Astrophotography has changed the way I travel.
Ever since I was young, I have been interested in space. There is something about the vastness of a star-lit sky that is both humbling and fascinating. I think my interest in astro began when I would go camping in Provincial Parks with my family throughout my home province of Ontario. The skies were particularly dark, allowing for many beautiful nights of stargazing.
My fascination with the night sky and love for photography lead to me trying my hand at astrophotography. I briefly tried in Costa Rica, but it was in Africa where I started learning how to shoot stars properly. With a 3-day hiking trip in Madagascar, I finally managed to capture a few clear shots of the Milky Way. I knew that my photography would never be the same. I spent hours taking photos of the Milky Way in the mountains, using rocks to prop up my camera because I didn’t yet have a tripod.
Now a proud owner of a tripod, I try to capture the night sky everywhere I travel. I find myself not only looking at what would be a good shot in the moment, but also considering how my composition would change with the night sky lighting the scene. Pulling up the Photo Pills app, I look for the position of the Milky Way and determine where a good location would for a time lapse. The rest is up to chance, waiting and hoping that the weather cooperates enough to capture the beauty of the night sky. The unpredictability makes it all the more exciting.
