Entries by Silvana Della Camera

Alpaca Benro Polaris V2.0 – Installation

Here is a step-by-step installation of the Alpaca Benro Polaris V2.0 (ABP). Since its release, I have installed it along with N.I.N.A, Stellarium, ASCOM 7.1 on a desktop computer, a laptop, and a mini PC. I am not a Mac user, but I expect the process is similar. This post addresses ABP installation on Windows-based […]

Unlock Stunning Astrolandscapes with Infrared Cameras

Photographing an astrolandscape is becoming increasingly popular. People are discovering that their digital cameras see very well in the dark and can capture the splendor of the starry skies. Infrared Milky Way photography ramps up the ability to see more detail of the magnificence of a star-filled landscape. Using digital infrared converted cameras expands their […]

Overcoming Common Photography Struggles

What do you struggle with in your photography? Is it difficult to pick up your camera and dedicate time to explore and push your capabilities forward? Or are you in the other camp, photographing constantly but hitting the doldrums in your art? Like anything else we do, investing time is required to become proficient and with this, boredom can set in. If you are proficient in using your camera and it’s not in your hands as often as it once was, it is time to reassess your photographic vision. Likewise, if you aren’t proficient with your camera yet it is time to tackle the barriers.

2025 Celestial Happenings

At the beginning of the year, I load up my calendar with the celestial happenings that are coming up. These include planet events, lunar and solar eclipses, meteor showers, expected comets, Moon phases, and Milky Way core visibility. Interspersed with these events there are delightful surprises, like a juicy CME gracing our skies with aurora […]

Cakes and Cars

One of the things that you often hear is that you can create art with any camera that you have, even your phone. Yes, this is true. However, there is another perspective to consider. Often people feel that it’s their abilities that hold them back from producing an image that they are satisfied with. The […]

Gear Review: Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 Z

Who? Viltrox is a relatively new player in the realm of third-party (relatively) low-cost lenses. They’ve been around since 2009 and their visibility is increasing thanks to the quality, especially their glass for Astro landscape photography. Viltrox manufactures lenses for Nikon, Fuji, Sony, and Canon. Check their website for your particular camera. This is the […]

Gear Review: Rokinon Z 14mm f/2.8 Lens

The Comparison This review is for the Nikon mirrorless Z mount specifically, however it applies to all the various camera mounts Rokinon offers. I have owned the F Mount version of the Rokinon 14mm lens for almost 10 years. This lens is incredibly sharp edge to edge and has minimal coma aberration and next to […]

How to: Create a Timelapse

As a photographer, my world revolves around the capture of a moment. A frozen sliver of time. For me, this quote, by the master Dorothea Lange sums it up: “Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” This is the magic that a photograph possesses and never loses. It is […]

How to Photograph the Aurora

We are entering a wonderful time to experience the aurora close to home. Learn how to plan and photograph this most beautiful and elusive event. Our Sun is currently increasing its activity, which is evident from the appearance of numerous sunspots on its surface, flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). These phenomena have a significant […]

Shaken, not Stirred

As the title may suggest, I am a fan of Bond films (an acute understatement). I’ve viewed every single Bond film, numerous times over. Each time I revisit one, I see something I have missed before, even though I am completely engrossed from the opening to the closing credits. I will suggest applying this well-known […]

Capturing Totality: My Solar Eclipse Experience

I was waiting for this eclipse for ages. I’ve taken photos of many partial eclipses, but I’ve never had the chance to see totality. There were other total eclipses in North America, but they never happened when I was free. Luckily, this one was special, as it was close to my home. Seeing this phenomenon was unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. It was truly magnificent in action.

Reflections on 2023: A Year in Photography

Another blink, another year gone. It seems like each year increases its speed exponentially thus increasing my panic of not jamming enough into the allotted 365 days. Time is infinite, my existence is not. 2023 had many moments of extremes, pure joy and of deep sadness and high frustration. I got to visit Death Valley […]

How-to: Photograph Enchanting December

December. The month of the year blazes with colorful lights as the length of daylight approaches its shortest duration. A perfect time to experiment with camera settings and get creative with your photography! You can take advantage of colorful lights close to home, visit the light displays in the city, visit places like La Salette […]

How to: Photograph a Solar Eclipse

We have an annular eclipse coming up as well as the “North American” eclipse in April 2024. The following how-to applies to any solar eclipse, not just the ones noted. It also applies to any time you wish to photograph the Sun. The Sun is a wonderful object to photograph, eclipse or not. Safety. Safety. […]

X-Ray Vision at Night

Infrared gives us X-ray vision. Well sort of. It allows us to see past our own narrow (pathetic) bandwidth. It is perfect for night photography. You may think this is an oxymoron. Infrared is normally viewed as photography under a blazing sun, perhaps peppered with some puffy clouds. A type of photography generally shot within […]

AI in Photography: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

How does AI Impact Photographers? AI. Artificial Intelligence. It’s everywhere these days. AI is defined as the simulation of human intelligence by software-coded heuristics. Heuristics are the strategies derived from previous experiences with similar problems. Boxed in is another way of looking at it. Human thought is, or rather should be, limitless. There are three schools […]

How to Photograph Carnival Lights

When was the last time you went to a carnival? You know, the traveling show you looked forward to as a kid that marked the start of summer. Yes, they are noisy, loud, and crowded but prime fodder for photographing a variety of whirling multi-colored lights. Every carnival is a bit different, albeit with similar […]

How to Photograph Star Trails

Images with star trails are captivating. They are also easy to accomplish and can be created most anywhere, even in a light-polluted city or your own backyard. Creating a star trail image is a great way to get started in astrolandscape photography. It’s a type of night photography that never gets old. Read on to […]

How to Photograph an Astrolandscape

Night photography is a challenge in many ways. Our night vision is quite pathetic so we need to lean (heavily) on our cameras to tell us how much light is actually available. Luckily, digital cameras see really well in the dark so this becomes a simple exercise in understanding the histogram. These steps are for […]

Rethink Photo Processing Options

When we think about photo processing software, Photoshop and Lightroom immediately come to mind. These are great tools and I have been using Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) for many years. Usually, they are part of my main workflow. Having said that, I do use other software as there are many other excellent tools […]

Winter: Are you a hibernator or forager?

If you live in areas where cold temperatures, snow, and ice are the components, the very word may invoke distaste, dread, or delight. Like other mammals, some humans hibernate, while others continue foraging through the winter season. Which camp are you in? Foragers keep digging for nuggets. These take the form of learning new camera […]

How to: Create a Moonrise Timelapse

An image of a full Moon is enchanting. However, a moonrise timelapse leaves enchanting behind and gives the viewer a visceral kick in the head. A moonrise can be a challenge to photograph, especially when the Moon is full and rises after astronomical twilight and you’ve set your sights on a foreground object that is […]

Gear How-to – Benro Polaris Astro Setup

The Benro Polaris Astro is an amazing “smart” tripod head. I am very happy with the abilities of this amazing tool. When I purchased it, I discovered that that wasn’t a lot of information on the setup. The manual isn’t great, not unlike any other manual I’ve encountered. After many false starts and utter failures […]

Gear Review – Focus on Stars Filter

Photographers always have their eye and ear out for a gadget to help make a task easier. It is often a quest not unlike the search for the Holy Grail. Photography is a combination of artistic creativity with often high technical requirements. A fusion of left brain/right brain as it were. Some types of photography […]

In Search of the Pinpoint Star

This is probably the most difficult part of an astro photograph. It doesn’t matter if we are talking about astrolandscapes or deep space photography, the perfectly focused pinpoint star is a challenge. It’s almost an oxymoron given that stars are so enormous. But I digress. I have been photographing stars for a long time. My […]

How-to: Get Moving (aka ICM)

As in moving your camera. I recently held a photo walk that revolved around intentional camera movement, also known as ICM. As we practiced ICM, it occurred to me why it is sometimes difficult to get going with ICM. As photographers, our quest is to produce sharp, clear images. We exercise proper form by holding […]

All the Noise Noise Noise Noise…

Camera noise. It is the nature of high ISO but it’s nothing you need to be afraid of. You may actually stifle your photography by avoiding its use. As an astrolandscape and infrared photographer, I can’t avoid noise. Infrared is a noisy medium even at low ISO. Astrolandscapes require fairly short exposures to avoid star […]

How to: Peaked Focus

One of my favorite features of my camera is focus peaking. It is a feature that some cameras have that helps you achieve sharp focus when using manual lenses or focusing on a scene that the camera is struggling with due to low lighting conditions or perhaps not having a clear area of contrast to […]

Gadgetmania (Part 2)

Photography is one of those crafts that can span the extremes when it comes to accessories. Technically all you need is a camera to create a photograph. Yes, there is the vision of the photographer that is the driving force, but we are talking about hardware only here. However, there is an abundance of gadgets […]

Gadgetmania (Part 1)

Some women love shoes. I love gadgets. Especially photography gadgets. I’m not talking cameras – though they are in a category of mania all their own. I’m talking about all the other periphery. Sure, a camera and tripod are the basis for beautiful photography but there are a plethora of tools (okay, gadgets) that help […]

Long exposure photography – Hustle It Up

Night photography and ND filters require long exposures. Long exposure images are beautifully silky and visually rich. Clouds become soft and reveal the movement. Swaying trees become dreamy, and water becomes exquisitely glossy. However, they require experimenting with settings in order to get the exposure right. Sometimes it takes a good chunk of time to […]

Comfort. Friend or Foe?

I think comfort has a dual purpose. It serves to increase confidence in our abilities to accomplish something. It allows us to sharpen what we know how to do very well. It can also make us complacent. A double edge sword. It’s human nature to seek comfort. It’s what we pursue in life in pretty […]

Filter Fumble

Photographic filters are fantastic. They alter the light and allow for great photographic creativity. They are also a pain in the posterior. For a long time, I would do my best to avoid using them. Multi-stop ND filters in particular were avoided since focusing would need to occur before placing the filter on the lens. […]

Glimpsed Actualities

Ever wonder if you are missing something when looking at a scene? I’m not talking about missing “the shot”, I’m talking about the imperceptible. We humans have pretty limited eyesight. We see a slim sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum called the visible spectrum. We don’t see well in the dark and our colorful daytime vision […]

A (Large) Grain of Salt

I’ve been on my photographic journey for as long as I remember. My earliest memories revolve around holding a camera. It has stalled at various times in my life, but I have always returned to it, subsequently veering onto another path of visualization. My journey encompasses decades of learning techniques and a multitude of dos […]

Dump the Color

Say what? You read that right. Dump the color. As photographers, we wallow in beautiful colors. We experience euphoria when a colorful sunrise or sunset smacks our retinas. We have a collective feeding frenzy as we feast our eyes and cameras on the evolving hues of the sky. Our quest for images is often driven […]