First time at this blog? Then visit: https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2025/01/welcome-to-my-new-astronomyastrophotogr.html
What is the aim and purpose of this blog?
A question I am sure many of you arriving at this blog for
the first time are asking is:
“Why are you starting a new blog about Astronomy and
Astrophotography when there are so many good ones already out on the internet?”
Fair question. So here is my initial answer.
I want to share my passion for the night sky with
others and through engaging with blog subscribers, build a resource
where we educate each other about the principles and joy of
capturing deep space objects and night landscapes.
But then, I suspect that is what all the other blog writers have
said!
So, another argument then?
I want to try and inspire non-photographers and those with no particular interest in astronomy or astrophotography to start to explore this fascinating field, through the sharing of information and fabulous visuals. Stimulate some ‘awe and wonder’ about the beauty and science of our universe.
“But wait, there are already lots of bloggers doing
this. So, what’s your particular niche?”
Wow. Tough question! OK, try this.
I want this blog to
be a blog for beginners to astronomy and astrophotography, written by a
beginner on his own learning journey; a blog for other beginners, written
by a beginner! A blog for basically people like me, who, three years ago
when I started photography, astronomy and astrophotography from scratch, knew
nothing about any of these topics. Nada!
Nowt!
So, lets expand these basic aims a little more; evolve a philosophy
for this blog.
Firstly, in writing from a beginner’s perspective, for other
beginners, I’m trying to help people get quick successes so that they feel
they are making progress early on in their new learning journey. For there
will be tough times, as I discovered. Frustrating times, early on, when we
don’t get a clear sky for months. When our equipment won’t work! When we
struggle to work out what equipment to use or get in the future. When we get our settings wrong and waste a
night’s shooting data. When mistakes just come thick and fast one after
another. There will be times like this.
So, to help overcome this, a second aim. I want to create
a repository of ‘quick guides’ for beginners to access. To get us all up
and running more quickly. So, step by step guides on equipment, techniques,
processing methods, important astronomical concepts etc.
And finally?
I want a ‘safe’
space, where we beginners can ask any question within a supportive community
where people share experiences, advice and images without fear of ridicule. There
are plenty of Facebook forums where we can already do this and in a future blog
I will do a post on my favourite forums. But, perhaps like me, you have
discovered that the issue with many worthwhile forums is that you can spend so
much time trying to get detailed answers and guidance to issues you are facing.
You know the problem. Ask a question on a forum and you will get loads of
helpful replies but also myriads of unintentionally contradictory advice and
instruction. How often have I’ve left a forum, more confused after asking a
question? How many hours of sifting through answers to get a clear idea of what
to do have I spent afterwards? I want to cut this down for future beginners. A
blog with simple’ start-out’ advice which works. Gets you up and running
quickly with the basics from the get-go.
In sharing my ‘beginning learning journey’, I hope that my
discussion of achievements and setbacks can help motivate you on your own
astrophotography adventures.
One last point, from a purely selfish viewpoint, I want
this blog to be a creative outlet for my ‘poor’ artistic interpretations of
night landscapes and deep space object photography. A showcase of my own perspectives,
styles, interpretations which prompt discussion and self-improvement. I
would very much like it if other likeminded people also shared their imagery
and thinking as well. I want
learning and self-improvement to be at the heart of this blog.
Oh yes, a word to the wise! I’m not into monetisation. I
don’t write blogs to earn anything! I don’t fret about subscriber numbers or
page counts and likes. No subscribers, or only one? I will continue to write
this blog just for the fun of it. A self-improvement diary so to speak! It was
what made my ‘Arwen’s Meanderings’ dinghy cruising blog so successful.
Anyway, got this point out there. Good thing to do straight off! Hope it
reassures you as to my intent and purpose.
If you have any suggestions for what you would like such a
blog to cover, then drop me a comment in the box below.
Next blog post: https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2025/01/a-little-more-about-me-and-why-i-am-in.html
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