Astrophotography for Beginners

Capture the night sky without getting bogged down in expensive gear or complex tech. Built strictly as a true beginner intensive, this four-hour evening workshop shows you how to photograph solar system targets and stargaze right from the city. Learn how to adapt your smartphone or standard camera to a telescope to capture the Moon and planets, and discover the essential mechanics behind deep-space shooting in an urban environment, from navigating Ottawa's Bortle scale to handling noise and frame stacking. Workshop Schedule (4 Hours) Hour 1: Urban Sky Realities & Gear Expectations Understanding the Bortle scale and managing urban light pollution. Setting realistic expectations for what entry-level gear and smartphones can capture. Overview of essential urban astro concepts: noise, light pollution filters, and exposure basics. Hour 2: Optics & Solar System Setup Connecting smartphones and standard DSLR or mirrorless cameras to telescopes. Setting manual focus, ISO, and exposure speeds for the Moon and bright planets. Prepping mounts and optical gear for stable, clear shots. Hour 3: Outdoor Stargazing & Hands-On Shooting Heading outdoors to align telescopes and capture live test shots. Practising target alignment on lunar and planetary subjects. Troubleshooting focus, camera shake, and atmospheric haze in real time. Hour 4: Deep Space Mechanics & Stacking Overview Understanding how frame stacking cuts through urban light pollution and sensor noise. Demonstrating beginner-friendly post-processing workflows for deep-space images. Reviewing student captures and answering final setup questions. What We Provide Telescopes & Adapters: Universal smartphone mounts, camera adapters, and demonstration telescopes. Software Demos: Stacking software walkthroughs and sample light-pollution filter setups. Facilities: Classroom space and an outdoor stargazing area. What To Bring & Requirements Camera: A smartphone or digital camera (DSLR or mirrorless). Apparel: Weather-appropriate warm clothing and comfortable footwear for standing outdoors. No Prior Experience Required: Designed specifically for absolute beginners. No expensive specialized gear needed. Event Details Dates: To be announced Format: 1 single evening session (4 hours) Location: Urban Art Collective Art Hub, 50 Bayswater Avenue, Ottawa Instructor: Thomas Charles Radford Level & Audience: Beginner (curious creators wanting to try stargazing and astro shooting without technical overload). Maximum Capacity: 12 attendees Minimum Enrolment: 6 attendees required