Nature Photography How To

Have you ever marveled at spectacular images of the nighttime sky, but thought, “There’s no way I can do that”? If so, you’ll want to pay close attention to this tutorial, because with the proper approach astrophotography is not as difficult as it seems.

This enlightening video from acclaimed landscape photographer Kim Grant is a great example how even professional photographers can learn a thing or two from colleagues with a different specialty. Grant has limited experience photographing nighttime skies, so she teams up with astrophotography impresario Andrew Allan to see how it’s done.

Grant is clearly excited to team up with Allan for an evening of astrophotography at Scotland’s iconic Bow Fiddle Rock, and while watching their behind-the-scenes video, just like Grant, you’ll pick up some great tips. During their outing she makes a few mistakes, and Allan sets her straight so you don’t have to make them yourself.

You’ll learn a bit about the science behind photographing starry skies, pick up very helpful gear tips, and even discover a simple filter that makes stars more visible. Proper exposure and other camera settings are also crucial, and Allan explains the choices he makes for optimum results.

Careful composition is important, especially if you’re photographing a specific constellation, and Allan demonstrates how to pan the scene with a wide-angle lens to get just the framing you want. There’s a lot more to learn in this very informative episode, including how to use that “secret” filter we mentioned above.

We’re pretty sure that Grant will be doing more astrophotography in the future after her outing with Allan, and you will too after learning his techniques.

There is much more to learn on Grant’s YouTube channel, so be sure and take a look. And don’t miss another tutorial we posted recently, with a four-minute guide to making better long-exposure landscape photographs.