Zak's Astrophotography Introduction

[Zak's Astrophotography]

Hi guys!

My name is Zak and I have autism and a mad passion for astrophotography.

I shoot astrophotography with my second hand astro-modified 6D and my collection of lenses and sometimes my telescope (Celestron NexStar 6SE, used only for planets; I also have a Radian Raptor 61 but I have yet to experience first light with it as I am waiting for my t-ring to arrive).

My first images I took of the stars were back in August 2016, but it wasn't until late 2019 where I started my journey in astrophotography.

After this introduction thread has been posted, I will post 5 of my favourite astrophotography images I have taken so far (all in separate posts) and will include the EXIF data on each individual image description.

If you guys would like to follow my journey on Instagram, here's the link to my account (you don't have to follow me if you don't want to): https://www.instagram.com/zaksastrophotography/

I am looking forward to both posting on here and seeing everyone's awesome images!

Zak

 

[JimFox]

Welcome to FocalWorld Zak!!!

I will be curious to see how the Radian Raptor works for you. And I can't wait to see some of your photos here, you have some awesome Astro Photos!

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Welcome to the forum Zak. We have a growing astro community here and the images posted there are something to behold. Looking forward to your work here.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Great to see you joining our forum, really looking forward to seeing your work.

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

Messier 31: Andromeda Galaxy

Photo EXIF: 96 x 30 sec, f/4 and 3200 ISO. Equipment used: Canon 6Da with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens attached and tracked using a SkyWatcher Star Adventurer. Stacked in DeepSkyStacker and edited in Adobe Photoshop. Location: My Bortle Class 5 backyard.

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

"Might of the Stars"

Photo EXIF: 25sec, f/4 and 6400 ISO. Equipment used: Canon 5D Mark IV with a Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens attached and taken on a stationary tripod. Edited in Adobe Photoshop. Location: Hastings Point Lookout, NSW, Australia. Date taken: 05/06/2019

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

Messier 8: Lagoon Nebula

Photo EXIF: 25 x 30 sec, f/4.5 and 1600 ISO. Equipment used: Canon 750D with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens attached and tracked using a SkyWatcher Star Adventurer. Stacked in DeepSkyStacker and edited in Adobe Photoshop. Location: Taken in my Bortle Class 5 backyard.

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

"The Heart of Our Galaxy"

Photo EXIF: 58 x 20 sec, f/4 and 6400 ISO. Equipment used: Canon 6Da with a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM "Art" lens attached and tracked using a SkyWatcher Star Adventurer. Stacked in DeepSkyStacker and edited in Adobe Photoshop. Location: Taken in my Bortle Class 5 backyard.

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex

Photo EXIF: 32 x 10 sec, f/2.8 and 3200 ISO. Equipment used: Canon 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens attached and tracked using a SkyWatcher Star Adventurer. Stacked in DeepSkyStacker and edited in Adobe Photoshop. Location: My Bortle Class 5 backyard.

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

Welcome to FocalWorld Zak!!!

I will be curious to see how the Radian Raptor works for you. And I can't wait to see some of your photos here, you have some awesome Astro Photos!

HI Jim, thanks so much! I've just posted my five images.

I am really looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you and to also post my images on here (and also to see everyone else's amazing work).

I can't wait to use my Radian Raptor 61, just been waiting for my t-ring to arrive in the mail for a couple of weeks now; I'm hoping it gets here ASAP before Winter so I can use my Raptor!

Zak

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

Welcome to the forum Zak. We have a growing astro community here and the images posted there are something to behold. Looking forward to your work here.

Hi Jameel, thanks so much! That's good that there is an astrophotography community on here!

I always love looking at images, some of them are indeed a sight to behold!

I am looking forward to seeing everyone's work and posting my images on here!

Zak

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

Great to see you joining our forum, really looking forward to seeing your work.

Hi Ben,

Thanks so much! I found this forum through another Facebook group, so I'm glad I've found it!

Am really looking forward to posting and seeing everyone's work on here!

Zak

 

[Ben Egbert]

Great way to introduce yourself, lovely set of images. I am not an astro guy but I love to view them.

 

[JimFox]

These are some awesome intro Astro photos Zak!

I really like your Might of the Stars. You have done something I really haven't done yet and that's include a foreground object, so you are inspiring me to see what I can do to add one on my next session out.

I am also really liking the detail in the Lagoon Nebula you got with using the 6Da.

And your Heart of the Galaxy is interesting to me as I have tried similar shots but was totally unhappy with my results. The Milky Way part of it just turned to gray mush it felt like. So this again may be the result of your 6Da pulling in more of that Ha data.

The others I didn't mention are also enjoyable to view.

 

[AlanLichty]

I am with Ben on not being an astro photographer but I sure like seeing what others are doing with deep space shots and it's nice seeing yours on here. Very nice work and welcome to Focal World.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Zak,

Very nice to meet you! Very excited to have you join us here, and a great introduction with so many wonderful images to share! I also very much like seeing the capture and processing details posted like you have done here - it helps all of us learn from each other. Great job on all of that!

I feel confident you will like it here as we have a broad spectrum of different folks shooting with lots of different gear in many different locations. I am going to have to just come out right now and say I'm jealous of your Southern Hemisphere location - SO many wonderful targets available from that half of the globe. You must treat us to some of those special targets whenever you can

Welcome aboard!

ML

 

[chuckp]

Beautiful shots!

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

Great way to introduce yourself, lovely set of images. I am not an astro guy but I love to view them.

Thanks Ben! I love sharing my astrophotography images with the world.

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

These are some awesome intro Astro photos Zak!

I really like your Might of the Stars. You have done something I really haven't done yet and that's include a foreground object, so you are inspiring me to see what I can do to add one on my next session out.

I am also really liking the detail in the Lagoon Nebula you got with using the 6Da.

And your Heart of the Galaxy is interesting to me as I have tried similar shots but was totally unhappy with my results. The Milky Way part of it just turned to gray mush it felt like. So this again may be the result of your 6Da pulling in more of that Ha data.

The others I didn't mention are also enjoyable to view.

Thanks Jim!

Yes I absolutely love that shot, once I found that tree, I just sat there and imaged away until the clouds rolled in.

Yes the 6Da is a very powerful piece of equipment I own, which allows me to bring out more of the Ha wavelengths hidden in the nebula I image.

The Heart of Our Galaxy image was taken from my backyard, and from what you've told me, it seems like you live in a light-polluted sky. My advice would be to take a star tracker to a dark sky site (whenever you can and if you own a star tracker) and try again; I can tell you now it WILL make a difference shooting from a dark sky site!

Hope all of this info helps!

 

[Zak's Astrophotography]

I am with Ben on not being an astro photographer but I sure like seeing what others are doing with deep space shots and it's nice seeing yours on here. Very nice work and welcome to Focal World.

Thanks Alan!

I already feel very welcomed in here, and I am looking forward to posting more on here when I can!