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Astrophotography ‘Experience Tiers’ with Integrated ‘Gear Ladders’
Learning astrophotography can feel a little like navigating the night sky without a star chart. You know there are incredible destinations out there - but it’s not always clear where you are, how far you’ve come, or which direction to head next.
In a previous post, “Is Astrophotography Hard?” (https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2026/01/discussion-is-astrophotography-hard.html ), I explored the common challenges beginners face when entering this exciting hobby and what the typical learning journey might look like, based on my own experiences.
In a following post, I tried to take that thinking a step further.
Is it possible to identify clear experience tiers in astrophotography—stages of learning that help beginners and intermediate astrophotographers understand where they are and what comes next?
I shared a proposed tiered structure based on astrophotography knowledge and practical skills
https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2026/01/can-we-turn-our-astrophotography.html
In today's post I go one step further again.
It is all well and good knowing what level I might be at on my astrophotography learning journey but, what happens when I get stuck somewhere along it?
I call these times 'Pain Points' - the point where I get stuck on something and don't know how to get out of the situation/problem. Or when I am doing something wrong but can't quite work out what it is and how I successfully correct the issue.
Practical Decision Trees might be one possible solution to 'pain points'
Below are my two efforts - one for wide-field and one for Deep-sky astrophotography. And finally, a short Meta tree thast applies to any astrophotographer.
See what you think.
Are they useful?
Can they help out in the field or when post editing?
As always drop me a comment in the box below and clear skies, stay safe and have fun out there under the dark skies.
Steve
