Outdoor Photography How To

Are you finally ready to give astrophotography a try and capture some spectacular  images of the sparkling nighttime sky? Whether you're new to the game or just looking for few quick tricks, this beginners guide will prepare you for challenge.

Instructor Mallory Davis is an expert whose YouTube channel offers insightful shooting advice for inexperienced travel and adventure photographers, along with personal recommendations for epic destinations to visit.

Here's how she introduces today's straightforward eight-minute primer: "In this video I share the gear, camera settings, and helpful tips and tricks I use to make astrophotography outings a breeze." Best yet, it's likely that you already own the equipment needed to get started, and there's a list of Mallory's preferred cameras, lenses, and accessories in the description beneath the video.

So eactly what gear is required? First you need a DSLR or mirrorless camera that enables you to shoot in Manual, and it's necessary to understand the basics of using this essential exposure setting. A sturdy tripod is also a must because "the name of the game is keeping your camera as steady as possible as possible during the slow shutter speeds you'll employ."

Lens choice is simple: You want to pull a wide-angle out of you bag, and Mallory says the wider it is the better. The best option is a fast lens that offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or faster. Mallory notes that a slower kit lens will suffice if that's all you have, as long as you follow her advice.

You'll be out in the field after dark, so a small headlamp can be super helpful for safely navigating the terrain, digging through your bag, and reading camera and lens controls. Mallory also recommends using an affordable remote shutter that will further protect against camera movement at the moment of capture.

As the lesson proceeds Mallory provides a detailed description of all the appropriate settings, and she explains when and how to employ them for maximum effect. Then there are those aforementioned shooting tips and techniques that will help you create images that are a sparkling success.

Mallory's instructional YouTube channel is a great source of information for photographers who want to expand their repertoire and skills.

We also recommend watching a recent tutorial we featured with another travel photography pro who explains the artistic concept of "bokeh" and demonstrates how to capture spellbinding outdoor photographs with perfect out-of-focus backgrounds.