The Art Of Astrophotography

Capturing the heavens can be a rewarding and altogether unique form of outdoor photography

Text And Photography By Tony Rowell

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Astrophotography is a word that we seldom hear or read; however, this photography technique was used soon after the first image was recorded. In fact, astronomer Sir John Herschel was the first to use the term “photography,” and the first to apply “negative” and “E2 positive” in relation to photography. In 1840, photochemist John William Draper was the first person to take a properly exposed astrophoto, an image of the moon. In the early 1920s, renowned astronomer Edwin Hubble used astrophotos he captured through a 100-inch telescope of what was then called the Andromeda Nebula to prove that Andromeda was a galaxy and that the Milky Way wasn’t the only galaxy in the universe.

One of the most powerful nature photographs ever made, a photo of the earth rise over the moon taken in December 1968 by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders on the first manned mission to orbit the moon, inspired my father, photographer Galen Rowell. My dad called the famous image “the most influential environmental photograph ever taken.”

My father met Anders in the 1970s and had him sign a print of his earthrise photo for me when I was 10 years old. In his book Mountain Light, my father discusses several images he made over the years, including moonrises, moonlit scenes and star trails over mountain landscapes. From 1990 to 2001, I photographed many celestial subjects with my father, including the aurora borealis in the Arctic and the Milky Way in the White Mountains above his home in Bishop, Calif., where he established his gallery and offices, Mountain Light Photography.

In 2003, a year after my father and my stepmother Barbara died in a plane crash, I moved to Bishop. I’ve had the opportunity to attend a few of Mountain Light Photography’s workshops, led by talented photographers including Justin Black and Frans Lanting. My dad considered Bishop and the surrounding Eastern Sierra to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. The region also is home to one of the darkest night areas in the lower 48 states with relatively low light pollution that results in exceptional astronomical viewing.

Essential Gear
Astronomical photography can be done with standard photo gear, up to a point. To take the images to the next level, there are a number of specialized products that many photographers use. One of the most useful is a tripod that’s designed for observing the heavens. Berlebach makes wooden tripods and accessories for terrestrial, as well as astronomical photography. The Planet Tripod is their most stable wooden tripod, featuring large wood cross sections and newly designed clamping elements. It delivers a high load capacity and excellent stability with minimum vibration transmission. Contact: HP Marketing Corp., www.hpmarketingcorp.com.

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Chris Ross makes this comment

Wednesday, 08 July 2009

I'd be interested to know which gear was used for the bristlecone pine image. I'm guessing it was stopped down a bit to get both the sky and the pine in focus
Kevin makes this comment

Wednesday, 01 July 2009

Hi Larry, Mountain Light Photography in Bishop, CA does Eastern Sierra workshops. There is one starting July 6th with David Muench, it is a High Sierra and bristlecone pine workshop. Muench is also leading a another workshop starting July 13-17 with photography locations in Yosemite, Mono Lake, and Bodie Ghost Town. Also there will be Fall Color workshops with John Shaw the first two weeks of October. For more information contact Mountain Light Photography, 760-873-7700, email gallery@mountainlight.com, or go to http://www.mountainlight.com/workshops.html.
larry ostrander makes this comment

Wednesday, 01 July 2009

about 20 years ago i went on a UC shoot in the bristle cone area and brought my celestron C8 what magnificent dark skies woud like to return to the area is any one conducting digital classes in the area Larry
Ian Dodd makes this comment

Sunday, 28 June 2009

Tony Rowell's article came along at a perfect time! I enjoyed a 5 day workshop in Yosemite with Tony's dad a number of years ago. Then, just a few years ago I developed in interest in astronomy. And, just a month ago I had the opportunity to take my first try at astrophotography using the piggyback method Tony describes in his article. For those looking for more "how to", the best introduction I have found is Michael Covington's book "Digital SLR Astrophotography". For the vast majority of photographers the world disappears at night. But when it does, the cosmos open up and the chance to use our passion for photography to connect to nature and the Universe awaits. To infinity, and beyond! (To quote the movie "Toy Story")
Oshin D. Zakarian makes this comment

Friday, 26 June 2009

informative articel but still there is much for " landscape astrophotography " to be mentioned here. i am one of the fans of outdoor photographer magazine and fan of mr. Galen Rowell's inspiring outdoor photography. Reading this article is so interesting for me becouse i just wondered if there are many serious outdoor photographers paying attention to astrophotography as well . there is an international program " TWAN " The World At Night. astronomy can bring all people together. and astrophotography is one great way for this!
JCayer makes this comment

Thursday, 25 June 2009

Ditto...
hkadenilc makes this comment

Thursday, 25 June 2009

Thought you would explain how to or give helpful tips for photographing the stars... HK

Locations

The Art Of Astrophotography

Capturing the heavens can be a rewarding and altogether unique form of outdoor photography

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