My first attempt at Saturn.


This was shot through the eye piece of the scope with my Canon 5D, hand held. Of course, it's much better viewing by eye... crystal clear and you can see the moons.

Tags: photography, astronomy, astrophotography, telescope

It was a reasonably cool night last night. Perfect conditions for star-gazing. Almost perfect conditions for imaging.

I have the equipment (mostly) but until recently didn't move in that type of photographic circle, preferring to be just a viewer of the universe.

The pursuit of astrophotography can be as expensive, or as cheap as you want to make it. I'm trying to keep the costs down, but have decided to move on from the classic "star-trail" photos. Don't get me wrong, I will continue to take such photos, they're easy and if done right, rather spectacular.

Here is a couple of photos from last nights viewing/photographing session. I had to focus by eye - the most unreliable method - but I think I came close enough for the moment. I'll post a review of the scope I use, shortly.

And now in the interest of keeping the photographic content down on this particular site, I'll sign off.

Tags: astronomy, astrophotography, telescope, photography

It arrived today, actually I picked it up. Introducing the Canon 5D, released in 2005 it is still considered one of the greatest digital SLR cameras on the market today. But I'm not going to review it because I only just got it.

I've spent the past 2 years gearing up for this purchase, it isn't an insignificant one.

This camera will sit along side my current 10D. The 10D was the 3rd generation digital SLR from Canon and in my mind still one of the best cameras for the money, I have seen. My 10D still takes stunning photos and I look forward to using it for many years to come.

The 5D doubles the effective number of megapixels of the 10D to 12.8. But this wasn't the reason I finally bought it.

Reason 1: Superb ISO performance even up to 1600iso.
Reason 2. Full frame sensor giving my wide angle its true width.
Reason 3. Spot Metering.

I'm looking forward to getting down and dirty with the new 5D.
(Image courtesy of Canon Australia)

Tags: photography, cameras

I was hoping for some kind of storm this afternoon. All the weather reports pointed to it and the day certainly felt like it should have stormed. But alas...

So in the absence of new lightning bolts, here are some from a few years ago. I'm sure Zeus would be impressed with his handiwork and I must apologise to Thor, it's difficult to capture thunder in pixels. This is a single flash, and it wasn't till after I looked at the image did I realise that it was 5 bolts that hit the ground. Yes I've added a bit of colour for some atmospherics.

I have a fascination with storms, I like to watch them coming, to hear the roar of the wind as it come screaming up the valley. Getting blinded by the lightning and deafened by the thunder...brilliant!
If I don't turn up to work the next day after a stormy night you'd best look for a pile of ash, and a tripod that looks like it may have had a camera attached to it... if you can be bothered :-)

Tags: photography

Keeping the photographic side of things to a minium I'll make this brief. Snide comments abound...

In a moment of credit card flippancy I slapped down the plastic and upgraded the endowment package of my camera.

...is that a Canon lens in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

I've been wanting to try my hand at birding for a while now and also generally getting closer to my subjects. I've been using my 200mm f2.8 with a 2x converter but this has only driven my desire for a larger package.

Enter the super-telephoto Canon EF 400 f5.6 USM lens. This 1.2kg hunk of glass and steel is just another marvel from the Canon line-up, and will for a time, complete my lens collection. The 2x teleconverter will push this baby to 800mm f11 which should give me the reach to tap a bird on the shoulder from 50 yards or so. I can hear the SQUAWK already.

Ok so it wasn't fiippancy, I've been putting pennies aside for this baby for quite some time.

So, I'm now just waiting for my new toy to arrive and then I'll be out making all the lady cameras swoon (back of hand to forehead type stuff I'm sure :D )

Update: 22 October 2007
It arrived today and this is the first image out of the lens, 100% crop and no sharpening...
EXIF info: 1/350s at f5.6, ISO 100, 400mm on tripod

Tags: photography, cameras