Iridium Flare
1 minute 10seconds, Alt Az piggyback, FujiPress 800 print film, 50mm lens. From Ionia, 2002.

An Iridium Flare is the result of sunlight reflecting off of a highly-polished antenna on one of the fleet of Iridium Satellites to a specific point on Earth. Iridium Flares can be predicted to the second, allowing a photographer to set up and wait.

Saggitarius Milky Way
3 minutes Alt Az piggyback, FujiPress 800 print film, 50mm lens. From Ionia, 2002.

Saggitarius points the way toward the center of our galaxy. The region is rich with star clusters, nebulosity and dark nebulae.

Aurora with Big Dipper
1 minute10 seconds Polar piggyback, FujiPress 800 film, 50mm lens. From the Black Forest Star Party in Cherry Springs, September 2002.

This was my first aurora, and I thought I'd never again see a show like it until I witnessed the great aurora of October 30, 2003.

Cygnus
20 minute Polar piggyback unguided, FujiPress 800 film, 50mm lens. From the Black Forest Star Party in Cherry Springs, September 2002.
(See this image with rollover overlay identifying various objects)

This photo captures a well-known portion of Cygnus called the Northern Cross.

Pleiades
3 minute polar piggyback unguided, FujiPress 800 film,100mm lens. From the Black Forest Star Party in Cherry Springs, September 2002.

The Pleiades, or "Seven Sisters," is a beautiful star cluster with nebulosity in the Northern Winter sky.

Cassiopeia Star Trails Wide Angle
30 minute star trail starting in focus, defocusing in 10 steps every 3 minutes, FujiPress 800 film, 50mm lens. From Ionia, Fall 2002.

This defocusing technique, pioneered by reknowned astrophotographer David Malin, allows the color of each star to be brought out and recorded as the light becomes less focused and more diffuse. You can see how I accidentally nudged the camera early on in the exposure. At the "nose" of each cone, there is separation between the first and second 3-minute step. Oops.

Cassiopeia Star Trails Narrow Angle
30 minute star trail starting in focus, defocusing in 10 steps every 3 minutes, FujiPress 800 film, 100mm lens. From Ionia, Fall 2002.

The Double Cluster of Perseus is in the extreme lower right of the photo.