Gregory Murray — Astrophotographer/Amateur Astronomer

So Tom asked me to do a blog post about ‘firsts’. He said it could be anything about the topic ‘firsts’ as long as it is astro related and of course, as this is an astro-centred app. He suggest like, first picture, first telescope, first camera or image... But how about, celebrating firsts and the concept of ‘firsts’. What the heck do I mean? It’s no doubt in this hobby that a beginner will run into many many firsts. Like even the first time using a tripod, let alone a tracking mount, guiding, dithering, shooting darks, using advanced programs like PixInsight, first time shooting a mosaic... Astrophotography is full of firsts and I honestly don’t think I’ll run out of firsts even being as experienced as I am. I learned early on that there are many in the hobby who look down on many many firsts. I’ve seen so many people say things like “We shouldn’t be celebrating mediocrity!” “Why are wecelebrating bad technique???” etc etc. And I’ve seen so many beginners so disheartened by these types of comments.

I would have honestly given up myself if I weren’t so stubborn to learn. Many of my firsts, for many years, were quite... “bad”... From both a technical standpoint and an editing standpoint. *But* they were a starting point, a point from which I could spring board into the hobby and improve my skills.

So no matter what the first looks like for others, I will always celebrate it as a huge win and an amazing image and effort. I don’t want to be responsible for killing someones joy in this hobby through gear shaming (because maybe they just started and only have access to a DSLR and tripod), process shaming (because maybe they only just downloaded SIRIL and used it (for the first time), or shaming because they didn’t dither or didn’t shoot darks, or... Or... Or...

Our firsts shouldn’t be open for shame.

Editor’s note: Gregory is a wonderful family man and photographer living in Canada. He has experience with many different types of photography including macro (snowflakes and the like and these are amazing), landscape photography as well as portraits and astrophotography. He has a very kind soul and a keen interest in astronomy. Greg has a very inquisitive mind on all things theological as well as scientific.