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Tinkering Story #23 – Parnonas mountain, Greece

The above image was my reward for enduring a couple of nights in the cold, harsh conditions on top of Parnonas mountain, Greece. Orion is one of the most recognisable constellations in the night sky, especially prominent during winter in the Northern Hemisphere (and summer in the Southern Hemisphere). Note the airglow, the colourful horizontal banding at the lower part of the image. Several tracked and untracked photos were combined to make this photo. Equipment: Star Adventurer mount, Full Spectrum… Read More »Tinkering Story #23 – Parnonas mountain, Greece

Tinkering Story #22 – Stars and Lightning in Damouchari, Greece

Sometimes, an unscheduled shooting leads to an excellent photo. I’m on vacation in the beautiful Damouchari, Greece, near Volos. I was relaxing in my room (by the way, Cleopatra’s Miramare is the best hotel/suite I’ve stayed so far in Greece), and I thought to take a short walk on the beach to shoot a startrail photo. My expectations for a publication-worthy image were low, as the sky was partly cloudy and I hadn’t researched the area to find a suitable… Read More »Tinkering Story #22 – Stars and Lightning in Damouchari, Greece

Tinkering Story #21. Wild Camping Astrophotography Tour in Gavdos island Greece. A slice of Paradise!

Book your place now! Strictly 3 participants per group. Live the unique Wild Camping experience in the Southernmost Point of Europe! This is a one-week tour dedicated to Astrophotography under Bortle 1 skies. We will also shoot Infrared Photography during the day. Advanced shooting and post-processing techniques will be shared by an awarded astrophotographer. Planned Tours: Please get in touch with me for a detailed tour schedule. IMPORTANT: Schedule your trip as part of a wider trip in Crete island,… Read More »Tinkering Story #21. Wild Camping Astrophotography Tour in Gavdos island Greece. A slice of Paradise!

Tinkering Story #20 –Stonehenge and planets

Planet Venus, the Moon, and the elusive Mercury are above Stonehenge. Capturing the planetary conjunction was the result of careful planning with a touch of luck, as the thin clouds combined beautifully with the sunset colours. The shot was taken on March 01, 2025. It was a cold evening with a temperature of around 3 °C.

Tinkering Story #18 – Severe solar storm causes spectacular Northern Lights in England

I arrived in Stonehenge early, before sunset. As I set up my equipment to shoot star trails, I overheard people saying that a severe solar storm heading towards us could cause the elusive Northern lights to appear. I had no clue about it! Only by coincidence, I was there. I had never seen the Northern Lights. Experiencing nature’s most spectacular light show was always a dream of mine. I was excited thinking that even a faint and distant capture of the… Read More »Tinkering Story #18 – Severe solar storm causes spectacular Northern Lights in England

Tinkering Story #17 – Park of Souls in infrared. Acharnes, Greece

On top of Mount Parnitha, several wooden sculptures exist near an abandoned tuberculosis sanatorium. Greek sculptor Spyridon Dassiotis created art from the tree trunk remains of a devastating fire in 2007.The Park of Souls is a testament to the devastation from the terrible disease and fire that burnt the Parnitha forest.The park was created in 2012. Nowadays only a few artworks remain. Nature, and perhaps human intervention claimed most of the sculptures. All photos were shot on the same day April… Read More »Tinkering Story #17 – Park of Souls in infrared. Acharnes, Greece

Tinkering Story #16 – Infrared Sounio Greece

The Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, a revisit to a nearby small deserted church, Thoriko ancient theatre in Lavrio and a cat! All were shot on the same day April 06, 2024. I used a Full Spectrum Modified Canon EOS M and a custom-made IR 720nm filter. Something is appealing in black and white, Infrared photography—the simplicity and calmness from the lack of colour distractions. Unlike traditional photography where the golden hour provides the best results, Infrared needs a lot… Read More »Tinkering Story #16 – Infrared Sounio Greece

Tinkering Story #15 – Lunar occultation

June 18, 2007. Nearly at the beginning of my astrophotography journey, I witnessed a breathtaking phenomenon. Planet Venus disappeared for a while behind our closest celestial neighbour. During the lunar occultation of Venus, the Moon passes in front of the planet, obstructing it from view. It is a rare, infrequent phenomenon. Not as rare as a solar eclipse but still you may need to wait for several years until the next one. Today, on November 11, 2023, after the usual… Read More »Tinkering Story #15 – Lunar occultation

Tinkering Story #14 – Lightning photography

I always had a fascination with the sky. Mesmerising clouds, colourful rainbows, the night sky and of course lightning! The safest way to enjoy them is from behind a closed window inside your home or from inside your car (assuming that there are no metallic surfaces in your car’s interior). If you MUST go outside and capture them, these are a few pieces of advice: This is a timelapse video showcasing most of my lightning photos and a few of… Read More »Tinkering Story #14 – Lightning photography