A NEW LOVE
I have a new love……..
We only get to meet up a few times each month (which only increases the excitement) so I sneak out in the dark and make sure I’m home before daybreak.
Our liaisons are always somewhere quiet and remote and, while they’re carefully planned, so many things can stop them from happening. Last minute cancellations are not unusual. Those few precious hours, therefore, are so valuable and I cherish every minute of them.
As shocking as it may sound, Cath’s completely OK with it. In fact she positively encourages it !
I don’t mind admitting I’m a hopeless case, besotted, and always waiting for the next time, despite the fact that I find it all very tiring at my age, and seem to spend most of the next day sleeping. The anticipation though makes it so addictive.
Most of the time we’re on our own when we meet but occasionally there are other people around. I’m quite happy to share the pleasure.
But wait…..
Before I descend into the realms of a Barbara Cartland novel I should perhaps clear up any misconceptions I may have created. I am, of course, talking about astrophotography,
Followers of my social media posts (God bless you for your support) will have noticed a marked increase in nightscape images this year and I’m not afraid to admit that I’m obsessed with photographing the night sky.
Upwards of 90% of my summertime photography is now done at night and there are several good reasons why that is. I’ve previously documented how challenging I find summertime photography and wrote in my June blog ( https://www.timscanlanphotography.com/blog) about my lack of enthusiasm between spring and autumn. Besides sunrise and sunset being at hugely unsociable times, the sun’s in the wrong position for much of the coastal photography I enjoy down here in South Wales. Woodland is another favourite of mine but to me it looks so average in summer and has little appeal.
Astrophotography is the perfect solution and has been the antidote to my seasonally induced creative slump ! It gets me out there in the landscape, keeps me enthused and helps me to continue learning. It couldn’t be better timed either. The Milky Way core season starts in March in the Northern Hemisphere and lasts until the end of September by which time Orion is back in the night sky but equally importantly my favourite time of year is with us. Autumn begins and the landscape changes colour - a special gift before winter is upon us.
The majority of people in the developed world have never seen the Milky Way. Light pollution means that the best show in the universe is blotted out and things are only going to get worse (please switch your lights off at night folks!). There is a movement to preserve our dark skies and it’s gathering momentum (more info here https://www.darksky.org ). There are several Dark Sky Sites already established here in the UK and I’m lucky to live very near to Brecon Beacons National Park which is designated as a Dark Sky Reserve. If you’ve never seen a truly dark sky then do yourself a favour before summer’s over and find one near you. I’m not able to describe the sense of wonder I get when I’m looking at the night sky but I’d love you to share the experience of viewing something that our ancestors also gazed at thousands of years ago. The ancients ascribed huge importance to the constellations and their connection to the passage of time. They were able to plot the seasons by the moon’s cycles and learned to navigate at night by understanding the position of the planets at various times of the year.
Astronomy is a huge, wide-ranging subject that never fails to fascinate. There’s so much to learn and that’s something I’m always keen to carry on doing. The best time to view the night sky is the week prior to the new moon and the week that follows as the moon waxes to fullness. Unfortunately from a photography point of view, a full moon is often so bright that you’ll struggle to see many stars, meaning there’s only a limited period in each month where nightscapes are achievable.
In addition to learning about the night sky, I’m learning how to photograph it. I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve had quite a few failures but I feel my images are improving. It’s almost like starting photography all over again where lessons are learned from failures and the occasional successes keep you coming back for more. It definitely takes a lot more planning than daytime landscapes but that’s an aspect I enjoy. The technical aspect of capturing the image is also challenging. Three or four hours can go by so quickly when you’re trying to get everything just right. Of course, the stars don’t move. It’s the Earth’s rotation that makes that appear to be the case, so properly framing up an image with a foreground subject is crucial to coming away with a decent result. A few moments delay can mean the difference between success and failure.
I’ve quickly learned that the changing seasons greatly influence the look of the night sky. The Milky Way is a perfect example of how the earth’s position effects the location of a subject in the sky. As I said earlier, the Milky Way core becomes visible in March for those of us in northern latitudes and rises in the south east, so there are several great locations on the coast for a perfect composition. By July, the Milky Way rises due south and those locations are no longer suitable but others will be. As we approach September the core will rise in the west, making the wonderful Pembrokeshire coast the ideal place to capture great images. Lots to take in and lots to think about !
Of course all this planning and learning is all well and good but we’re always completely at the mercy of the weather. Here in the UK that takes on a whole different meaning and is the main reason why I can spend all day checking weather apps and websites. Honestly, you should see my browser history…….(oh, on second thoughts maybe not…….). But things can change for good as well as bad and what was forecast to be a cloudy night can often turn out to bring perfectly clear skies. It pays to never give up hope where the British weather is concerned. That said, we’ve been blessed with a tremendous spell of warm weather and clear skies so far this year - long may it continue !
Being out under the night sky is a fantastic experience so don’t be afraid of the dark ! On that point, I’m often asked if I ever get scared being alone in remote locations. I’m glad to say I don’t but, for example, when a vixen shrieks on a perfectly still night it can test the mettle somewhat ! I am though often wary and always take safety into consideration. I try to make sure I know a location well and often visit in daylight as falling off a cliff tends to curtail a photography session. I also make sure I have an alternative route back to the car if I’m uncomfortable with the presence of other people. I do enjoy the company of other photographers at night though. We’re kindred spirits in a way so it’s great to have a chance to share information. Not all visitors are as welcome. I’ve lost count of the number of times a couple of car loads of youngsters have appeared in the wee small hours. Someone needs to explain that noise carries further at night and Sean Paul is not my choice of music at 02:00 a.m. I’ve never felt threatened (or been threatened for that matter) but I am aware that situations can change quickly so I’m always cautious. However, I learned early in life that you shouldn’t let your fears hold you back, so I’ll carry on being one of those things that go bump in the night for a while yet !
I hope I’ve persuaded you that the wonders of our galaxy are worth taking a look at, are available to everyone and all for free !! The next new moon is on Saturday August 27th so get yourself somewhere dark so you can see the wonders of the heavens for yourself. I wish you clear skies.
Who knows? You may have a new love too……….
