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The Complete Guide to Landscape Astrophotography

The Complete Guide to Landscape Astrophotography

by Michael C Shaw
Publisher: Focal Press
Release Date: March 2017
ISBN: 9781317410379
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Book Description

The Complete Guide to Landscape Astrophotography is the ultimate manual for anyone looking to create spectacular landscape astrophotography images. By explaining the science of landscape astrophotography in clear and straightforward language, it provides insights into phenomena such as the appearance or absence of the Milky Way, the moon, and constellations. This unique approach, which combines the underlying scientific principles of astronomy with those of photography, will help deepen your understanding and give you the tools you need to fulfil your artistic vision.

Key features include:

• Distinguished Guest Gallery of images from renowned nightscape photographers such as Babak Tafreshi, Bryan Peterson, Alan Dyer, Brenda Tharp, Royce Bair, Wally Pacholka, and David Kingham

• The twenty-five best landscape astrophotography subjects and how to photograph them

• Astronomy 101 - build your knowledge of night sky objects and their motion: the Milky Way, moon, Aurora Borealis/Australis, constellations, meteors and comets

• Information on state-of-the-art planning software and apps designed to enable you to capture and enhance your landscape astrophotography

• Field guide for creating a detailed plan for your night shoot

• Description of the best moon phases for specific types of nightscape images, and the best months and times of night to see the Milky Way

• How-to guide for creating stunning time-lapse videos of the night sky, including Holy Grail transitions from pre-sunset to complete darkness

• Four detailed case studies on creating landscape astrophotography images of the Milky Way, full moon, star trails, and constellations

Table of Contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. CONTENTS
  4. Copyright
  5. Foreword
  6. Preface
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. Dedication
  9. SECTION I WHAT IS LANDSCAPE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY AND WHY NOW?
    1. 1 Introduction and Goals of Book
  10. SECTION II UNDERSTANDING ASTRONOMY AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE FOR NIGHTSCAPE IMAGES
    1. 2 The Night Sky and Its Movement
    2. 3 Sunrises and Sunsets
    3. 4 Aurora Borealis/Australis
    4. 5 The Moon
    5. 6 Solar System
    6. 7 Meteors, Meteor Showers, Comets, Fireballs, and Bolides
    7. 8 The Milky Way
    8. 9 Weather and Atmospheric Science
  11. SECTION III UNDERSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHY FOR LANDSCAPE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY IMAGES
    1. 10 Light and the Human Eye
    2. 11 Camera and Lens Systems
    3. 12 Exposure
    4. 13 Light Painting and Light Drawing
    5. 14 Video, Time Lapse, and Motion Production
  12. SECTION IV PLANNING SUCCESSFUL LANDSCAPE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY IMAGES
    1. 15 The Twenty-Five Best Landscape Astrophotography Targets (and How to Photograph Them)
    2. 16 Developing Your Astrophotography Session Plan
    3. 17 Essential Software and Apps
    4. 18 Essential Hardware and Equipment
  13. SECTION V CREATING LANDSCAPE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY IMAGES
    1. 19 The Landscape Astrophotography Clinic
    2. 20 Obstacles and Common Unexpected Problems
  14. SECTION VI PROCESSING LANDSCAPE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY IMAGES
    1. 21 Image Management and Processing Foundations
    2. 22 Creative Nightscapes: Multiple Image Processing
  15. SECTION VII DETAILED CASE STUDIES
    1. 23 From Concept to Curating—Four Detailed Case Studies
  16. SECTION VIII DISTINGUISHED GUEST GALLERY
    1. 24 Distinguished Guest Gallery
  17. SECTION IX CONCLUSIONS
    1. 25 Where Do We Go from Here?
  18. APPENDICES
    1. I Equipment Checklist
    2. II Image Summary and World Map
    3. III Annual Night Sky Planner
    4. IV Homemade Planisphere
    5. V Polaris Altitude
    6. VI The Horizon
    7. VII Contributor Websites
  19. Index