Intro to Astrophotography

What is Milky Way Photography? A Beginner's Guide to Capturing the Night Sky

My first Milky Way photography attempt was a blurry, orange-tinted mess. Once I figured out what I was actually trying to photograph, things clicked pretty fast.

Finding Dark Skies for Milky Way Photography

I spent my first two years of Milky Way photography guessing about sky darkness. That changed after a trip to Utah where I experienced true Bortle 2 skies for the first time.

Planning Your First Milky Way Photography Shoot

If you've read the first two lessons, you know what you're trying to photograph and where to find dark enough skies. Now comes the part that actually determines whether you get the shot.

Camera Settings for Milky Way Photography

Camera settings for Milky Way photography are simpler than most people think. There are really only three variables, and once you understand the logic behind each one, you'll be able to dial them in on any camera in under a minute.

How to Focus for Milky Way Photography: Getting Sharp Stars Every Time

Focus is the single most common reason Milky Way photos fail. Everything else can be right and one slightly missed focus renders the entire night useless.

Milky Way Photography Without a Star Tracker: Getting Great Results on a Tripod

Some of the most compelling galactic core images I've seen were shot static on a regular tripod. The key is understanding how to work within the limits of a fixed camera.

Processing Milky Way Photos: From Raw Capture to Finished Image

Every stunning Milky Way image you've seen online has been processed. Not faked, but processed. The data is all there in the raw file. Processing is how you translate that data into an image that looks like what you experienced.

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Multi-Night Milky Way Photography Trips: Planning Extended Astrophotography Adventures

Multi-night trips are where Milky Way photography gets really good, and where planning becomes the difference between an incredible experience and a frustrating waste of time and money.

Milky Way Photography by Season: What Changes from Spring to Fall

One of the things that took me a while to internalize is how dramatically Milky Way photography changes throughout the year. The galactic core you're photographing in March looks completely different in composition and timing than the core in August.

Foreground Lighting for Milky Way Photography: Light Painting and Natural Light Techniques

One of the most common reactions to a first Milky Way image is 'the sky looks amazing, but the ground is just a black silhouette.' Foreground lighting is simpler than most people think.

Building a Milky Way Panorama: Multi-Frame Stitching for Wide Galactic Arc Shots

There's a point where a single wide-angle frame can't capture what you're seeing. If you want to show the full galactic arc sweeping from horizon to horizon, you need a panorama.

Milky Way Photography with a Phone: What's Actually Possible in 2026

The honest answer in 2026: yes, kind of. Modern flagship phones can capture the Milky Way in ways that would have been impossible five years ago. But there are real limitations.