iOptron SkyGuider Pro Review
June 26, 2018
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41 Comments
iOptron SkyGuider Pro Review Last Updated: April 26, 2020
The SkyGuider Pro is an excellent star tracker, and it features a number of improvements over the SkyTracker Pro. In this review, I'll explain the most important aspects of the SkyGuider Pro, like the counterweight system, polar alignment, build quality, and if it's worth the price. Before...
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Nikon D750 'Service Advisory' - Long Exposure Noise Reduction
May 23, 2018
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7 Comments
Recently, I discovered a weird 'glitch' caused by Long Exposure Noise Reduction on the Nikon D750. Note, this only applies to astrophotographers and night photographers taking images with stars in them. If your image does not have stars, you shouldn't notice any problems.
When LENR is enabled, the processing causes stars to lose their true colors...
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Sigma 14-24mm vs Nikon 14-24mm - Astrophotography
April 20, 2018
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This morning I had the opportunity to test out the new Sigma 14-24mm! For this test, I drove down to the local "dark" sky park in Ohio and took some test shots. As you will see, it's virtually impossible to find a truly dark sky here in Northeast Ohio... Just 2 more weeks and I'll be back under an actual dark sky - in the Utah desert!
*If you woul...
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iOptron SkyTracker Pro Review
April 15, 2018
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5 Comments
A star tracker is the most effective way to capture higher-quality nightscapes and astro images! With a star tracker, you will no longer be limited by the earth's rotation. These devices allow you to shoot much longer exposures, even up to 5 minutes, without star trails! The SkyTracker Pro was my very first star tracker purchase. Since July 2017, I...
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What's in my Bag?
February 24, 2018
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I've gotten a number of questions on what gear I use, so I thought I'd share my favorite camera equipment! As a traveling nature photographer, I need to have the right gear for the job. That includes a great backpack, diverse lenses, a rugged camera, quality filters, and reliable camera insurance!
Camera Body First up is the Nikon D750. I've had...
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The Desert
January 16, 2018
A New Beginning I've now spent 6 months living on the road. I love having the absolute freedom to go where I want, for as long as I want, with nothing holding me back. It's how I am able to do my best work. With my time in Colorado nearing an end, and my journey into Utah rapidly approaching, I was actually getting bored and lonely. It didn't help...
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Autumn in the Colorado Mountains
November 27, 2017
Steamboat Springs By mid-September I arrived in Steamboat Springs, a beautiful mountain town in northern Colorado. I had heard wonderful things about this spot from many people so I was excited to finally explore the nearby aspen forests! As usual, I stopped at the library to download my maps, scout out the surrounding area, and fill up my water. A...
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Mindshift rotation180 Professional Review
November 20, 2017
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The Mindshift rotation180 Professional is Mindshift's premier backpack. This pack has been specially designed for nature photographers who spend much of their time hiking and exploring. It features a rotating beltpack that provides quick access to your camera and lenses, as well as a larger interior compartment than can quickly be accessed without...
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Star Tracker Tutorial
November 14, 2017
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Tired of grainy Milky Way photos? Don't want to spend $2,000 on a new wide angle lens? A star tracker is the easiest, and most cost effective way to capture higher quality nightscapes! Star trackers move the camera at the same speed as the stars, allowing you to take much longer photos without any star trails. The key to this process is an accurate...
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Telephoto Landscapes
November 07, 2017
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For the past three months I've been on the road exploring some of the most beautiful places in America. From the Wind River Range to see the Great American Eclipse, to Maroon Bells for the first snowfall of the season, to the Pacific Coast! Surprisingly, one of my most used lenses is the Tamron 150-600mm. Many would consider this a wildlife lens, b...
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The Power of RAW
November 05, 2017
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When many new photographers get their first DSLR, they tend to shoot in JPEG only. Shooting in JPEG is an easy way to go, but you lose a lot of control over your final image. RAW allows complete control over your images!
A RAW file is an unprocessed image, like a digital negative. In the film days, a negative contained all the information to make...
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Waterfalls and Wildfires
September 11, 2017
After witnessing the Great American Eclipse, I had some free time to kill before the fall colors came to Colorado. Without hesitation, I knew I wanted to see the Pacific Northwest again. It is, by far, one of my favorite places in the entire country. Little did I know what was about to unfold...
For the entire duration of my roadtrip, wildfire s...
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Great American Solar Eclipse
August 25, 2017
On June 14th I found the perfect spot to watch the Solar Eclipse: Square Top Mountain, in the Wind River Range.
Using a photo I'd seen from the Wind River Range in Wyoming, and Google Earth to pinpoint the exact coordinates, I began to plan my Solar Eclipse photoshoot. If you look closely, you'll see a dead tree hanging over the river. Using Googl...
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Yellowstone National Park
August 18, 2017
The past few times I've been out West, Yellowstone was never a major destination. It was always much too crowded with tourists. While planning this roadtrip, I realized that Yellowstone is home to the darkest skies in America! Yellowstone would be the perfect spot for Milky Way photography! I had also heard Yellowstone was a great place to watch fo...
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The Next Adventure
August 08, 2017
For the past 9 months I've been back in Ohio, working part-time at the local camera shop and teaching lessons. The road had been calling me for a while and I knew I had to get back out there. The upcoming Total Solar Eclipse provided the perfect opportunity to hit the road! My overall plan is to enjoy the eclipse in Wyoming, drive down to Colorado...
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