From Novice to Noteworthy: A Deep Dive into Astrophotography Evolution

It's a common sentiment among artists and creators: looking back at past work and seeing both the progress made and the potential for improvement. This week, I've been diving into some of my older astrophotography images, eager to see if my current skills can breathe new life into them. The shot you see below was captured in the nascent stages of my journey with the Sony α7s. Back then, I was a complete beginner, fumbling through the basics of photography, let alone the intricacies of capturing the night sky.

Early Mistakes, Valuable Lessons

This particular image is a single 20-second exposure at ISO 1600. I remember wanting to push the ISO higher, but I had already learned a crucial lesson: high ISO settings can unfortunately wash out the beautiful colors of the stars. A quick glance at the image reveals distinct dark patches scattered across the frame. These were the tell-tale signs of a dirty sensor, something I wasn't aware of at the time. It's only through the editing process that the severity of these imperfections becomes apparent.

A piece of advice for fellow aspiring astrophotographers: avoid the convenience trap of leaving your lens attached to your camera when storing it. I did it for ease of access, but it's a practice that can lead to sensor dust and other issues down the line.

Furthermore, in those early days, I hadn't yet grasped the profound importance of a compelling foreground in nightscape photography. As a result, the foreground in this shot, though I've done my best to salvage it, is rather underwhelming. These experiences, however, have fundamentally shaped my current workflow and are moments I'm incredibly grateful for.

The Journey Continues

While I still consider myself a novice and am constantly learning, it's incredibly rewarding to see how far I've come. This hobby, once quite obscure, has become a passion I'm dedicated to improving. My hope is to continue growing, to push my boundaries, and to do greater justice to the breathtaking beauty of Earth's night skies.