A Beginner’s Guide to Astrophotography and The Gear Needed to Succeed

astrophotography

Astrophotography is one of the most rewarding genres of photography, and it’s really not as difficult as you might think.

When we think about astrophotography, we often think about creating a sense of wanderlust and awe that we’re all experiencing when we see the photos. I mean, have you ever wanted to be able to capture stunning pictures of the night sky but weren’t really sure what you needed to do, and didn’t really know what equipment you would need? If so this beginner’s guide to astrophotography is for you. In this guide we will take a look at the basics of astrophotography and will cover things such as camera settings, the 500 rule, how to stack images, and we will take a look at the gear you’ll need to create out of this world Milky Way and night sky images.

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Thingify Unveils Pinhole Pro X, the World’s First Zoom Pinhole Lens

If you’re feeling experimental with your digital camera, Thingify has just announced the first zoom pinhole lens, Pinhole Pro X, for you to play with.

Thingify, the Toronto-based company that brought us a bunch of quirky professional pinhole lenses for mirrorless cameras and DSLRs, are at it again with a new creation. This time, it’s touted as the world’s first zoom pinhole lens, and now the third in the Thingify Pinhole Pro range of lenses.

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The Phoblographer’s Guide to Kodak Film for Professional Photographers

Kodak film is some of the best that you’re going to find on the market; and for good reason too!

The world of analog film photography is one currently experiencing a Renaissance; and at the forefront of it is Kodak film. Kodak is the last big company producing film that hasn’t cut emulsions but instead is bringing out new ones. Professional photographers used to use Kodak film for years and today the new breed of analog photographers does just that. There are a number of options for photographers to get into–with some of the tried and true emulsions being both Kodak Tri-X and Kodak Portra. Look around the web, and you’ll see tutorials and presets for digital photographers to get the look of these films. But no matter how hard they try, they just don’t recapture the magic of film.

We’ve reviewed every professional film emulsion that Kodak offers, and so we’re rounding up our reviews for you in one spot.

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Cheap Photo: Mirrorless Camera Deals and Lenses for Under $600

Just because Uncle Sam took a chunk out of your wallet doesn’t mean that you can’t get a sweet new camera or lens.

We’d like to call this a recession special of sorts, but it really isn’t at all. However, we totally know that many of you are still looking to get your hands on a few more affordable lenses, cameras and more. So we went through and rounded up a number that we really like.

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This Signed Andy Warhol Cover of Robin Williams Costs Over $1,000,000

If you’re a fan of Robin Williams and Andy Warhol both, then this is your collectible dream.

Perhaps a one of a kind, there is currently a really rare signed Interview magazine on eBay featuring Robin Williams on the cover and signed by Andy Warhol. The seller, who has a 100% positive rating by more than 600 other folks, has a very interesting story behind how the piece came about. And if you’re both a fan of Andy and Robin (I’m personally a fan of both) then this is something that is very important to you–if you can stomach the price of over $1,000,000. For a vintage antique dating back to over 30 years ago and for something that is really this rare, it’s still pretty easy for one to question the price.

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DXOMark: The Sony a7r III is Just a Hair Better Than the Nikon Z7

DxoMark says that the Nikon Z7 really falls behind the Sony a7r III in high ISO performance

Let’s be honest here: Nikon z7 sales haven’t been the best and if anything, DXOMark’s latest tests on the camera are just an ego boost to Sony users. Nikon’s current top end mirrorless camera scored an incredibly 99 points right under the Sony a7r III–which has 100 points. But fear not Nikonians–your beloved Nikon D850 is still king of the full frame charts.

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Inside Work in Process: Australia’s Latest Analog Film Lab

Ever wanted to build your own darkroom or even dreamed of opening your own film lab? You might want to take notes from our guy Brock Saddler.

It’s been a while since we last touched base with Brock Saddler, the Australia-based photographer who showed us how to hack the Bronica ETRS to shoot Fujifilm Instax Mini Film. While he hasn’t been successful yet in creating a seamless version of this project, he was actually busy with something else: his own film developing lab. It was something that was always in his mind, and he was happy to report that he was finally able to set it up and get it running for the past 8 months.

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Dubble Announces Stereo-Inspired “Transitional” Specialty Film

Dubble is at it again; a new treat for film photographers with a taste for the fun and the experimental.

Are you a film photographer looking for something fun to shoot with? Count on Dubble to deliver exactly that. This time, it’s another vibrant film (why of course) called STEREO. As you probably have guessed, the name alludes to the 3D red and cyan glasses once used to view stereo photographs. This inspiration comes alive in the STEREO as yet another experimental emulsion Dubble crafted in collaboration with revolog, and is described as a “transitional specialty film”. And it does just that, with a full frame starting in red tint then gradually fading into full frame in blue tint. So, essentially, you get two different hues, and twice the fun in your snaps!

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I’m a Street Photographer Transitioning into Posed Portraiture

I spent years chasing the candid frame. Now, I’m moving into the world of planned photo shoots and learning a lot along the way.

It took a long time for me to get confident when shooting on the streets. Now, as I embark into the world of portraiture, I feel like I’m starting all over again. New worlds, different approaches, dealing with many personalities; all of this is putting me out of my comfort zone, and I love it! So, as I move on this creative journey, I’m taking you with me, sharing with you what my experience has been like so far.

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How Street Photography Lead Mo Gelber to a Path of Healing

There are many reasons someone takes up street photography. To create, to escape, and in some cases, to heal.

Mo Gelber is a NYC-based street photographer, who gravitated towards the craft to soothe the pain he had been carrying for most of his life. When recounting his childhood he tells us, “I grew up in a dysfunctional home full of violence.” He continues, “my father would let out all his personal frustrations on me.” His suffering needed solace and it was street photography that was going to bridge the gap between the two. In a heartfelt, emotional story, Mo was bravely able to share his journey with us.

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Does Canon’s Next Mirrorless Camera Need to Be a 70MP Monster?

A new report suggests the next Mirrorless camera in Canon’s EOS R line-up may have a sensor bursting with megapixels.

As the Mirrorless race heats up, more and more reports are hitting the circuit in regards to what road Canon may take in regards to their next Mirrorless camera. We have already seen a mid-tier Mirrorless camera in the EOS R, and we now have the entry level EOS RP as well. So, where does Canon go next? If reports are to be believed, they will try to win users over with a 70MP monster. Continue reading…

Create Great Prints with These Six Essential Photography Studio Tools

You’ll be creating and printing like a boss with these tools!

Having the right tools to edit and print your images in your photography studio is just as important as having the right camera and lenses to take the images. The post processing side of things is often overlooked, but having the right equipment in your photography studio is essential. In this roundup we’re going to look at items that will speed up your post processing times, monitors that display razor sharp, color accurate images, and printers that will blow you away with their print quality. These are all items every photography studio should have, especially if you want to create the best images for you and your clients. Continue reading…

Opinion: I Hope You’re Not Celebrating Expired Film For the Wrong Reasons

Expired film does have its charms and can be rewarding for the experimental photographer. But are you celebrating it for the wrong reasons?

Above: A bunch of expired films that I plan to shoot with for this year’s Expired Film Day weekend. I’m still missing a medium format camera to pair with the 120 films.

Expired Film Day is afoot and I am most certainly excited to participate in the festivities. The global film photography community must already be gearing up with plans for photo walks, portrait sessions, and gatherings to celebrate, even weeks ahead of the anticipated celebrations. Part of me, however, can’t help but wonder what expired film and the occasion in its honor really mean for most film photographers out there.

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These 100 Black and White Presets are $12 for Phoblographer Readers

These Lightroom Presets will add an air of elegance to your images with a single click!

There is always something special about black and white images. Black and white photos have an air of style about them, and with these black and white presets you can add glamour and class to portraits, you can add drama to documentary photos, and you can make landscapes and cityscapes that pop. It can take a ton of time to create the black and white look you desire in post, but this amazing bundle will take all of the hard work out of creating timeless images. With this special deal for readers of The Phoblographer, you can get 100 black and white presets for just $12! That means you can save 76% off the recommended price of $49! Continue reading…

Think Tank Announces Three Stylish Vision Shoulder Camera Bags

If you’re a fan of Think Tank camera bags then you might like their new offerings.

Think tank have been making quality camera bags for many years now and they have built up a solid fan base for good reason. Today the Think Tank camera bag library has grown by three as the company has just announced a new line of camera bags called the Vision Shoulder series. Join us after the break for images of the new bags and to find out more about them. Continue reading…

Cheap Photo: Save $1900 on the D850, Score Great Deals on Lenses

See all of the camera deals, discounted lenses, pro grade printer deals, and photography accessories that are on sale.

The prices on DSLR’s and Mirrorless cameras keep on falling thanks to an ultra competitive market. This means you can score some amazing savings. The camera deals we have listed below are red hot. The brand new Sony a6400 can be picked up for just $898, an import Canon EOS R with one year warranty can be yours for $1,779.99, the excellent, pocket rocket Ricoh GR II is only $496.95, and the Nikon D850 (import w/1yr warranty) is only $2,549.99. There are excellent deals on lenses from Fujifilm, Canon, Tamron, and Sigma. You can save over $200 on the Sigma 50mm f1.4 ART, and you can save over $250 on the Fujifilm 16mm F1.4 R WR. If you’re in the market for a printer, the Canon Pixma Pro 100 printer has a discount of $207.71. You can save a ton on memory cards too right now.

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Get the Tilt Effect with the New Lensbaby Composer Pro II with Edge 35mm Optic

The Lensbaby Composer Pro II with Edge 35 Optic is bound to offer a refreshing take on creative photography.

Given what Lensbaby has created in recent times, I have to say I’m pretty excited for the new Lensbaby Composer Pro II with Edge 35mm Optic. Years ago, I accepted that one never bought Lensbaby lenses for the image quality in terms of sharpness and such, but instead bought them for their unique look and take on the world. Getting that in camera is often more fun than working in post-production to do it. But then there is their manual nature, where it actively requires the photographer to be more meticulous and take on a bigger part of the image making process. For portrait shooting, landscapes, architecture, still life, and the slower types of photography this works out perfectly fine.

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What We Hope Will Be in the Fujifilm X-Pro 3

The Fujifilm X Pro 2 has developed a cult following, and the expectations for the Fujifilm X-Pro 3 are high.

The Fujifilm X-Pro 2 is used and loved by photographers all over the globe. The Rangefinder style camera with the excellent X-Trans III sensor is loved because of its gorgeous retro looks, ease of use, and the quality of the images it produces. Expectations are high for the Fujifilm X-Pro 3; nothing but the best will please Fujifilm fans. A recent report suggests that the Fujifilm X-Pro 3 could hit store shelves later this year. There’s a lot riding on this release, and below is what we think it will take to win people over. Continue reading…

Editor in Chief Chris Gampat’s Kit: Travelling Light with the Sony a7r III

Editor in Chief Chris Gampat’s working kit for most of the location work done for the Phoblographer is done with his Sony a7r III.

I’m going to move on past the fact that I just referred to myself in the third person and instead focus on the crux of why you probably clicked on this link: you want to know how I do travel work with the Sony a7r III and what’s in my every day carry kit for work. While I adore my Fujifilm gear, not all of my lenses are weather sealed and so I’m sort of limited in certain situations. But all of the lenses and cameras that I own for Sony are weather resistant, and so for that reason combined with their compact size, I tend to bring them with me when I need to get actual work done for the site. While I’m a good enough photographer where I can use anything that you put in my hands, the Sony a7r III provides me with lots of resolution, versatility, performance, and a lightweight package that is also really small.

Editor’s Note: This is not a sponsored post. You can see our policy on sponsored posts and see how we clearly label them if you’re interested though.

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6 High Resolution Cameras That Can Capture Breathtaking Landscapes

Landscape photography is all about detail; these high resolution cameras can capture it by the bucket load. 

If you want to capture images of the world around you, and you want your images to reflect the true beauty of nature and everything that it has to offer, you’re going to need to look into high resolution cameras. There are plenty of high resolution cameras on the market today, but the Megapixel monsters we will share with you here are the best of the best. These beasts have truly incredible dynamic range capabilities, gorgeous color rendering abilities, they will capture every single blade of grass, and they are all built like tanks so that they can survive being in the great outdoors. Continue reading…

Understand the Basics of Camera Settings With This In-Depth Tutorial

Break away from your camera’s auto mode and learn the basics of manual camera settings to get total control of your photos.

So, you’ve decided to move on from your smartphone camera and get a DSLR or mirrorless camera so you can practice photography more seriously. After figuring out your camera’s controls, you can either start shooting right away on Program or Auto mode, or get full control over how your photos will turn out by learning how to set the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. If the second option sounds interesting to you, we have just the right tutorial to help you get started.

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