Talk to a Photographic Society ???

[Skipper Billy]

I have been asked by our local Photographic Society to give a talk to them about Astroimaging one night this coming winter.

Anyone done anything similar or care to share their thoughts on suitable content - format etc??

Its for about an hour and I will have access to the gear to project from a PC.

I will lay 100:1 that its a clear moonless quiet night whilst I am stuck indoors !!!

 

 

[michaelmorris]

One idea is to stick to the simpler end of AP.  Star trails and wide angle lens shots with a DSLR with and without a simple tracking mount.

[PhotoGav]

I've given several talks entitled 'An Introduction to Astrophotography' and, as Michael says, definitely start with what can be done with just a DSLR, a tripod and an intervalometer to make it relevant to those with 'regular kit', so widefield stuff and perhaps the Moon with a longer lens. I then move on to Solar System imaging and the whole 'lucky imaging' concept. Next, I up the budget a bit to put a travel tracking mount (like a Star Adventurer) on a tripod and the beginnings of Deep Sky imaging. Finally, I throw every penny I've got at it and go in with the full on remote operable observatory, lovely scopes, mono CCD camera, filters, guiding, the full cherbang. A bit about the process of deep sky astrophotography and then it becomes a beautiful journey into the depths of space with some astronomy thrown in to explain what's in the images. The talk definitely needs to be highly illustrated and be prepared to answer questions about ISO and shutter speeds as well as how galaxies form spiral arms, etc.!!

Good luck and I look forward to hearing how it goes.

[Star Struck]

I would also be prepared to touch on the software used to do post processing (especially if it is free).

The members of these clubs tend to use Photoshop or similar and will want to know what they can achieve with that.

 

Tony

[Alan White]

You can talk about whatever you like to be honest, you are talking to photographers who are curious about astro images.

I may be an astronomer, but I am a photographer too and belong to a club.
We invited Nick Syzmanek to our club a while back, he did a great talk, showed some kit but lots of images.
It will be about the images and how you achieved them.

http://ccdland.net/

You will be talking to technicaly able digital photographers, well most of them any way.
Good luck with it and enjoy it.

As to the moonless clear night, whats the date so we can keep our diaries free and take advantage of your sacrifice ?

[steppenwolf]

I have given several talks to photographic societies and found this audience to be very attentive as they are being introduced to a totally different photographic model.

I split my talk into two sections divided neatly by the 'tea break'! The first section introduces the equipment used, starting with gear that typical 'terrestrial' photographers will already own (DSLR, tripod etc.) and this dictates star trail and star-scape type imaging and then I slowly introduce the more specialised gear that we astro-photographers take for granted. In particular, I find common ground in the use of filters and explain the significance of narrowband and how it fits in with the light spectrum that they are used to.

The section half is my 'pretty pictures' talk where I give examples from star trails through to 30 minute deep Ha exposures.

Expect some great questions afterwards and don't expect to get anywhere near your own cup of tea!

[Skipper Billy]

Thanks folks - some great pointers there.

I have got 7 - 8 months to prepare so time is on my side for once!

[carastro]

I have done several Astrophotography talks, sometimes to U3A groups and also to a local photographic society and they were really staggered and amazed at what goes into producing astro-images. 

If I knew how to condense a PP presentation for E mail, I could send you a copy. 

I am also booked to do another later in the year. 

You have done me enough favours, so if you would like a copy of my talk (if I can manage to E Mail it) message me your E mail address.  You can then pinch any ideas you want to from it.

N.B. I go on holiday midday tomorrow, so won't respond after that for a week or so.

Carole 

 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

8 hours ago, Skipper Billy said:

I will lay 100:1 that its a clear moonless quiet night whilst I am stuck indoors !!!

 

Way ahead of you - I guessed that when I read the first line ?

A photography society will be upset if they don't see the best you've got, so the suggestion to whiz through the options at different levels sounds good.

I've gievn/endured uncountable presentations/talks (not about astrophotography!) The best received are always very simple presentations with good pictures, and I choose images that act as prompts for me on what to say so I don't need a script.

If you feel you need more than just a prompt, you can put bullet points into the latest powerpoint that appear on the laptop next to a preview of the next slide as well as the image your audience sees.

Don't expect to get a lot of information across, so think about what you really want to say. Start with a great image, but not your best, then perhaps tell them you will take them on your 'imaging journey' and show, for example, a couple of shots of each setup and a couple of shots of what you imaged with it. Finish with your best image and leave it on the screen for questions.

One nice way to start might e to show a hubble/NASA image, and then compare it with your best image of the same subject.

You WILL spend longer talking about each slide than you expect so for an hour's presentation no more than 60 and 30 is ideal if you will be going into some detail. To keep on time, try not to drift off into anecdotes that come to mind as you make the presentation, if you see people drifting off, change slide!

Treat powerpoint like a slide projector. People can listen to you and watch pictures, if you put up anything more than simple text of basic diagrams they will stop hearing you while they figure it out. At the most use simple bullet points.

And remember, if it's on your slide, you don't need to say it!

Sorry if this is sucking eggs stuff and anyway just take what you feel comfortable with.

[jACK101]

I was given tickets for an astrophotography lecture one Christmas. The talk was entirely about cameras, tripods and terrestrial photos. I felt so short changed that I wrote to them later saying I was disappointed not to have seen deep sky pictures.

 

Having seen some of your images I would suggest it is essential that you show deep sky images. That is the area that amateur photographers will know least about and will be most interested in.  All the best.

 

Jack