Why Astrophotographers Do What They Do (PHOTOS)

By: By Camille Mann

Published: February 28,2014

 

 

 

Photographer Nicholas Buer has traveled through the desert, tundra and Arctic, not to just capture landscapes, but to shoot them at night. Buer has battled a range of environments — from the Northern Lights above a waterfall in Iceland to the Milky Way above the desert in Chile — to capture incredible starry nights around the world.
“I have always had a passion for astronomy. Gazing up at the night sky has always filled me with a sense of wonder, but it has only been since recent advancements in [camera] technology that I have been able to capture the beauty of the night sky in ways I could have only dreamed of as a child,” the U.K.-born photographer told weather.com.
Since his first successful photo of the Milky Way in 2010, Buer, who is also an amateur astronomer, said he’s been “hooked.” Now he spends time carefully researching and planning his trips around the new moons. Even though he comes prepared, some things he can’t control.
(MORE: 25 Amazing Shots of the Night Sky)
“Every environment has its challenges. In the desert the dry air makes your skin crack and split,” Buer explained. “In the Arctic, the winds can pummel you with every gust, and when it is dark it can make conditions seem even more challenging.”
Shooting at night also poses problems. “At night your senses are heightened, every tree creak and wind whistle can seem more unnerving if you are unfamiliar with your surroundings.” To avoid confusion shooting at night, Buer tries to visit the location during the day “to get a feel for the area.”
In addition to scouting locales, Buer keeps a close eye on weather reports. “When you are an amateur astronomer you also have to be a meteorologist because, it should go without saying, but to see the stars the sky needs to be clear,” Buer said. “So I regularly monitor the weather… to find my best possible chance of clear skies.”
But apart from all of the shooting and planning Buer says he always takes time to “look away from the LCD screen and enjoy the moment,” which is something he came to appreciate even more after a chaotic trip to Chile. After spending a rough 36 hours of traveling that included broken planes, missed flights, lost luggage, Buer decided to lie on the ground and look up at the night’s sky.
(MORE: Stunning Night Skies You Won't See Anywhere Else)
“A few stars had started to appear. I knew the constellations so I could see that the Scorpius and Sagittarius were high in the sky even though it was still too light to see the central bulge of the Milky Way yet,” he said. “Then slowly more stars started to appear as the sun descended farther below the horizon and then, in what felt like a blink of the eye, our home galaxy revealed itself in all its overwhelming beauty.”
Moments like this, Buer explained, are why astrophotographers do what they do. To see more of Buer’s work visit his website, Facebook or Vimeo page.