Photos

An amateur astronomer is not 'complete' until he or she has tried taking
photographs of the night sky. In some cases, it is very simple to do. But other
times it's a very frustrating endeavor!! Over the years I have tried my hand at
astrophotography. Occasionally I am surprised to find that I produced a great
photo. But more often I end up with a big pile of REJECTS!!!

Presently, I use a 1970's model Olympus OM-1 camera. The OM-1 is
considered one of the best SLR cameras for astrophotography. It was given to
me by my observing friend, Bob Heilman, shortly before he passed away in
1999. This camera is one of my most-treasured possessions as I think of Bob
each and every time that I use it to catch nature's beauty on film. I am an 'old
school' astrophotographer as I guide all of my time exposure photos by hand,
rather than using an autoguider or computer system. Sometimes, staring at a
faint star for 45 minutes while I keep it centered in a red bullseye can be quite
tiresome. At the same time, however, it is relaxing as I feel that Bob is there
with me helping me to capture the best possible picture.

Below is a collection of some of my better results. You may click on each
individual image to see a bigger photo with a brief description.