Here's the promotional video for a set of tutorial videos I am hosting, and that we are seeking funding for through Kickstarter. The campaig...
Here's the promotional video for a set of tutorial videos I am hosting, and that we are seeking funding for through Kickstarter. The campaign is set to begin June 15. nnIf successfully funded, our extensive set of three tutorial videos will show you how to shoot and process great nightscape images and time-lapse videos of the night sky.n nThe Nightscapes and Time-Lapses tutorial videos will offer comprehensive and unique guides, illustrating in step-by-step fashion how to shoot in the field … then process in Photoshop.n nEach tutorial video is expected to be at least 90 minutes long, for a total of more than 4.5 hours of instruction. The tutorial videos will be made available both as a digital download and on a USB drive.n nOver several hours of instruction these programs will cover all you need to know to start shooting and processing still images and time-lapse movies of the night sky.n nWe take you from an urban location, then out to rural scenic sites to show you how to shoot the full range of images possible – from moonrises in the city, to moonlit star trail scenes in the country, then to Milky Way nightscapes at remote dark-sky sites.n nThe series will take you on a step-by-step progression from easy to more challenging subjects and techniques. You’ll start out as a novice but end up an expert.n nPROGRAM 1 – Choosing and Using the Right Gearn • The best cameras to buyn • Choosing the best lensesn • Choosing zooms vs. primesn • Choosing automatic vs. manual lensesn • How to choose and use intervalometersn • How to set the best exposuren • How to balance aperture, shutter and ISO speedsn • How to minimize noisen • When to use, and not use, noise reductionn • Canon vs. Nikon – pros and consn • How to focus at nightn • How to set all other key camera menu functions!n • Plus Photo 101 segments on: Exposure basics, File types, Noise sourcesn nPROGRAM 2 – Shooting Stills and Time-Lapses in the Fieldn • Shooting at urban sites: moonrises, twilights and conjunctionsn • Software for finding locations and planning shootsn • How to shoot aurorasn • Software for forecasting aurorasn • How to compose scenesn • How to make use of moonlightn • Taking multiple images for focus stackingn • How to plan a moonlit shootn • How to capture the Milky Wayn • How to add local lighting – carefully!n • How to prevent – and create – star trailsn • How to track the sky for maximum detailn • How to calculate and shoot basic time-lapsesn • Software for aiding time-lapse calculationn • plus Astro 101 segments on: aurora, Milky Way, moon phases, sky motionn nPROGRAM 3 – Processing Stills and Time-Lapsesn • Choosing a processing workflown • How to employ non-destructive editing at all stagesn • Importing and selecting images in Adobe Bridge & Lightroomn • How to develop Raw files in Adobe Camera Raw & Lightroomn • How to apply advanced settings – Dehaze, Lens Correctionn • How to apply masked Local Adjustments &Graduated Filtersn • How to use Photoshop for advanced editingn • How to use Smart Filters and Adjustment Layersn • How to mask the ground and sky for separate editingn • How to layer and mask multiple exposuresn • How to subtract a dark framen • How to layer tracked and untracked exposuresn • How to stack star trails using Photoshop and specialized programsn • How to export intermediate sets for time-lapsesn • How to assemble time-lapse movies using Photoshop and other programsn • How to create an “accumulating” star trail movien nKickStarter Funding Proposal $15,000n nOur extensive tutorial will be made possible if our KickStarter funding is successful. With an expected launch of our KickStarter campaign on June 15, 2016, we invite your participation and support for the production of these tutorial videos. The $15,000 goal will cover the video production and marketing costs, and the distribution of the programs to our supporters.n nWe expect the final retail price of the package of three programs to be $79.95 for the digital downloads, or $99.95 for a shipped USB drive.n nHowever, by participating in the KickStarter funding you will have the opportunity to obtain these tutorial videos at discount pricing, as well as obtaining other unique nightscape and time-lapse images created by Alan Dyer.nnMore information is at http://www.all-startelescope.com/learning-center/alan-dyer-tutorial-videos-nightscape-and-time-lapse nn— Alan Less
