Omar this whole video was so relatable, from dropping the camera to not being there at the right time for the photos that you wanted to take. Hey, Life happens and you have to make do with what you get sometimes. Thanks for the video.
One of your best videos. It was a joy to watch. Not having everything perfect and seeing your struggle with the moon was super fun. The pictures that you showed where still fantastic.thanks
Great video as usual! I can't wait to return to the Big Bend area. I did my first try at astrophotography there. Had a decent shot of the Milky Way core and as a bonus got an okay shot of the Neowise comet. RIP Alyn Wallace, a great mentor to us all. Speaking of mentors, you're a great mentor as well. Thank you and keep it going.
Just started to watch your video. When you realise your camera is gone. I did the same thing. Stopped to take a shot. Drove for a while and looked at my passenger seat. It was gone. I moved back along the road. It was beside the road. Now I can continue with your video.
Oh man, I've been on so many trips like this where I leave without a photo I'm super happy with. But you know what, you got out there and had yourself a time, so who cares. This was a fun video, thanks for taking us along!
A little New Year's Resolution of mine has been to attempt to watch fewer videos about photo gear and more videos about PHOTOGRAPHY, and this videos like this are exactly what I need right now. Love it, and hope to see more like this from you in the future!
Hi Omar and thanks for taking us along for the ride on your night sky photography adventure. If this is something you're going to pursue further, I'll northern Arizona in the latter half of June as a destination. It'll be warm during the day (upper 80s/low 90s) and comfortable at night. The summer Milky Way will rise about 11pm and be unbothered by Luna. You'll have places like Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and other area parks & monuments to visit and use as backdrops. In Flagstaff, you could even visit Lowell Observatory and be treated to the most amazing night sky tourism experience going. Be well & stay warm 😊
Crime scene😂 Pretty good for the first time! Thanks for sharing the 'flops'. Reminds me of my first time trying Astro photography. It's definitely not for me, haha.
This was a super fun video Omar. Your persistence paid off and you were rewarded. Pictures were certainly one reward but experience was an even bigger one.
So cool! There's a dark sky spot a little closer to you, out here in PA. Cherry Springs State Park. Tends to get crowded in summer and some strict rules but it's fairly close.
I LOVED what you DID get! Always SOMETHING with night photography......Always SOMETHING! But, you sure inspired me. And, you're def one of the FUNNIEST Photogs online fer sure! Ya know......cuz you're.....the OG! Bravo buddy!
Always fun and entertaining video from you Omar, I like everything about it and the photos turned out great. For anyone reading this, if you doing something for the first time it might be best to bring along someone who has more experience than you. Going to guided or group photography workshop is a great option too.
The backlit buttons of the Z8 make it so great for astro. I apply the looney rule to stars and moon shots. I've gotten some good results with the Z8. F11, low ISO, and long exposure. Come to Phx next time lots of places to go and not nearly as cold! Nice shots. I mainly do street photography with a few weddings sprinkled in still and getting out of your comfort zone can be scary and eye opening at the same time.
Thank you, Omar! This was such a spot-on take on astrophotography! I’d also mention that encountering dangerous wildlife in total darkness can make it an even more daunting experience. Especially if you don't have a car. No doubt, astrophotography is hard, but I think it can be outright dangerous as well.
Love your idea about making a list of ideas to try. We’re still trying to perfect our night photography. Last time we were in state park in Georgia with a dark sky. Lot of fun but had to keep eyes out for Gators .
Awesome video, O. Thank you for sharing this, and those last few minutes of looking at your shots were emotionally gratifying. Almost like we're there with you on this one. Cheers.
Hey, it's a random internet stranger who loves your work. Free advice (which means you can throw it out guilt free): instead of calling yourself an idiot, just say your name instead. It's a beautiful name. The problem with calling ourself an idiot is that we have a habit of listening. And even when it's not exactly true, we'll accidentally believe it sometimes. Instead, just say "Omar." The other kinds of words are like drinking diet coke every day. It builds up.
Omar I must make a recommendation for your next Astro shoot. Elevation will make it much easier. I live just below 8,000 foot elevation and the views are remarkable. Sunrise and sunset are especially cool when there’s humid weather because we are just above the clouds. Anywho, great video. Nice to see you in the “wilderness.” 😀
Courageous experiment and expedition. You put a lot of effort into it, and the last images were really great! By the way, light pollution is such an issue, worldwide. You really have to wander off to find darkness. The most beautiful night sky I ever saw was at Muriwai, New Zealand.
Loved this whole video. You were able to capture some great astro and should be proud of them. So inspiring. That stone building! How lucky are you. Enjoyed going on the trip with you too.
Quite the shot in the dark [pun so very intended] to go out so far for your first time. Would definitely love to see you keep trying more of this, closer to home. Get some practice in, so you're ready whenever an opportunity comes in another trip, down the line.
Thanks for sharing your journey with us.. Your determination is top class.. May I know what lens did you use for the picture at 12.48? Very nice clear n sharp
The cemetery and stone ruins shots were great. When you first mentioned Astro, I thought one of my favorite pups was back. (Hey, maybe you DID capture an image of him, somewhere in that night sky.)
A couple of those cemetery photos are my favorite. Love the main photo you took as well, which you shared at the end. Great effort even if you didn’t get exactly what you wanted.
Inspiring as always, Omar! Hope a really experienced astrophotographer offers to take you along somewhere, you'd do an amazing job of sharing as you learn I'm sure. Love that brick shack shot at the end, you nailed it.
Thats awesome! Very much enjoyed your video ! One good thing about the cold - no rattle snakes or scorpions to make it that much harder 😏. You have given me hope as I just started trying learn astrophotography as well. I have the same issues, waiting for clear skies… hard when you are in the Seattle Area. Got the bug with”trying” to taking photos of comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). I picked up the move shoot move star tracker to help get longer exposures without the star trailing. Looking forward to seeing you next astrophotography session.
Astro photography is tough. I only tried for the first time this year but we had lots of Aurora action so I couldn't resist the opportunity. Any time you get a nice image it is worth all the effort! Great Video!
Its times like these we appreciate that sturdy build of our chunky cameras. As a landscape destination, where you went looks pretty cool. Also consider the NC Outer Banks for night sky work. I’ve had some good luck there.
Having grown up on the east coast and now living out in the desert, I will never take the night skies here for granted! As somebody who shoots primarily landscapes/urban/cityscapes, astrophotography intimidates me too. I need to give it a try though because I'm a complete night owl.
Great review video! Yes it's hard. I'm headed to Death Valley in Feb to give this a try as well, and maybe a star tracker. If you had a Ford Bronco you wouldn't have dropped the camera! HA, because you couldn't put the camera on the fender! HA! I have the Pay-Boo card and LOVE it! Thanks B&H!
I want to try Astrophotography. But, it's hard to find dark places east of the Mississippi. Glad you were able to retrieve your camera. Sort of had the same thing happen to me. My buddies and I crossed a channel at low tide. By the time we decided to leave, it was high tide. Not only high tide, waves were breaking in the channel. So my buddy who was a good swimmer, held my camera up out of the water and swam across. I barely got myself across. We were probably 5 miles down the road when I noticed my camera was missing. We had to turn around and go back to get it. Fortunately no one saw where it had been stashed in the rocks. All's well that ends well.
When my dad died about 10 years ago, he wanted his ashes buried at big bend. We drove him out there and found a great place next to sawtooth mountain. The McDonald’s observatory was a real highlight of our trip. Along with all the Mexican food, trips to alpine, marfa and ft Davis.
So, you’re someone I like and trust so when you decided to try something new I was a bit surprised. You did a great job but it was nice to see you adapt to your new environment. Anyways, good luck with everything you do 👍🏼
I would have hugged my camera if I did that, glad it is ok. Astro is hard but fun, a subject of some sort does help. If very cold, use hand warmers around lens. Loved the video
What a great experience. The photos were also pretty good. What is amazing, when you come from the city you think there maybe, at most, 100 stars out there. When you go to a dark location you see there are millions, if not billions of stars visible to the naked eye. I enjoyed the video, glad to see your camera and lens survived. Which camera/lens combo did you use?
Omar, you are one tough Starship Trooper! Despite the discomfort and discouragement, you persevered and produced some really wonderful shots. I can only imagine the photos you would get if there were only smooth sailing... Thanks for sharing your entertaining and cautionary adventure, better luck next time! 😟
Love Big Bend, one of if not the best national park. January/February is the best time to visit, less crowded and you get a chance at the cool ice storms. I've stayed in that same tiny home a few times. I hope you had a chance to catch breakfast at La Posada Milagro. If you visit again make sure to book a special viewing at the McDonald Observatory, its really an amazing experience.
I picked up the TTArtisan 10mm f2 last summer almost exclusively for this reason, and was lucky enough to capture a fantastic season of aurora. And 'there's always next time' is probably the best lesson for astro lol
Nikon ought to make an ad about that drop experience! 👊
I'm a newbie photographer and it's refreshing to see a pro like Omar tackle new types of photography, especially seeing the struggles. Very relatable!
Always love a new vid from Omar!
Omar this whole video was so relatable, from dropping the camera to not being there at the right time for the photos that you wanted to take. Hey, Life happens and you have to make do with what you get sometimes. Thanks for the video.
Appreciate it!
Giving ourself time to start, once again, from the beginning is crucial. Without judging ourselves, without comparing to others.
Pure pleasure!
Quiet place, joy and peace.
Thank you!
I love B&H. I’ve never been to Big Bend - so thank you Omar for taking us along.
"was that a drone"🤣🤣🤣 nice one Omar 👍
NJ, baby.
I like the cemetery photos best-Thanks for taking us along on your trip! 🍎.
One of your best videos. It was a joy to watch. Not having everything perfect and seeing your struggle with the moon was super fun. The pictures that you showed where still fantastic.thanks
There's a very clear improvement throughout this video. And, most importantly, it's fun to watch - as always. Thank you!
The last picture with the old brick house--Ow, she's a brick house--and the stars is amazing!
Great video as usual! I can't wait to return to the Big Bend area. I did my first try at astrophotography there. Had a decent shot of the Milky Way core and as a bonus got an okay shot of the Neowise comet. RIP Alyn Wallace, a great mentor to us all. Speaking of mentors, you're a great mentor as well. Thank you and keep it going.
Just started to watch your video. When you realise your camera is gone. I did the same thing. Stopped to take a shot. Drove for a while and looked at my passenger seat. It was gone. I moved back along the road. It was beside the road. Now I can continue with your video.
Lovely images Omar. What a fabulous location too. 👍
This was super entertaining! Your personality and editing was so funny! Fun video!
Glad you enjoyed!
Oh man, I've been on so many trips like this where I leave without a photo I'm super happy with. But you know what, you got out there and had yourself a time, so who cares. This was a fun video, thanks for taking us along!
What a wonderful experience you had Omar. Great video and images as always. I especially liked the cemetery photos
Astrophotography isn't easy, but it is a blast. Nothing like standing in the dark, by yourself making images.
COME ON, MOON. READ THE ROOM! 😂 Love your willingness to get out there and try something new, Omar.
I grew up around Big Bend (Presidio, TX) and I visit my parents on the regular who still live in Presidio. That’s awesome you went dude!
A little New Year's Resolution of mine has been to attempt to watch fewer videos about photo gear and more videos about PHOTOGRAPHY, and this videos like this are exactly what I need right now. Love it, and hope to see more like this from you in the future!
Hi Omar and thanks for taking us along for the ride on your night sky photography adventure.
If this is something you're going to pursue further, I'll northern Arizona in the latter half of June as a destination. It'll be warm during the day (upper 80s/low 90s) and comfortable at night.
The summer Milky Way will rise about 11pm and be unbothered by Luna. You'll have places like Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and other area parks & monuments to visit and use as backdrops.
In Flagstaff, you could even visit Lowell Observatory and be treated to the most amazing night sky tourism experience going.
Be well & stay warm 😊
Crime scene😂 Pretty good for the first time! Thanks for sharing the 'flops'. Reminds me of my first time trying Astro photography. It's definitely not for me, haha.
This was a super fun video Omar. Your persistence paid off and you were rewarded. Pictures were certainly one reward but experience was an even bigger one.
So cool! There's a dark sky spot a little closer to you, out here in PA. Cherry Springs State Park. Tends to get crowded in summer and some strict rules but it's fairly close.
I LOVED what you DID get! Always SOMETHING with night photography......Always SOMETHING! But, you sure inspired me. And, you're def one of the FUNNIEST Photogs online fer sure! Ya know......cuz you're.....the OG! Bravo buddy!
Appreciate it, man!
Always fun and entertaining video from you Omar, I like everything about it and the photos turned out great.
For anyone reading this, if you doing something for the first time it might be best to bring along someone who has more experience than you. Going to guided or group photography workshop is a great option too.
The backlit buttons of the Z8 make it so great for astro. I apply the looney rule to stars and moon shots. I've gotten some good results with the Z8. F11, low ISO, and long exposure. Come to Phx next time lots of places to go and not nearly as cold! Nice shots. I mainly do street photography with a few weddings sprinkled in still and getting out of your comfort zone can be scary and eye opening at the same time.
Z8 Also has a red menu option to keep your night vision.
Big Bend is a really nice park. Glad you dropped by. Nice photos. Welcome to Texas. Hot one minute and freezing the next.
The photos at the cemetery are stunning! Thank you for sharing your adventure.
Ouch. I am so pleased your camera was OK. Really enjoyed this video, it's good to see the real struggle of photography. Where was your red light?
I had it.
You got some great shots! Especially like the stone house and cemetery photos. [glad you were able to recover your "lost" camera]
Thank you, Omar! This was such a spot-on take on astrophotography! I’d also mention that encountering dangerous wildlife in total darkness can make it an even more daunting experience. Especially if you don't have a car. No doubt, astrophotography is hard, but I think it can be outright dangerous as well.
Top!! Absolutely Top!!.....................
I like this adventure ! Nice work ! Keep going !
Omar does Astro? Yes, please!
Don’t get carried away 😂
Love your idea about making a list of ideas to try. We’re still trying to perfect our night photography. Last time we were in state park in Georgia with a dark sky. Lot of fun but had to keep eyes out for Gators .
this was great to see you try something new. thanks for posting this.
Awesome video, O. Thank you for sharing this, and those last few minutes of looking at your shots were emotionally gratifying. Almost like we're there with you on this one.
Cheers.
That means a lot to me!
The photos look fantastic! You had quite an adventure too 😄
Hey, it's a random internet stranger who loves your work. Free advice (which means you can throw it out guilt free): instead of calling yourself an idiot, just say your name instead. It's a beautiful name. The problem with calling ourself an idiot is that we have a habit of listening. And even when it's not exactly true, we'll accidentally believe it sometimes. Instead, just say "Omar."
The other kinds of words are like drinking diet coke every day. It builds up.
That is some really good advice!
They're satellites 😄 very cool for the 1st time!
For a first time those photos are pretty amazing Omar! And another wonderfully entertaining video too - thank you 👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
Omar I must make a recommendation for your next Astro shoot. Elevation will make it much easier. I live just below 8,000 foot elevation and the views are remarkable. Sunrise and sunset are especially cool when there’s humid weather because we are just above the clouds.
Anywho, great video. Nice to see you in the “wilderness.” 😀
12:16 - my personal favourite of the bunch
Came here to say this!
Loved it. Nice to know that we are not the only ones who's photo plans can go awry!
Courageous experiment and expedition. You put a lot of effort into it, and the last images were really great! By the way, light pollution is such an issue, worldwide. You really have to wander off to find darkness. The most beautiful night sky I ever saw was at Muriwai, New Zealand.
Omar this was a fantastic Video. Thank you very much
Loved this whole video. You were able to capture some great astro and should be proud of them. So inspiring. That stone building! How lucky are you. Enjoyed going on the trip with you too.
Thanks for watching!
These came out really good!
Haven't been to Big Bend in decades but that's one of the best places to see the stars.
Quite the shot in the dark [pun so very intended] to go out so far for your first time.
Would definitely love to see you keep trying more of this, closer to home. Get some practice in, so you're ready whenever an opportunity comes in another trip, down the line.
Love the pun. Pennsylvania next. 😊
Thanks for sharing your journey with us.. Your determination is top class.. May I know what lens did you use for the picture at 12.48? Very nice clear n sharp
20mm 1.8
The coffee-scene nailed it for me 😂 Nice effort, thanks for taking us with you!
The cemetery and stone ruins shots were great. When you first mentioned Astro, I thought one of my favorite pups was back. (Hey, maybe you DID capture an image of him, somewhere in that night sky.)
A couple of those cemetery photos are my favorite. Love the main photo you took as well, which you shared at the end. Great effort even if you didn’t get exactly what you wanted.
Thanks so much!!!!!
Amazing experience!
Inspiring as always, Omar! Hope a really experienced astrophotographer offers to take you along somewhere, you'd do an amazing job of sharing as you learn I'm sure. Love that brick shack shot at the end, you nailed it.
Thats awesome! Very much enjoyed your video ! One good thing about the cold - no rattle snakes or scorpions to make it that much harder 😏. You have given me hope as I just started trying learn astrophotography as well. I have the same issues, waiting for clear skies… hard when you are in the Seattle Area. Got the bug with”trying” to taking photos of comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). I picked up the move shoot move star tracker to help get longer exposures without the star trailing. Looking forward to seeing you next astrophotography session.
Astro IS hard, so many factors go into it...I'm still not very good at it, but I love doing it!
Dang...good thing Nikon's are tough eh?
Great video watching your honest experience Omar. Makes me want to try.
Go for it!
I love the cactus shot @ 6:09 😍
Astro photography is tough. I only tried for the first time this year but we had lots of Aurora action so I couldn't resist the opportunity. Any time you get a nice image it is worth all the effort!
Great Video!
Its times like these we appreciate that sturdy build of our chunky cameras. As a landscape destination, where you went looks pretty cool. Also consider the NC Outer Banks for night sky work. I’ve had some good luck there.
Having grown up on the east coast and now living out in the desert, I will never take the night skies here for granted!
As somebody who shoots primarily landscapes/urban/cityscapes, astrophotography intimidates me too. I need to give it a try though because I'm a complete night owl.
Ommmaaaarrr!!!!!❤❤❤
Thank you for sharing your amazing experience! Very cool!
Thanks for watching!
Congratulations, Omar! Considering the circumstances you were under, those are amazing shots!
Thank you so much!
Great review video! Yes it's hard. I'm headed to Death Valley in Feb to give this a try as well, and maybe a star tracker. If you had a Ford Bronco you wouldn't have dropped the camera! HA, because you couldn't put the camera on the fender! HA!
I have the Pay-Boo card and LOVE it! Thanks B&H!
Haha. Maybe.
This should become a series where you try a new type of photography each time!
I want to try Astrophotography. But, it's hard to find dark places east of the Mississippi. Glad you were able to retrieve your camera. Sort of had the same thing happen to me. My buddies and I crossed a channel at low tide. By the time we decided to leave, it was high tide. Not only high tide, waves were breaking in the channel. So my buddy who was a good swimmer, held my camera up out of the water and swam across. I barely got myself across. We were probably 5 miles down the road when I noticed my camera was missing. We had to turn around and go back to get it. Fortunately no one saw where it had been stashed in the rocks. All's well that ends well.
Glad it all worked out in the end!
Amazing video!
When my dad died about 10 years ago, he wanted his ashes buried at big bend. We drove him out there and found a great place next to sawtooth mountain. The McDonald’s observatory was a real highlight of our trip. Along with all the Mexican food, trips to alpine, marfa and ft Davis.
Awww. That’s special.
I love your channel. Thank you!
Fun!👍🏾
Omar Very good video. Loved that I felt that I was there with you.
You were, man. ❤
So, you’re someone I like and trust so when you decided to try something new I was a bit surprised. You did a great job but it was nice to see you adapt to your new environment. Anyways, good luck with everything you do 👍🏼
Wonderful ! Love from South Africa 🇿🇦
Thanks my Friend. That was very funy and hopeful at the same time. Greatings from germany.
Glad you enjoyed it
Love the Omar ASMR voice!
Glad you had fun! Better luck next time for sure! 🌃🌚
I think you’re photo’s are fantastic Would love to know your settings , aperture, shutter speed, iso, lens etc.
I would have hugged my camera if I did that, glad it is ok. Astro is hard but fun, a subject of some sort does help. If very cold, use hand warmers around lens. Loved the video
you did great man, keep it up
Man dude, you have some awesome images for being a beginner. 🙌
Appreciate that!
What a great experience. The photos were also pretty good. What is amazing, when you come from the city you think there maybe, at most, 100 stars out there. When you go to a dark location you see there are millions, if not billions of stars visible to the naked eye. I enjoyed the video, glad to see your camera and lens survived. Which camera/lens combo did you use?
It’s crazy!!! As a city boy, I was shocked
Omar, you are one tough Starship Trooper! Despite the discomfort and discouragement, you persevered and produced some really wonderful shots. I can only imagine the photos you would get if there were only smooth sailing... Thanks for sharing your entertaining and cautionary adventure, better luck next time! 😟
I’ll be back…😝
Well done Omar
Love Big Bend, one of if not the best national park. January/February is the best time to visit, less crowded and you get a chance at the cool ice storms. I've stayed in that same tiny home a few times. I hope you had a chance to catch breakfast at La Posada Milagro. If you visit again make sure to book a special viewing at the McDonald Observatory, its really an amazing experience.
Thanks for the tips!
“Probably should have picked boudoir “ lmao!!!
"CRIME SCENE" in caps is 😚👌 comedy gold
1:51 It’s Big Bend, there is almost no one there regardless….that's why I love it so much… Viva Terlingua…👍🤠
New Jersey Man Visits Texas in Winter, Discovers Texas Also Has Winter
Super cool (no pun intended.) And I dig the story format too. Thanks, Omar.
That was awesome
Good job ✨✨✨
Thank you! Cheers!
I picked up the TTArtisan 10mm f2 last summer almost exclusively for this reason, and was lucky enough to capture a fantastic season of aurora.
And 'there's always next time' is probably the best lesson for astro lol
This was cool! Hope you enjoyed Texas my brother
It was awesome!
Hey you did great.
Great video. I do a lot of Astro and getting up at 2:00am for milkyway is the hardest part.
It is! Definitely the hardest part! And the cold