Over two dozen astrophotographers coming for this year Sky Center’s annual conference

by Dan McClelland

Twenty-five avid astrophotographers are back in town this week, for this year’s version of the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory’s popular astrophotography course.

It’s four days of intensive learning for amateur astronomers on how to take the best photos of the heavens through their telescope and how to best display those often dramatic and sometimes unusual celestial shots as photographs.

Seth McGowan, sky center president, and a handful of his volunteers have invited astrophotographers here from around the country to take their hobby to the next level with this very hands-on course.

The response has been great, since it has been in the first year- 2017 when 20 folks from around the country came for it.

The organizers told them in their invitation this year: “Whether you're a beginner or an experienced astrophotographer, our conference offers unparalleled access to dark skies. Bring your own equipment or utilize ours as you hone your craft and avoid light pollution. You'll have the chance to meet fellow enthusiasts, exchange tips and tricks, and capture stunning images under the pristine dark skies of the Eastern USA.”

The conference is intended to give these photographers of the heavens a one-of-a-kind immersive conference experience,

opportunities for deep space, planetary, solar, and wide-field imaging, hands-on sessions with expert guidance and the chance to connect with a vibrant community of fellow attendees.

Helping Seth again this year will be Observatory Co-founder Marc Staves, Tim Connelly, Gordie Duval, Steve Dittmar, Andrew Metz and Tim Roske, among others.

Over the course of this four-day experience, imagers of all levels will learn to use their equipment better alongside others who share the same appreciation for the world above. Guided by instructors, the photographers will spend time in the classroom and in the field practicing their skills and learning new approaches.

The Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory is one of few, if not the only of its kind in the Adirondack region, making it a destination point for many astronomers and astrophotographers. The Adirondacks and Tupper Lake specifically are known for their “dark skies”, which are essential for astrophotography. Organizers say their astrophotography conference is an ideal opportunity for those looking to explore those dark skies surrounded by others to collaborate and learn from.

“This year’s conference will be both new and the same,” Mr. McGowan, retired superintendent of schools told the Free Press this week.

The limit of the participants is the same at 25.

“Each year I call all of the registrants before hand, and after discussing their particular interests, we try to customize the sessions to their interests and needs.”

People from as far away as Florida, Colorado and Washington (state) are signed up for this year’s conference.

Evidence of the its popularity is the fact that every year the astrophotography students include four or five people who have participated at past events, the first one being in 2017.

There are two components to the course taught and experienced over the four days, starting tomorrow.

Part of the program is taking the students out to local sites, including the roll-off observatory overlooking Little Wolf Lake, to view the heavens- some times in the middle of the night. Marc Staves will be leading some of those night time excursions.

The other piece is the day-time work of gleaning the best shots taken and massaging them on computers to get the best images possible, according to Mr. McGowan.

The volunteer instructors will work alongside the conference attendees to get those special photos and those very worthy of framing.

“Some of attendees are here to enjoy the wonders of the Milky Way and the other things found in the night sky above Tupper, Mr. McGowan explained. “Others are keen to see and learn more about Deep Space.”

He said day one (Thursday) will be devoted to a general session, “so everyone is speaking the same language and the same lingo,” he explained. Night viewing is also planned the first day.

There are two sites for for all activities this year. The organization has rented Allison Hollingsworth’s community room above Hollingsworth Construction on High Street. The other meeting and work place is the sky center and observatory’s new headquarters in the Park Street business district.

In the two days that follow (Friday and Saturday) there will be more viewing of the night sky and many more photos taken through their telescopes. -And of course more work on their computers producing the best photographic images they can.

The breadth of the study and the intensity of the learning amplifies along the way.

The final day wraps up with a session designed to show off each of the participants best shots, and a review of some of the techniques they used to produce them and maybe some of the difficulties they encountered along the way. People then disperse for their trips home, armed with new ideas and new techniques they can share with their fellow hobbyists.

“It’s always amazing to me that all this happens now right here in Tupper Lake. I don’t think there is another conference like this anywhere else in the country,” noted Mr. McGowan. For the many folks who have enjoyed this event in the past eight years, it has put Tupper Lake on the map, he believes.

“It’s real life viewing, real world experiences for people using their own telescopes, cameras and computers...and it’s happening all right here in Tupper Lake!”