Who We Are
Hi,
I am William (Wilfredo) of Star Walking brought to you by Wilfredo’s Astrophotography. In case you are wondering how I got the name Wilfredo; here’s how I got it. It all started when I met my awesome lovely wife, Sara. She used a service called YouMail and it would transcribe your voice mail. Every time someone called her and left a voice mail, you would hear a recording, “Hi, (whatever your name was stored in her phone) your voice message is being transcribed by YouMail, please speak clearly”. Well, when I called, it would say “Hi Wilfredo” so that name stuck and now my grandkids call me Papa Wilfredo.
I created this site so I could share my pictures and videos with you. There are so many amazing things in the night sky and sometimes we get so busy with life, we forget to look up and take them in. I hope you get as much joy out of these as I did taking them. Each picture requires anywhere from 2 to 7 hours from start to finish.
Astrophotography is a captivating and challenging hobby that allows you to capture the beauty of the night sky. To enhance your learning and growth in this field, you can create the perfect picture by leveraging what I believe to be the Four Pillars of Astrophotography (Equipment, Focus, Alignment, and Processing). These pillars will serve as the foundation for your journey into the realm of astrophotography:
Equipment:
Selecting the right equipment for what you intend to image is crucial for capturing stunning images. DSLR or mirrorless cameras that can handle long exposures and high ISO settings work best for me. Additionally, a sturdy tripod is essential to keep your camera stable during long exposure shots. To delve deeper into astrophotography, you may want to consider getting a telescope with a tracking mount and a dedicated astronomy camera. This should enable you to capture more detailed images of celestial objects.
Focus:
Achieving perfect focus in astrophotography can be challenging, especially at night. Learn how to focus manually using the live view function of your camera or through the use of a Bahtinov mask or similar focusing aids. Perfect focus ensures your stars appear sharp and well-defined, which is vital for creating visually striking images.
Alignment:
Astrophotography often involves capturing long-exposure shots to gather sufficient light from dim celestial objects. However, as the Earth rotates, stars and other celestial bodies appear to move across the sky. Proper alignment of your camera or telescope with the night sky is essential to prevent star trails and achieve pinpoint star images. Polar alignment can be crucial for equatorial mounts to ensure precise tracking during long exposures. If you are using an ASIAIR Plus it is not as important.
Processing:
The true magic of astrophotography happens during post-processing. Learning how to process your images correctly will significantly enhance the quality and beauty of your images. I use software like Adobe Photoshop, PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. Post-processing allows you to reduce noise, enhance details, adjust colors, and bring out the hidden beauty of the night sky.
By using these Four Pillars of Astrophotography, you can learn and grow your skills steadily. As you practice and gain experience, you'll discover the importance of each pillar and how they complement one another to create breathtaking images of the cosmos. Keep in mind that astrophotography requires patience, dedication, and a willingness to learn from both successes and failures. As you progress, you'll find your techniques improving, and your portfolio of mesmerizing images will grow, reflecting your passion for the wonders of the universe.
Where do I get my Equipment? Click the Links Below.