75BC
20-01-2016, 06:45 PM
Just wanted to ask other purely visual guys and girls, why they have not gone down the path so many seem to take with astrophotography. When I say ‘purely visual’ I’m not counting the odd happy snap I think nearly everyone likes to take. I’ll kick off with my reasons.
TIME – I just don’t have enough of it to devote to learning, and doing AP. Truth be told, I don’t have enough time to do the visual astronomy I’d like. For me, I think photography would be a natural progression once I’d spent countless hours looking at everything I could, many times over. I don’t know if that day will ever come for me. I’ve been doing this (with a telescope) for about 12 years and I’m still learning some of the basics of what’s up there.
MONEY – Something else I don’t have enough of. I come from a very modest background, and still earn a very basic income. It took 20 years of interest in astronomy before I could afford a ‘real’ telescope. It’s often mentioned on here about AP being a slippery slope, so I avoid even looking over the edge knowing I’ll be half way down before I realize what’s happening. I’m old enough now to know my limits (financial and otherwise), and my recent acquisitions (CPC1100 + a few half decent eyepieces) are more than I thought I would ever own. So equipment wise, I’ am a pretty happy chap right now.
PERSONAL – This is just what motivates me to do it at all. The feeling I get when I look through the eyepiece. Even though nowhere near as spectacular as a photo, and I was one, like many who was a little disappointed to realize you don’t get Hubble images. “What! The pictures on the box weren’t taken through my Department store refractor?” :lol: But what you can see through an EP I find amazing. Something I don’t get from a photo is that sense of 3 dimensions. I notice this most when looking at Jupiter and her moons. I can see some appear slightly in front, and some slightly behind the big planet. Also just knowing you are looking at the real thing gives me a buzz. In this time of being able to see anything at all on a computer screen, a lot of things have lost their mystique. But knowing those photons hitting my eye have travelled all that way, and for such a long time, makes me feel special in a way I’m yet to fully understand. And lastly, it may have something to do with having a bit of Mulder Syndrome (X Files). I WANT TO BELIEVE. Even if I know 99.999999%, I don’t completely believe something until I see it for myself. Silly, I know. :screwy:
In saying all this I do have to mention the respect I have for those who do AP. Their dedication is in some cases astounding to me. I take great pleasure in looking at their amazing images. They can be works of art in their own right.
So these are the main reasons for me. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope I haven’t bored everyone. I would really like to know why you are just looking.
TIME – I just don’t have enough of it to devote to learning, and doing AP. Truth be told, I don’t have enough time to do the visual astronomy I’d like. For me, I think photography would be a natural progression once I’d spent countless hours looking at everything I could, many times over. I don’t know if that day will ever come for me. I’ve been doing this (with a telescope) for about 12 years and I’m still learning some of the basics of what’s up there.
MONEY – Something else I don’t have enough of. I come from a very modest background, and still earn a very basic income. It took 20 years of interest in astronomy before I could afford a ‘real’ telescope. It’s often mentioned on here about AP being a slippery slope, so I avoid even looking over the edge knowing I’ll be half way down before I realize what’s happening. I’m old enough now to know my limits (financial and otherwise), and my recent acquisitions (CPC1100 + a few half decent eyepieces) are more than I thought I would ever own. So equipment wise, I’ am a pretty happy chap right now.
PERSONAL – This is just what motivates me to do it at all. The feeling I get when I look through the eyepiece. Even though nowhere near as spectacular as a photo, and I was one, like many who was a little disappointed to realize you don’t get Hubble images. “What! The pictures on the box weren’t taken through my Department store refractor?” :lol: But what you can see through an EP I find amazing. Something I don’t get from a photo is that sense of 3 dimensions. I notice this most when looking at Jupiter and her moons. I can see some appear slightly in front, and some slightly behind the big planet. Also just knowing you are looking at the real thing gives me a buzz. In this time of being able to see anything at all on a computer screen, a lot of things have lost their mystique. But knowing those photons hitting my eye have travelled all that way, and for such a long time, makes me feel special in a way I’m yet to fully understand. And lastly, it may have something to do with having a bit of Mulder Syndrome (X Files). I WANT TO BELIEVE. Even if I know 99.999999%, I don’t completely believe something until I see it for myself. Silly, I know. :screwy:
In saying all this I do have to mention the respect I have for those who do AP. Their dedication is in some cases astounding to me. I take great pleasure in looking at their amazing images. They can be works of art in their own right.
So these are the main reasons for me. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope I haven’t bored everyone. I would really like to know why you are just looking.