October 2023

If you are visiting Florida and want to create a great launch photograph but the launch is at night, take a look at this relatively simple technique that will yield some awesome results: a launch streak shot.

Launch streaks are not difficult for nearly any photographer to create, and it doesn’t take any specialized equipment other than a wide-angle lens and a relatively inexpensive shutter release cable used to keep the shutter of your camera open for several minutes during the flight of the rocket. You’ll also need a tripod that can support the camera as well.

Below is a basic procedure and you too can create a memorable photo that will be one that you keep for years.

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United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Otober 6, 2023, shortly after 2PM Eastern Time. The rocket was carrying two Amazon subsidiary Kuiper Systems demonstration satellites into orbit. Shortly after 4pm, ULA CEO Tory Bruno announced that the launch was successful, marking ULA’s 158th consecutive successful mission.

According to Dr. Jonathon McDowell of Harvard University’s Center for Astrophysics, the satellites were placed in a roughly 310 by 310 miw (500 x 500 km) circular orbit. McDowell also said that the second stage of the Atlas rocket would be placed in solar orbit for disposal.

This video results from a team effort by the Florida Media Now group, including myself, Richard Gallagher, T.J. Waller, Mark Stone and others. It was edited by me using Final Cut Pro.

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Photo by Ben Gallagher via Flickr

I was recent asked an interesting question by a young photographer aspiring to turn professional: “what’s the difference between a pro and an advanced amateur?”

It’s an interesting question because I have done both: been a pro shooting on assignments for clients, and also someone who takes photos for fun. There’s no succinct, simple answer, instead, a lot of factors come into play.

Consistency

First of all, and possibly the most important difference between an amateur and a professional photographer is that a professional is consistent: they produce quality output almost every single time they get behind the viewfinder of their camera.

A professional photographer get the shots the client is looking for 99% of the time. Often times, those requirements are a bit nebulous, incomplete or even mostly impossible. It doesn’t matter, they still need to produce high-quality work. Communication and an open mind is key to understanding client needs and a smart pro leaves as little to guesswork as possible.

Bad work means unhappy clients, unhappy clients often don’t pay, and they certainly don’t recommend the photographer to friends or colleagues. That photographer probably won’t be in business for a long time. In other words, they won’t be a professional photographer.

Craft

Pro photographers are made, not born. They might have the greatest eye in the world, but they also have to have “craft” to execute what they envision. Craft is a good working knowledge of the technical aspects of photography. In a way, it’s almost like learning vocabulary, grammar and spelling if you aspire to be a professional writer. To get that craft, pros master exposure, depth-of-field, focus, lighting, color theory and so on and they are usually experts on the subject.

Professional photographers also know how to set up their cameras and other gear to get exactly the shot that they are looking for — they either have experience shooting the scenario they are currently working on, and know what lens, shutter speed and aperture works best, or they can make an educated guess that will get them in the ballpark.

These days, “craft” incorporates more than skills behind a camera. It also means having skills in post-processing shots taken in the field or in the studio

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