Brendan O'Keeffe has a passion for astrophotography.
Photo by
Kelly Carmody
Have you ever wandered outside on a clear night, gazing up in amazement at the beauty of the sky?
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The magical, ever-changing display of fascinating objects like stars and constellations, bright planets, the moon, and occasional special events like meteor showers that all seem to be staring back at you, as if they are looking at you too.
Have you ever enhanced this experience by looking up through a telescope, revealing wonders like distant galaxies and nebulas?
Or have you ever thought about taking things a step further to capturing these sights through a camera?
For astrophotographer Brendan O’Keeffe, this is precisely what he spends hours doing each week.
His passion for the sky’s wonders and dedication to this pastime are opening up a world of celestial beauty in his imagery.
“It all started for me three years ago after retirement when my daughters bought me a telescope for Christmas,” he said.
“I began looking into astrophotography, and I was amazed at how interesting it was. I learned about galaxies and nebulas and the many different opportunities that would allow me to capture some fascinating photos.”
Self-taught and aided by a wealth of knowledge from astrophotographers worldwide and YouTube videos, Brendan is now sharing his own astro experiences, knowledge, and images online.
“I have been surprised by how much people like my astrophotography, but when you’re talking about a subject that’s millions of light-years away, I suppose there is quite a bit of interest, fascination, and curiosity to it all,” Mr O’Keeffe said.
The Orion Nebula is my Favorite subject in the sky. It happens to be the most photographed objects in the sky as well. It is 1344 light-years away and the closest major star forming region to earth.
“I recently updated some of my equipment, which included a telescope and a mount that enables me to bring objects much closer into view. They are clearer and sharper, and the details in the photos are much more visible.”
When it comes to this style of photography, there is a lot more to it than just pointing a camera into the dark sky.
Multiple and long exposures, stacking images through editing, and much to learn with the software that aids the setup, shooting, and enhancement of the shots.
“The technology that helps make it all possible is also very fascinating and helpful; there is a lot to take in, but it’s all worth it,” he said.
The Fighting Dragons of Ara is a star forming nebula. Some stars are only a few million years old. The fantastic shapes are powered by stellar winds and intense ultraviolet radiation. It is about 4000 light-years away.
“I am really looking forward to sharing the wonders of the world with my followers online and the readers at the Shepp News.”
You can look forward to seeing Mr O’Keeffe’s stunning astrophotography and insightful posts both online and in the paper coming to you soon.
However, for now here is a sneak peek to enjoy.
To follow Mr O’Keeffe’s photography online, head to his Facebook page by searching for Brendan O’Keeffe Astrophotographer, or on Instagram @astrobrendy.
Thor’s Helmet get its name from its remarkable resemblance to depictions of the headwear donned by the famed Norse god of thunder and lightning. It is 15,000 light-years away and 30 light-years across.
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