Capturing the cosmos: Astrophotography workshop at BU

By Rishi Bhushan
The mysteries of the universe have always fascinated humanity, and there is perhaps no better way to explore the wonders of the cosmos than through astrophotography. Bennett University's Astronomy Club in collaboration with the photography club (ISAC) of the University hosted a workshop that delved into the intricacies of astrophotography. The workshop was held by astro photographer Virendra Adhikari.

Adhikari, a professional photographer with more than 13 years of experience, introduced the students to the camera, lenses and types of equipment used in astrophotography. He also explained how excellent photographs of the night sky can be shot with a smartphone. “Contrary to popular belief, astrophotography is not expensive. It is as simple as your parents clicking the photos of a full moon with a phone that lacks the desired requirements for astrophotography,” Adhikari said.

Adhikari explained that planning is important for a splendid photograph. According to him, a good astro photographer always plans his/her astroshoot keeping in mind things like phases of the moon, light pollution at the place of shooting, the terrain of the place and many more before going for the shoot. He also spoke about the basic rule of astrophotography - the ‘rule of 500’ - which helps the photographer find the right shutter speed. Virendra Adhikari explained, “All rules aside, it all comes down to the passion of the individual that leads to exquisite shots.”
He also spoke about the importance of taking photos during the ‘Golden hour’, which takes place just after dusk and before dawn.

The workshop was attended by astronomy and photography enthusiasts. This workshop also propelled some to pursue this as a profession and motivated amateur photographers to start clicking more photographs. Nimit Jain, a biotechnology student, said, "I understood the intricacies of photography today. Even though I don’t have the right equipment, I will try and click more photos.”

(The writer is a Semester II student of BA (Journalism and Mass Communication) programme.)