Heavenly Bodies: The Photographer's Guide to Astrophotography

Another dimension to photography is explored by Bert P. Krages. This book is intended to guide the reader on evolving their skills in astrophotography on an introductory level and fulfills this genre nicely. Photographing deep space objects such as galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae are not part of the scope of this book. The equipment needed for such projects can easily reach beyond the ten thousand dollar mark when you factor in a quality telescope, a ccd camera, adapter and motor drive; another book could be written on this alone. All chapters are based on photographic equipment almost all photographers already have, making this an appealing endeavor. A brief lesson in astronomy is given since this knowledge is helpful in becoming more efficient, especially when tracking certain celestial objects. Equipment such as lenses are dissected and advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Film and filter selection and exposure have a chapter dedicated to them as does tracking techniques. Photography through a telescope is touched upon and insight is given for those looking to pursue this adventure. Overall, an informative book, well written and recommended.

This is an awesome book for anyone interested in learning about astrophotography. The book is easy to read and well laid out. The great thing about this book is it shows that anyone can do astrophotography without spending a lot of money on gear. It is full of information on how to get started, what you can use, how to plan for potential shots, etc. The author even included some well timed wit here and there. The photos in the book are very good and inspiring, especially the cover shot! This is a great book for any outdoor photographer whether you have ever considered doing this type of photography or not.