noisy, loud, and crowded but prime fodder for photographing a variety of whirling multi-colored…

Night Filters: To Filter or Not Filter, that is the Question

Night Filters. What are they? What do they do? Do they really work? There are different perspectives on these filters. Some feel that they don’t really function, but simply cast a blue cast on an image. Others feel they do perform a function,…
Star trailsSilvana Della Camera

How-to: Star Trails

Images with star trails are captivating. They are also easy to accomplish and can be created most anywhere, even in a light polluted city or your own backyard. Creating a star trail image is a great way to get started in astrolandscape photography.…
Silvana Della Camera

How-to: Photograph an Astrolandscape

Night photography is a challenge in many ways. Our night vision is quite pathetic so we need to lean (heavily) on our cameras to tell us how much light is actually available. Luckily, digital cameras see really well in the dark so this becomes…
Rethink Photo Processing Options

Rethink Photo Processing Options

When we think about photo processing software, Photoshop and Lightroom immediately come to mind. These are great tools and I have been using Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) for many years. Usually, they are part of my main workflow. Having…

Winter: Are you a hibernator or forager?

If you live in areas where cold temperatures, snow, and ice are the components, the very word may invoke distaste, dread, or delight. Like other mammals, some humans hibernate, while others continue foraging through the winter season. Which…

How to: Create a Moonrise Time-lapse

An image of a full Moon is enchanting. However, a moonrise time-lapse leaves enchanting behind and gives the viewer a visceral kick in the head. A moonrise can be a challenge to photograph, especially when the Moon is full and rises after…

Gear How-to – Benro Polaris Astro Setup

The Benro Polaris Astro is an amazing "smart" tripod head. I am very happy with the abilities of this amazing tool. When I purchased it, I discovered that that wasn't a lot of information on the setup. The manual isn't great, not unlike any…

Gear Review – Focus on Stars Filter

Photographers always have their eye and ear out for a gadget to help make a task easier. It is often a quest not unlike the search for the Holy Grail. Photography is a combination of artistic creativity with often high technical requirements.…
Silvana Della Camera

In Search of the Pinpoint Star

This is probably the most difficult part of an astro photograph. It doesn't matter if we are talking about astrolandscapes or deep space photography, the perfectly focused pinpoint star is a challenge. It's almost an oxymoron given that…