August & September Astrophotography 2025

September, the start of the college academic year, is always a busy time for me as a math teacher working at a land-based college. I believe it is important to maintain a balance between work and life, and I managed to get out twice this month. First, I went to Seaton to photograph the Milky Way, then to Budleigh Salterton for the Lunar Eclipse before my final shoot at Bicton Lake.

It was the first time I had visited Seaton, and I was impressed by how photogenic the harbour and pier were. Some light pollution illuminated the foreshore, but I didn’t mind that for the images I wanted to take. This was a quick after-work shoot, which made seeing the Milky Way again even more rewarding.

Seaton River Mouth

Seaton River Mouth

Seaton River Mouth

This lunar eclipse was the third I have witnessed. On the previous two occasions, the moon turned a brilliant red at totality. However, this eclipse occurred during the blue hour as the moon rose above the horizon, so there was no red moon. Instead, we enjoyed watching the transition of a fine crescent moon to a full moon as it ascended. I met my friend Jen, who traveled down, which was nice. The entire beach was buzzing with activity as people gathered to enjoy the celestial event.

My final trip of this period took me to Bicton, a part of the Devon countryside close to where I work. Being incredibly busy at work this time of year, I decided after a late night at the college to head out to a few countryside locations around campus. That brought me to a really cool scene featuring a Parasol Mushroom, some gorgeous trees, and a few lakeside views!

July & August Astrophotography 2025

July and August included trips to South Devon’s Budleigh Salterton and Ladram Bay, as well as several nights spent under the stars in Botswana, Africa.

July is known for Noctilucent Clouds, a spectacular atmospheric phenomenon. These are high-altitude clouds made of ice crystals that glow brightly in the twilight sky, typically visible during summer months at high latitudes. I aimed to take every opportunity to photograph these displays, with the first chance arising at Budleigh Salterton. Looking northward from there, you can capture the meandering River Otter, which I thought would make a compelling composition alongside the local birdlife and the rolling hills of the Devon countryside.

A few nights later, I decided to visit Ladram Bay, knowing of a composition along the coast that could be especially photogenic during a Noctilucent cloud display.

August was highlighted by an incredible wildlife trip to Africa, during which my partner Cait and I traveled through South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia. We wild camped on several nights, and I took the opportunity to step outside a few times to enjoy the stunning southern hemisphere night skies.

May & June Astrophotography

May and June offered a variety of photographic opportunities. The first was a trip to North Devon’s dramatic Heartland Quay with my friend Jen, followed by a workshop at South Devon’s Beer, renowned for its fishing boats. The period concluded with evening photography of noctilucent clouds in Exeter, and capturing Milky Way images at Ladram Bay.

March & April Astrophotography

March and April were fascinating months for astrophotography, featuring two shoots at Crackington Haven on the North Cornwall coast, with a trip to North Devon’s Porlock Marsh in between. The first trip to Crackington Haven showcased excellent moonset conditions. The Porlock Marsh visit was a workshop trip focused on capturing a moonlit landscape. My final trip to Crackington Haven produced some stunning aurora displays images.

January & February Astro 2025

Through the first two months of 2025, I enjoyed two trips to Hound Tor, one of which was a workshop, and another in Exeter to capture a moon conjunction with Venus. Hound Tor is my go-to location on Dartmoor, offering a wide range of compositions, though it can get busy with visitors. The Exeter shoot took place on a weeknight, so I needed to find a location within walking distance from home. This limitation ultimately helped me discover a suitable spot. While urban astrophotography presents its own challenges, it also provides a refreshing change from my usual landscape work.

December 2024 Astrophotography

I didn’t manage any astrophotography in November but managed one shoot in December. This was an Xmas night trip to Haytor, where I captured stunning images of stars above a cloud inversion.

October 2024 Astrophotography

October was an eventful month for astrophotography, featuring Northern Lights, a comet, and numerous new locations. I managed seven trips, which is likely a personal record for a single month. The first trip took me to North Cornwall, Tintagel. With a favorable Aurora forecast, I hoped to capture the Northern Lights, but I also appreciated that the location offered dramatic compositions even without the Aurora.

My second shoot was a true highlight of my astrophotography adventures. I traveled to Dartmoor's Foggingtor Quarry with my friend Kris, where we witnessed an incredible display of the Northern Lights—one of the best in years. What made this trip especially memorable was sharing the experience with such a close friend at an iconic Dartmoor location, which we had entirely to ourselves for the whole night. We spent the shoot slowly moving around the quarry, capturing as many compositions as possible. It was a night to remember.

After the incredible experience of capturing the Aurora, my next focus was a comet expected to be visible from the 17th onward. I embarked on three shoots: first at the cliffs of Beer, then at Broadway Tower in the Cotswolds, and finally in Exeter. It was a rewarding change to photograph the comet, even though my location choices were somewhat limited due to work commitments.

My final shoots in October took me to Bodmin’s Cheesewrings, near the town of Minions, to once again attempt to photograph the comet, which had now positioned itself near the Milky Way. I also aimed to explore other photographic opportunities, which ended up including a brief glimpse of the Northern Lights.

August & September Astrophotography 2024

August and September yielded two astrophotography trips, both focused on chasing the northern lights. The first trip was to Lundy Bay on the north Cornwall coast, which offered a beautiful, albeit brief, display. It was a trip of luck, as the moment I arrived, the aurora intensified, providing an hour of photography before clouds moved in. That was enough time to capture an image from the cliff and several shots from the water’s edge.

A few weeks later, I visited another location in north Cornwall further west called Mother Ives Bay. The Aurora forecast was promising, but the weather was not as favorable. In typical fashion, after I called it a night and headed home, the Aurora activity increased. However, I was still able to capture some images, and this remains a location I look forward to revisiting at some point.

June Astrophotography 2024

June was packed with astro adventures, consisting of three trips - two workshops and a solo excursion to a hidden cove along the South Devon coast.

The first trip took me to Dorset, where I met a client for a workshop at the stunning Lulworth Cove. Our main focus was capturing the Milky Way. While most of my time was spent guiding the client and helping them create their own images, I couldn’t resist taking a few shots myself along the way.

The Milkyway over Lulworth Cove - Dorset

My second shoot of June quickly became one of my favourites. Pounds Pool Beach is a stunning Devon cove, accessible only at low tide through a cave. The surrounding coastline is packed with incredible photography subjects and striking landscape features. With the Milky Way rising overhead, adding a spectacular backdrop to the scene, I spent most of the night wandering around, completely immersed in the magic of the location.

My final shoot of the month was a meet-up with my friend Krystal, and we spent an hour or so exploring Dartmoor’s Tottiford Reservoir. It was the perfect way to round off a productive month of astrophotography!

May Astrophotography: Capturing the Northern Lights in Cornwall!

Many things can make astrophotography memorable and special. The people you are photographing with, the astronomical event that might be occurring and the location. But May astrophotography was one of my most magical experiences in my astrophotography career. The Aurora storm for the 10th of May was well forecasted but you never know how it is going to turn out until it arrives. I decided to head to a location called the Rump on the north coast of Cornwall. A photogenic headland with good northerly views. A few of my favourite images taken from this wonderful night. I made a Youtube Video from the night here.

April Astrophotography Adventures in Dorset 2024

On my only night adventure of April, I enjoyed an all-night shoot along the coast of Kimmeridge Bay in Dorset. My first image of this night was this star trail composition while awaiting the tide to drop and allow access to the waterfall, which was my main target for the night.

Once the tide had dropped, I was able to reach this striking waterfall location on the far side of Kimmeridge Bay, and felt it was well worth the wait. I really enjoyed capturing this composition, showcasing the rarely photographed constellation of Leo as it dropped down onto the western horizon. This image was captured with a vertical panorama of two images, then stitched together to create the foreground at ISO 6400, 60 seconds, f/2.8. Additionally, a second duplicate exposure was taken for the sky detail at ISO 6400, 20 seconds, f/2.8. I also applied the star glow filter to enhance the constellation of Leo.

For my final composition, I searched along the foreshore for any interesting foreground features and found this intriguing dark rock with bright white stripes, which caught my eye. You can just about see the Milky Way peeking and the constellation of Scorpius poking over the headland. The bay is truly picturesque and might warrant a revisit for a Milky Way-focused shoot when it is visible at a more reasonable time. The settings for this image were typical for me - the sky was captured at ISO 6400, f/2.8, 20 seconds at 24mm, while the foreground was captured with the same settings but with an exposure of 1 minute.

I have also just published a YouTube video from that night, which you can view here: https://youtu.be/gWmY_r4r8LE

An Astrophotography Adventure at Ladram Bay, Devon

My final shoot of March involved taking a local trip to Ladram Bay. My plan was to capture star trails, capture some northerly composition and generally make the most of a rare clear sky condition that fell on a work night with these fantastic rock stacks. A few of my favourite captures from the shoot.

Chasing Aurora: Adventures in Astrophotography on Bodmin Moor

My second astrophotography trip of 2024 was an early March adventure to Bodmin Moor. It proved to be a night of frustration in part. There was a forecast of heightened Aurora activity, with cloud cover expected to clear as darkness fell. My chosen location on Bodmin was the Cheesewrings - a part of the moors I know well and have many fond memories of. I arrived as night fell, but the clouds didn't dissipate as forecasted, despite the aurora apps on my phone pinging with alerts. I could see hints of red aurora through the breaks in the clouds, teasing about what could have been. Eventually, the clouds did clear, allowing for some compositions of the Cheesewrings and the general moorland, but unfortunately, the aurora had faded away. Nonetheless, it's always a treat to be under the stars, so even though the weather didn't cooperate as hoped, I was still pleased to have ventured out!

Aurora peaking through the clouds.

Orion above the Cheeswrings.

First Astrophotography Trip of 2024

My first shoot of 2024 took place at Budleigh Salterton on the south Devon coast. It was an after-work January dash to make the most of the few hours of clear skies and take advantage of the dark evening. I captured two compositions featuring the constellation of Orion and the picture-perfect nature reserve of Budleigh. This is my favourite from the night. A great way to start the working week!

A tribute to Alyn Wallace

This March witnessed the sorrowful passing of astrophotographer Alyn Wallace. I initially connected with Alyn in 2018 via Instagram, and since then, I've cherished staying in touch through social media and following his YouTube channel for inspiration and motivation in my own photography journey. His monthly series, "What's in the Night Skies," became a cornerstone of my astro planning routine, and Alyn's YouTube channel was both entertaining with his astro adventures and educational on a personal level.

His dedication to connecting with people and supporting the astro community through his products and educational content was truly inspiring. Although I wasn't closely acquainted with Alyn, his passing has had a profound impact on me, as it has on many others. While I find it difficult to find the words to pay a fitting tribute to Alyn, I simply want to express my gratitude to him for the inspiration and positive energy he shared.

Below, I've included some of my favorite images captured by Alyn, along with links to his websites for those interested in learning more about this remarkable individual.

Youtube Channel
Instagram
Website

Last Astrophotography Trip of 2023

The latter part of the year afforded me only one chance for astrophotography, but what an incredible trip it turned out to be! Venturing into North Devon, I was treated to moonless skies, a spectacular moonrise, and even a display of the Northern Lights, alongside a wonderful catch-up with a photography friend.

My initial composition of the night captured this viewpoint overlooking Broardsand Bay, which I had scouted weeks earlier during a day trip to this coastal area. The moon was expected to rise, giving me a brief window of moonless, dark skies. I aimed to photograph this scene with Orion ascending to the top right. Although the alignment wasn't perfect, I'm still pleased with the outcome of this image.

Moments later, a bank of cloud began to roll over the scene. Just on cue, the moon rose, creating this beautiful moonlit scene.

I then wandered to the car and took the short drive to Sandy Cove. By the time I arrived, the moon was climbing high and casting beautiful light over the scene. I decided to attempt a star trail capture while waiting to see if any Northern Lights activity would occur.

The clouds ebbed and flowed throughout the night, adding intriguing and varied conditions. This image is actually a still from a timelapse I was running simultaneously.

At last, the clouds parted, and the Aurora graced us with its presence! The moon's intensity subdued some of the sky's details, yet I find the subtlety of the aurora and the beautiful sidelight on the scene rather captivating.

The concluding image of the night captured in my lens showcased a delicate blend of a faint Aurora alongside Ursa Major, creating a starry background. It served as a fitting farewell to 2023!

September Astrophotography 2023

Traditionally, September is the busiest time of the year for me relating to my maths teaching. So, photography often takes a back foot. However, this month, I managed two exciting trips.

The first shoot involved camping for the first time on Dartmoor with my brother Ryan. I have spent many nights enjoying Dartmoor but have never slept on Dartmoor previously. We hiked from Meldon Reservoir to one of the remotest tors on Dartmoor - Fur Tor. After setting up camp, I took a few images. The moon was bright, casting some light on the scene. I took a star trail and a composition featuring Ursa Major.

Fur Tor - Dartmoor

Fur Tor - Dartmoor

My second shoot of September was a real adventure and one of my favourite trips of the year. I left home at 1 a.m. to explore the coastline between Sidmouth & Ladram Bay on the South Coast of Devon. This part of the coast is only accessible at low tide, and the rocky terrain made for an exciting scramble along the coast. It was worth it to discover some fantastic rock stacks, caves and rocky bays to feature in my photographs.

August Astrophotography 2023

I didn’t venture on any shoots through June & July, but August involved an exciting trip to Peru and Dartmoor. I spent two weeks exploring Peru with Cait; four of those days involved walking the Inca trail and two days in the Amazon Jungle, where we experienced the clear skies of the southern hemisphere. Here are a few of my favourite astro pictures from Peru.

Camp location for night one of the Inca Trail.

Camp location for the second night of the Inca trail.

Overhead Milkyway Core.

Amazon Jungle.

Eco Lodge - Amazon Jungle

Eco Lodge Amazon Jungle.

A few days after Peru, I decided to spend a few hours on Dartmoor around the Belston Area to ease the holiday blues. Skies were clear, with the Milky Way looking good to the south. I visited a stone circle and explored a few compositions around the Rocky Tors.

Belstone Stone Circle

Belstone Stone Circle.

Belstone tor

Belstone Tor

Belstone Tor

May Astrophotography 2023

I experienced a magical shoot in mid-May at Cox/Staple Tor. I drove down at dusk and was initially concerned about the mist that appeared to be lingering around the country lanes as I headed to the car park. Once I had walked up to the Tor and my shooting location, the mist had dropped into the dip between Cox and Staple Tor, forming the most amazing cloud inversion.

I knew the conditions could change rapidly, so despite it not being fully dark, I captured my first composition featuring the inversion, myself, and the brightest stars fighting the dwindling twilight.

Cox Tor looking over towards Great Mist Tor.

Shortly after I took this image, thick fog engulfed the tor, and I wondered if that was the end of the night shoot. Thankfully it settled down again, and I visited my second location as the darkness of night arrived. This view looks towards Bodmin, and you can see Brent Tor pocking out from the fog. Venus shined brilliantly bright, making a striking feature to the image.

Venus & Brent Tor as seen from Cox Tor.

Person in the scape to add perspective.

Conditions like this, don’t happen often on Dartmoor so I was determined to create as many compositions as possible. So I walked across to Great Staple Tor and created these three additional composition before calling it a night.

May continued to deliver some stunning dark, clear skies. My location for this shoot took me to Dartmoor's Bowen's Nose. This night's forecast hinted at a chance of Aurora, so I made a few north-facing compositions to try my luck. The Aurora didn't pay a visit, but it was a pleasant night.

My final May shoot took me to Bude, where I met up with a few other astrophotographers to capture some coastal scenes. The moon was up for part of the night, splashing wonderful light over the landscape. I did some star trails and worked to feature the coastal flowers scattered across the coastline. It was a fantastic night to end my May astrophotography adventures!

April Astrophotography 2023

The months of February and March were bleak for my astrophotography. They were opportunities, but commitments prevented me from making the most of them!

However, April provided fresh motivation, starting with an Exeter Quay trip. Now when I say a trip, I am talking about a 3-minute walk from where I live in Exeter to this riverside location. I knew being in the city, light pollution would be a challenge, but with a big moon splashing plenty of lovely light over the scene, I saw an opportunity for an interesting star trail image.

Star trails over boats at Exeter Quay.

A few days later, my second shot of April saw me travel to Dartmoor to photograph around Cox Tor and embrace the full moon. My first idea was to shoot the full moon rising over Great Staple Tor. I used my 100-400mm lens to squeeze the perspective with support from the PhotoPills app to position myself in the correct alignment.

While awaiting the moon to rise, a stubborn bank of cloud lingered overhead, threatening to obscure the horizon and moonrise. Thankfully it didn't and instead provided some atmospheric conditions to the scene.

Moonrise over Great Staple Tor.

With astro shoots being more sparse this year, I wanted to make the most of the clear conditions despite full moon star photography not being my favorite type. So I walked to Great Staple Tor to see what images I could make. Interestingly Orion, Mars, and the constellation of Taurus all aligned nicely with this part of the tor, making my final image of this night.

Great Staple Tor in Moonlight.