A small group of Kepnock State High School students have been learning about composition, aperture, shutter speeds, lighting and ISO through an extracurricular free Photography Club.
Under the guidance of Paul Brandon, 12 students and their parents/guardians travelled to Nielsens Beach, Bargara, recently for night-time shooting.
Under a blanket of stars, students were able to put their photography skills into practice in the school’s very first astrophotography masterclass.
Humanities and social sciences teacher Bec Wolgast said the night was perfect for astrophotography.
“The night was perfect – not a cloud to be seen and with the new moon, the Milky Way was visible to the naked eye and stretched from the north east to the south west with Scorpio and the galactic central core overhead,” Bec said.
“These were all visible to the naked eye and looked even better on camera.
“Using an eight-inch Dobsonian telescope, we were also able to take photos of planets Jupiter and Saturn, and constellations such as Scorpio, the multi-coloured Jewel Box and the Southern Cross.”
Bec said the extracurricular activity was attended by students, parents and staff.
“Our students, teachers, parents and guardians had a fantastic night and captured some amazing images,” Bec said.
“We definitely have some very talented students in our midst and it was a lovely experience under the night sky.
“Many thanks to our Photography Club students and parents, Mr Brandon, Mr Forbes, Mrs Parr, Miss O’Neill and our principal and fellow photography enthusiast, Mr Howkins, for making this event a reality.”
Another astrophotography session is planned in December when they will attempt to capture the Orion Nebula, located in the sword or Orion, the Andromeda Galaxy in the north and the Omega Centuri globular cluster.
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