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Newbie from Devon...

fatwoul

By fatwoul
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fatwoul

fatwoul

Posted
Posted

Hello everyone. Looks like this is the place to introduce ourselves, so here goes...

I graduated in astrophysics in 1999, but in all honesty my main interest was always the pretty pictures. So it wasn't long before I changed path and did another degree, in photography, 2001-2004.

Since then, I have freelanced as a photographer until more recently, when I also secured a job at a university. The regular income has finally allowed me to pursue some of my interests in a more serious way, whilst also allowing me to continue freelancing in my own time.

My primary interest both here and in the sky is astrophotography, in particular DSOs.

As far as telescopes, all I currently have access to is a 20 year old Vixen refractor on a GEM with an old Starlight Xpress, but I am currently browsing for something a little more up to date, and a good all-rounder. I'm considering a Celestron 925, but of course I'm here looking for advice and suggestions.

Photographically, I am fortunate that my freelance career has allowed me to accumulate all kinds of lovely toys, including a Nikon D3, 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 200-400, 50/1.4, 80/1.4 and a fisheye.

Anyway, nice to meet you all. I hope my stay offers as much to other people as I know it will to me.

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JamesM

JamesM

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Hi there, :)

Wishing you a warm welcome.

Astro photography is very popular on this forum so you're in good company should you need any advise or help. I'm not an imager, although I am a Nikon man who has the same photographic kit as you which I use on more terrestrial based subjects. Having said I'm not an imager, I greatly enjoy picture of the week and looking at all the great work that goes on here.

Wishing you clear skies :D:headbang:

James

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brantuk

brantuk

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Hi Fatwoul and welcome to the group. :)

The 925's a great scope - the optics are a beaut and the tracking is superb - however it's alt/az - for photographing dso's you'll want to put the ota on a good equatorial mount (a wedge might not be satisfactory to you). :D

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fatwoul

fatwoul

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Thanks everyone for yet more warm welcomes. :)

...The 925's a great scope - the optics are a beaut and the tracking is superb - however it's alt/az - for photographing dso's you'll want to put the ota on a good equatorial mount (a wedge might not be satisfactory to you). :D

Actually I was looking at the 925 on a CGEM mount, rather than the alt/az version, but I am glad to hear you like the scope. The more I read about it the more tempted I am.

...I'm also a new member from Devon ... guess where :headbang:

Ahh, Totnes. Land of hippies and rich country types. Which are you? j/k :)

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fatwoul

fatwoul

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Figured I may as well post some of the photos I've already managed to get over the years. Nothing spectacular, but it might give some of you an idea of my current level of experience/expertise (ie fairly low):

Stuff from many years ago, taken with a Nikon D100, hence the terrible noise:

8320_190053475238_618610238_4322927.jpg

M13

8320_190053485238_618610238_4322929.jpg

M57

8320_190053465238_618610238_4322925.jpg

Comet Holmes

8320_190055325238_618610238_4322990.jpg

Venus Transit

And some more recent stuff:

19657_351331500238_618610238_522733.jpg

M42

32275_429761230238_618610238_590181.jpg

M13 again

29275_432543370238_618610238_597288.jpg

Milky Way

29275_432543340238_618610238_597288.jpg

Milky Way over Sharpe Tor

29275_432543365238_618610238_597288.jpg

Meteor

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Totnesdave

Totnesdave

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Those are an interesting set of pics, I'd love to learn something of astrophotography myself, but, one step at a time, eh.

The Milky Way over Sharp Tor is wonderfully aesthetic, you could sell that as an 'art card' ! I was projecting the AR1072 spots the other day, captures just what I was seeing.

Oh as a 'Totnes Hippy' :) I'm a recent import, from Tavistock in fact, a little bit 'hippy', a little bit 'country', but not really rich :D Maybe us Devon bunch can pull a little group together sometime.

cheers & clear skies !

Dave.

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fatwoul

fatwoul

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Thanks guys.

A Devon get-together would be a great idea. I've got some of the students at the university interested in this stuff too, so I'm hoping to get some little groups of us out during the summer.

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Astro_Baby

Astro_Baby

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Hi from me - I'm an ex pro photographer as well but I dont do astro-imaging. I started as an amateur photographer (was my hobby) then went pro and it killed the hobby for me so much I dont even own a serious camera anymore.

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