|
The word astrophotography means photographing the stars.
Within any hobby, profession or pursuit, there are degrees. I do woodwork. I make lousy work. But I am a woodworker. Am I a master woodworker, whatever that means? Far, far from it.
I am a pilot. I have a pilot's licence, I can fly a plane, both legally and actually. Can I match the skill level of aerobatic pilots? Not a hope in hades. I am, however, irrefutably, a pilot.
These people may not understand equatorial mounts, may not understand various stacking techniques. I don't understand the stacking techniques to any great degree and there are many techniques that I am yet to learn.
It means more people discovering the wonderful sky under which we live, more people learning to appreciate the beauty that is out there, more people learning more about a fascinating subject.
I have no problem with them calling themselves an astrophotographer. The more that call themselves that, the more that join us, that happier I am. For all that join and leave immediately after one photo, a few stay and instead of posting pictures for likes, they look harder and ask "what am I looking at?" and "why is it so?"
To those and all who ask, I'll happily share what knowledge and enthusiasm I can.
|