After Dark Photography Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, I dive deep into the impact of creativity on navigating grief. Sharing personal stories and insights into the grieving process, I discuss how creative outlets like photography and gardening can serve as anchors during tough times. We'll explore the healing power of nature, the importance of rituals, and how to keep moving forward on the healing journey.

Key Takeaways

• Creativity can be a powerful tool for processing grief and finding healing.
• Being in nature has numerous benefits for our mental and physical health.
• Rituals provide a structured way to process emotions and bring a sense of control during chaotic times.

Journeying Through Grief
I start by discussing grief and how it affects everyone differently. Grief is a non-linear process, and it’s important to acknowledge and honor each person's unique experience.

The Role of Creativity in Grief
I explore how creativity can help in processing grief. Sharing personal experiences, I explain how creating art, whether it's photography or gardening, or something else that provides a physical anchor for our emotions. I talk about how I used photography to connect with my late mother and the therapeutic value of creating something meaningful.

The Healing Power of Nature
Next, I delve into the benefits of being in nature, citing studies that show how it reduces stress and promotes healing. Spending time outdoors, whether through photography or gardening, has helped me cope with grief and find peace.

The Importance of Ritual
I discuss the concept of ritual and its role in healing. I share how I unintentionally created rituals around my photography practice, explaining how these structured activities brought comfort and helped me process my emotions. Having a set process and intention behind creative activities can be incredibly healing.

Grief, while deeply personal and often overwhelming, can be navigated through intentional acts of creativity and connection with nature. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I hope you find solace and inspiration in your own creative practices.


Links mentioned in this training:
Influence of Forest Therapy on Cardiovascular Relaxation in Young Adults:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2014/834360

How nature nurtures: Amygdala activity decreases as the result of a one-hour walk in nature:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01720-6

Understanding and effectively utilizing light is key in capturing stunning images of the Milky Way. By exploring the contrast and harmony between natural and artificial light sources, photographers can hone their skill and express their artistic vision in the night sky. Whether using consistent starlight, blue-hour ambiance, or strategic low-level lighting, the mastery of light takes centre stage in creating impactful Milky Way photographs.

Let's peel back the layers on the art of lighting in today's episode. This podcast isn't just another technical manual. Sure, we're diving into how the glow from a distant streetlight or the phase of the moon can make or break your shot, and yet it’s about so much more than getting the right light or settings.

We're talking about a journey that can reshape the way you see the world, bringing a sense of healing and peace that's hard to find elsewhere.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover the best lighting techniques for capturing stunning Milky Way images.
• Learn about my free training to master the art of photographing the Milky Way.
• Enhance your nightscape photography skills to create breathtaking images.
• Learn advanced techniques for using both natural and artificial lighting in your nighttime photography.
• Understand the holistic view of planning and execution of successful Milky Way photo shoots for stunning results.

The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:00 - The Thought Journey of Light Preference 

00:07:26 - Planning for a Live Shoot 

00:11:39 - The Enduring Journey of Milky Way Photography 

00:16:13 - The Fundamentals of Night Photography 

00:16:45 - Information Integration in Education 

00:18:03 - Starting with the End in Mind 

00:23:14 - Photography as Therapy 

00:27:39 - Externalizing Thoughts through Photography 

00:30:50 - Considerations for Shooting 

00:32:54 - Using Different Light Sources 

00:33:37 - Balancing Photography and Family 

00:35:20 - Moon Cycles and Lighting Options 

00:37:51 - Artificial vs. Natural Light 

00:42:56 - Importance of Image Quality for Printing 

00:49:09 - The Importance of Different Types of Light 

00:50:37 - Photographing Under the Night Sky 

00:53:52 - Challenges and Restrictions in Night Photography 

00:58:18 - Different Perspectives in Photography 

01:00:55 - Advice for New Milky Way Photographers 

When you finish listening, I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway from today’s episode. Come join us in the Facebook group for this podcast where we chat about the episodes and all things night photography.

Links mentioned in this training:
https://kristinerosephotography.com/yourfirstmilkywayphoto-2
https://www.afterdarkphotographypodcast.com/blog/4
https://www.afterdarkphotographypodcast.com/blog/6
https://www.afterdarkphotographypodcast.com/blog/12
https://www.afterdarkphotographypodcast.com/blog/13
https://www.afterdarkphotographypodcast.com/blog/31
https://www.afterdarkphotographypodcast.com/blog/38

In this episode, I take a deep dive into my year, reflecting on my goals, accomplishments, and the lessons I've learned along the way. Join me as I share my experiences, challenges, and the impact I've had on others.

Episode Highlights:

Setting Goals and Achieving Them-

• Throughout the year, I set quarterly goals and worked tirelessly to achieve them. From launching my business class to creating the Shoot to Sell Society, I pushed myself to a place I didn’t think I could get to.

Overcoming Challenges and Expressing Gratitude-

• Despite facing obstacles like a forest fire and flooding near my home, I practised resilience. I learned the importance of celebrating accomplishments and expressing gratitude for the opportunities that came my way.

Taking Risks and Making an Impact-

• By starting the Shoot to Sell Society and teaching others about business, I stepped out of my comfort zone and experienced vulnerability. In return I got to witness the positive impact I had on the lives of others.

Key Questions for Reflection:

• What was something you wanted to work on this year? Did you make progress?
• What was something you could have done better this year?
• Did you learn something new?
• Did you take a risk?
• Did you have an impact on someone elses life?

As I reflect on this year, I am filled with gratitude for the support of my audience and the opportunities that came my way. I encourage you to embrace authenticity, create meaningful work, and put good into the world. By doing so, we can look back on the year with pride, knowing that we have made a positive impact on others.

This is what we've been waiting for. How it all comes together and gets us our final image.

The first step in that is understanding our ISO and how that is the same and different with digital cameras (vs ASA films speeds of yore) and how it contributes to our overall exposure.

As promised, here is the ISO scale, in FULL stops, as I told you in the episode:
ISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 6400
ISO 12800
ISO 25600
ISO 51200
ISO 102400
ISO 204800

The real star of our show is the histogram, and if you can get that concept in an auditory manner here on the podcast then I dare say you are laughing when it comes to putting it into practice!

I might not have mentioned equivalent exposures in this blurb because I want you to actually listen to the podcast... so, just forget I said anything about them and get listening!

P.S.
I would love for you to sign up for my free Your First Milky Way Photo training here if you haven't already:

https://kristinerosephotography.com/yourfirstmilkywayphoto

Part 3 should be a breeze after getting through Part 2: Aperture. 

I do this on purpose actually, give you the setting and control that takes some mind wrangling to wrap our heads around and then let you breeze through this episode that is all about our Shutter Speed. 

Shutter Speed is synonymous with motion, though when we're shooting at night the rules are a wee-bit different than what we're used to during the day.

The biggest thing we need to pay attention to with our shutter speed is blur due to camera instability or settings (and whether or not we want it)

As promised, here is the shutter speed scale, in FULL stops, as I told you in the episode, full seconds are denoted by " after the number:
30"
15"
8"
4"
2"
1"
1/2
1/4
1/8
1/15
1/30
1/60
1/125
1/250
1/500
1/1000
1/2000

I would love for you to sign up for my free Your First Milky Way Photo training here if you haven't already:
https://kristinerosephotography.com/yourfirstmilkywayphoto

The next step in our world domination, I mean camera mastery is to understand how our lens controls the amount of light getting recorded and the actual way the photo looks beyond exposure.

That comes down to three factors:
Aperture
Focus Point
Focal Length

This episode will walk you through everything you need to know (that you didn't know you needed to know) about your lens and how it affects our image. 

Yes it gets technical.

Yes you need to know all of it! So grab a notepad (or notes app) and let's go.

As promised, here is the aperture scale, in FULL stops, as I told you in the episode:
F 1.4
F 2.0 
F 2.8
F 4.0
F 5.6
F 8
F 11 
F 16
F 22
F 32

I would love for you to sign up for my free Your First Milky Way Photo training here if you haven't already:
https://kristinerosephotography.com/yourfirstmilkywayphoto

This is the first in a 4-part series on mastering your camera.

As we’re going into my free training: Your First Milky Way Photo I wanted to get everyone on the same page and up and running with your gear. No matter if you regularly use it, or if your camera is quietly crying in a corner gathering dust (no judgement here!)

In this episode we will cover:
Understanding the components of a DSLR or ILS camera 
Knowing how to handle and care for the camera and lenses.
Getting familiar with the camera's manual settings and modes.
Getting to know the the physical camera

There are 3 more parts to this series:
Part 2: Aperture
Part 3: Shutter Speed
Part 4: ISO and Exposure

I took a break, just over 2 months off of social media and here with you on the podcast.

It’s hard to believe that it’s only been that long, given everything that has happened in that time. Including an amazing conference, being evacuated due to forest fires, flash floods and more.

This podcast is about why I took that time off, and what I learned during my time away. My though behind this episode is to let you benefit from what I took the time off to learn - both what my goal was and what I learned indirectly.

Now I’m not really one for suspense or click bait, so here are my 4 biggest lessons from 2 months away:

Lesson #1 - Get Curious
Lesson #2 - Find Connection
Lesson #3 - Professional Help
Lesson #4 - Have fun

How are these relevant to photography? Well for that you’ll have to listen to the episode ;)

When you finish listening, I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway from today’s episode. Come join us in the facebook group for this podcast where we chat about the episodes and all things night photography.

You can also watch the video version of this on my YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3RqS1rOlxY

Hooooboy – are you ready for a really important conversation about night photography?

Yes, I’m about to get very technical, and this could be one of the most important episodes you ever listen to on the theory of light and signal as it pertains to Milky Way photography.

Not convinced? Ok, how about this: Do you want to capture stunning images of the Milky Way that have depth, clarity, and amazing colour? If you said yes then you need to have a deep understanding of how signal is created and captured, which is exactly what you will get from this episode.

People often ask me how I create my images. And my perspective is that it takes both the technical and the creative working in conjunction together. Today’s episode is one of the technical pieces that are often very misunderstood and that you will see a ton of incorrect information about on the internet just because people don’t know... well, what they don’t know.

So grab a snack and tuck in, it’s time to learn!