52 Assignments: Night Photography

Anyone looking to develop their astro skills should snap up the latest release in the 52 Assignments… series. Written by Digital Camera regular Josh Dury, there’s a night sky project to tackle every week of the year. With a collection of photo projects curated by an expert and space for you to jot down your observations as you go along, this book has everything you need for exploring new frontiers with your photography.

* Digital Camera Magazine *

Josh Dury has established himself as a leading light in the astrophotography world. Specialising in nightscapes, his stunning images have already earned him a string of awards and are even recognised by space agencies such as NASA. The Somerset-born photographer is also keen to share his passion and expertise with others, speaking regularly at photography and astronomy events and writing about his craft – including a technique feature in OP last year.

This spring Dury publishes his first book, a collection of 52 assignments designed to build your confidence as a night photographer. Subjects range from star trails, the moon and constellations to auroras, meteor showers and solar eclipses, and there is advice on everything from using leading lines and creating composites to capturing star-filled blue-hour images and magical lunar landscapes. There are also plenty of excellent tips peppered throughout the book, and Dury’s images demonstrate the amazing results that can be achieved with the right skills.

Dury reassures us that it’s not necessary to have the latest or most expensive equipment to get started. To take spectacular images of the Milky Way, for example, you just need a fast wide-angle lens, a sturdy tripod and minimal light pollution. Learning a new technique such as astrophotography can be daunting. This book covers the basics in an accessible way while also offering more experienced night photographers some fresh ideas. It may inspire you to adopt a more nocturnal lifestyle…

* Outdoor Photography magazi