@elbrad.bsky.social
Recent re-transplant to Victoria, BC. Amateur photog, beginner astrophotog, and aspiring hermit (so long as there's internet). The world might be on fire, but I can take pictures of the bits that are still beautiful. Camera: Sony A7 iv Scope: Seestar S50
Don't do this. Don't get my hopes up.
(but seriously Europe, do this.)
Had the chance to visit The Raptors in #DuncanBC yesterday, and the opportunity to have a hawk land on my gloved hand. Definitely a place worth checking out, and it'll be getting a revisit from me soon!
Enshittification: The new way of life.
Looks like I've forgotten to post the latest astro photos!
Here you go. First is the Crab Nebula, then the Iris Nebula, Monkey Head Nebula, and finally the Pinwheel Galaxy.
All shot with the #SeestarS50 in #VictoriaBC, Bortle 6.
Last nights session I captured the Monkey Head Nebula and the Hercules Cluster.
It's been a little over a year with the Seestar S50, and I've been trying to learn how to expose the images properly, how to edit the images, and how to fine tune the results to get something that comes as close to reality as possible. This is 10s exposures on the Orion Nebula.
The skies refuse to clear, so I can't get the telescope out...but the camera seems to work still!
Gander can't be released soon enough. Though you're launching in Canada, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a worldwide demand for a more ethical social media platform, and by the looks of it, this is Gander!
Today's trip to #BotanyBay, just southwest of #PortRenfrew on #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia
Revisited the Rosette Nebula last night, and added another 600 frames or so. This helped bring down the noise, increase the clarity, and allowed me to pull out some more of the blue hue from the centre. As always, shot in #YYJ with the #Seestar S50
Rosette Nebula from last night in #YYJ. I need more time on target to reduce the noise and bump up the clarity. 531 20 second frames shot on the #Seestar S50.
Going back and seeing what I did last year, versus this year. Bode's and Cigar Galaxies, both shot on the #seestar S50. 1st is March 2025, 2nd is data from today and earlier this week.
Learning how to properly process images is rewarding, and I'm looking forward to continuing to learn.
1300 ly away, The Iris Nebula is a reflection nebula, meaning the dust is reflecting the light of a nearby star. It would take you six light years to cross it from one side to the other.
Shot on the #seestar S50 in Bortle 6 conditions.
Long exposure at Little Qualicum Falls today. #XQU #VancouverIsland
30,000 - 35,000 years ago a supernova exploded and caused this formation called the Jellyfish Nebula. It's 5000 light years away. I'm going to spend more time getting more scope time with this one to try and bring out more details in the dust cloud.
Taken in #YYJ with a #SeestarS50
Finally a clear night in #YYJ. Enough that I could do an all night session with the #SeestarS50 on the Bode's and Cigar Galaxies.
I got round to watching #TheLifeOfChuck. One of the best stories from @stephenking.bsky.social , and while I may be wrong, I felt it was one of the best roles that @markhamillofficial.bsky.social has played. Such heart, such a beautifully melancholic story. It's going to sit with me for a while.
West Bay walkway near the marina in #Esquimalt. 5 second exposure with the ND filter on. Love the look of the water in this one, and the only hint of the timed exposure are the masts blurring with the slight waves we were getting.
#yyj #photography
Gorge Waterway heron and seals in #VictoriaBC #YYJ
The Reversing Falls at the Gorge Waterway in #VictoriaBC. Photos of seals and herons to follow.
I've tried to get a cloudy moon before, and it's always been tricky.
I've been messing around with exposure bracketing (taking multiple shots in quick succession with different exposure times), and I think I've almost got it!
Just outside #VictoriaBC in #JordanRiver. The telescope wasn't behaving, but the camera came through!
Still reprocessing old captures...but the forecast is calling for a clear night on Friday! Here's hoping for at least one new target soon!
#seestar #astrophotography
The one nice thing about the cloudy weather is that I can go back and reprocess old data. Here's the Heart Nebula and the Fishhead Nebula. Left one is where I overprocessed and oversaturated, right is with a bit more of a delicate hand.
#seestar #astrophotography
So many cloudy nights in #VictoriaBC, so I've been processing old data, trying to bring out more detail, more sharpness, and a more interesting composition. Still loving what the #seestarS50 can do!
The Horsehead and Flame nebulae.
It's funny how my initial processing never turns out well, but when I come back to it after a few hours, the results are much better. #seestar #astrophotography
...with a capital T and that rhymes with P and that means Pedophile!
Come for a visit sometime when they have the fountain all lit up!
