THE UK’S ONLY MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR WORKING & ASPIRING PROS AIMING HIGH

SPOTTING THE
POTENTIAL
THE ART OF
COMPLETING A
PORTRAIT IN POST

PROFESSIONALPHOTO.ONLINE ISSUE  £.

BUYERS’ GUIDE SHOOTING SPEED

LOCATION CAPTURING
LIGHTING AUTO ACTION
Rounding up the Pro techniques for
latest launches dynamic results

WEDDING CAMERAS

ASTRO PHOTOGRAPHY CAN BIGGER

OUR PLACE IN
Medium format
THE UNIVERSE
makes a return
Josh Dury on his
battle to preserve
our dark skies

Caring for the

Environment
How photographers can create a greener business

TRAPPED INSIDE ICONIC LOCKDOWN PORTRAITS


Defending Astro photographer
Josh Dury considers the
night sky to be an open
the Dark
window to the universe
threat of light pollution
to ensure that this
classic view isn’t lost to
WORDS TERRY HOPE IMAGES JOSH DURY future generations.
10 | PROFESSIONAL PHOTO ISSUE 189 PROFESSIONALPHOTO.ONLINE
JOSH DURY | PORTFOLIO
G
IVEN THAT WE’VE GOT a focus on green
issues this month to celebrate COP26, it’s
worth sparing a thought about damage to
the environment that might not be quite so
universe that surrounds us. This in turn makes
astro photographers such as Josh Dury are using as
Josh used the
standing stones
at the Neolithic
site of Avebury
Circle to provide
readily apparent to those that don’t regularly study the backdrop for their remarkable pictures and, as
the night sky. But the fact is that light pollution has someone who’s besotted with the night sky, Josh has
the foreground for
this memorable
stealthily become a major issue over the decades determined to do something about it. Nightscape, which
as more and more of the countryside in this featured the Milky
overcrowded island is built over, with vast amounts of photography at the age of seven,” he says. “I loved
Way at its heart.
As well as having a major impact on the lifestyles
of nocturnal creatures while using up copious
and was inspired to look at the planets and the night
sky using a telescope. Eventually I wanted to stretch
amounts of energy, lighting up our towns at night my imagination even further and to document and
PROFESSIONALPHOTO.ONLINE ISSUE 189 PROFESSIONAL PHOTO | 11
PORTFOLIO | JOSH DURY

photograph my observations. I’ve been fascinated by

the night sky ever since. I think ultimately it’s the
realisation that we’re looking at the light of distant
stars: when you think about how long this has taken to
reach us it becomes totally compelling.”
The transition from a focus on photography to an

Josh was studying for his degree in Bristol, where

he graduated with First Class Honours in 2019. His
aspiration had always been to take up a career where
both astronomy and photography was involved, and

his passion for the stars but also explored his growing

actually see his subject clearly.

“Since I started taking photographs of the
night sky I’ve seen a dramatic change,” says Josh.
“This is the direct result of light pollution on our
natural environment, and it’s now become a major
environmental issue. Energy is required to produce
lighting, which results in the release of carbon ABOVE: This view,
emissions. Approximately, a total of 830,000 tonnes of taken at night in the
“Since I started taking
CO2 pollution is produced from the energy wasted by Cheddar Gorge, shows photographs of the night sky
the scale of the light
the UK’s streetlights alone.
pollution problem, I’ve seen a dramatic change,”
“It also costs a lot of money to light up the night
sky. The estimated cost of wasted light, namely
and it’s getting worse. says Josh. “This is the direct
that which isn’t shining on the things we need to OPPOSITE: By result of light pollution on
working at night in
illuminate, is a staggering £1 billion a year in the
remote areas Josh is
our natural environment,
UK – money that could be much better spent on
tackling carbon emissions. To help address these
able to make the stars and it’s now become a major
an integral part of his
issues, I’m keen to work with local communities, composition. environmental issue.
councils, lighting designers and organisations like the
BELOW: The Abbot’s and, as a result, he’s become fully immersed in the
Fish House in Meare,
more sustainable lighting solutions.” battle to raise public awareness of the threat to the
Somerset, is seen
against a night world’s night skies. He’s created the astronomy
The Dark Side sky backdrop that organisation Space4All, which is intended to actively
As a young astronomer Josh feels strongly that his includes a cameo by promote practical astronomy and to engage people
generation has a duty to warn about changes that are the Neowise Comet.
fast occurring and that potentially can’t be reversed delegate of the International Dark Skies Association,
representing Bristol and south west England.
“I believe you need to feel passionate about
something in order to protect it,” says Josh. “By

the amount of light pollution being emanated from our

major towns and cities, creating more dark sky places
where people can enjoy the night sky environment.”
Following his graduation Josh has developed his
understanding of the crucial role that photography

about the big issues facing humankind. While his

nightscape imagery is exquisitely beautiful and
ethereal in nature, showcasing as it does classic
views that are more regularly seen in the full glare
of daylight, their role is intended to extend beyond
simple artistry. They’ve also been created to reveal the
connection with the vastness of the universe that’s
beyond the reach of the Earth and to instil in others a
sense of wonder that will, Josh hopes, help to win them

12 | PROFESSIONAL PHOTO ISSUE 189 PROFESSIONALPHOTO.ONLINE PROFESSIONALPHOTO.ONLINE ISSUE 189 PROFESSIONAL PHOTO | 13

PORTFOLIO | JOSH DURY
“Capturing the perspective from here on planet
Earth, when you look at my pictures you can appreciate
the great scale of things and the open window we
currently have to the universe,” he says. “When
it comes to astro imaging I’m looking to capture
nightscapes that reveal detail within the foreground
but also the night sky above. There can be instances
where I need to shoot composite images and then work
in post-production to deliver my message, but it’s
always done with care and true respect.”
Over the years Josh has travelled the world to
capture the night sky, most notably shooting the
Northern Lights from Iceland in 2017 and the dark
skies in the Atacama Desert in Chile in 2019, and
he now has aspirations to photograph major radio
telescopes, such as Mauna Kea in Hawaii and Jodrell
Bank Observatory in Manchester.
Despite all this globetrotting, however, it’s still
locations around the UK that are closest to his heart,
and his novel interpretation of the landscape hot spot
that is Durdle Door in Dorset, shot with a 35mm lens,
helps to reveal more about his passion for his subject.
full frame Sony A7S II, selected
because of its formidable low
light abilities – its maximum
ISO is 102,400, which can be
extended to a mind boggling
409.600 if required.
“This was one of the most magical astro imaging
experiences I’ve captured during the past year,” he
says. “There’s nothing more special than to walk down
to the coast underneath a blanket of stars only to look
at the sink glow at the centre of our galaxy on the
horizon – the galactic core. What I really like about
this photograph is how the arch really stands out
against the gentle glow of the Milky Way that’s behind.
With that, and the lapse of the waves beneath my feet,
this could not have been a better experience.”
Josh’s camera of choice is a full frame Sony A7S II,
selected because of its formidable low light abilities –
its maximum ISO is 102,400, which can be extended
to a mind boggling 409.600 if required – and it’s
legion of professional videographers. This is generally
partnered with a Sigma Art 14mm f/1.4, since the aim
is not to focus in on faraway constellations but to
include them as a natural part of the backdrop and to
open eyes to the fact that, given a clear dark sky and
view that all of us could enjoy when looking upwards.
For anyone photographing in dark conditions there
will always be the considerations that come with
setting lengthy exposures, and the prime requisite is
for a solid tripod that will be rock steady for several
seconds, or longer, if required. Even the best of them,
14 | PROFESSIONAL PHOTO ISSUE 189
Scan here to watch Josh’s film Scan here to view Josh’s film ‘Starlink – A
‘BacktotheLight,’whichexplores Battle for the Skies,’ which was produced
the issue of light pollution and to raise public awareness of the challenges
how it’s affecting the night sky. posed by the Starlink Constellation.
starting to reach centre stage, there are some OPPOSITE PAGE:
huge challenges coming over the horizon, as the Because of its
closeness to Earth
the Moon has become
communication threatens to degrade what we can see a regular subject for
of the night sky still further. In particular, an ongoing Josh, and he even
project known as the Starlink Fleet, which is looking managed to shoot a
to initially launch 12,000 satellites that will eventually sequence during a
Lunar Eclipse.
be extended to 42,000, is threatening to outnumber
the number of visible stars in the night sky by the LEFT: The mysterious
year 2025. It’s a scenario that, while taking on board St Michael’s Tower
atop Glastonbury
Josh and others, to the point where he’s recently Tor made a perfect
setting for a shot that
revealed the wider
around the world at a development that could wipe out universe behind.
observational astronomy at a stroke.
“This is why I’m looking to be a part of a wider BELOW: Josh
community to collectively raise our concerns,” says describes his shoot
at Lulworth Cove in
Josh. “My aspirations for the future are to produce my
Dorset as ‘magical,’
own self-published photographic book to demonstrate with the Milky Way
my concerns for the subject of astro photography, visible alongside the
while also setting up a series of workshops, tailored iconic Durdle Door.
to meet the demands of photographers. I would also
like to travel the world to capture more of the natural
wonders of the cosmos and beyond. The impact of light
pollution is degrading our views of the night sky and
it’s for that reason alone I wish to protect our
vision of the universe for future generations.”
More information:
joshduryphoto-media.com
International Dark Sky Association:
www.darksky.org
however, might require a bit of supplementary help
when conditions are windy, and Josh will regularly
weigh his down to improve stability, either by
attaching his camera bag or using weights, and this
helps to prevent sudden or subtle movements. Equally
important is the Benro Geared Head that Josh works
with, which enables precision control of camera
movement in three directions for perfect framing.
For astro photographers, however, there are
further considerations, particularly if the exposure
is going to be extended for long periods. Open the
shutter for longer than 30 seconds and the rotation of
the Earth will mean that stars will start to trail and
they’ll record as lines rather than points of light. To
get around this issue Josh will often work with what’s
known as a star tracker, which can track the Earth’s
rotation to keep stars perfectly still.
“This works on the basis of aligning this piece of
equipment with the North Star, also known as Polaris,
in the constellation of Ursa Minor,” says Josh. “When
aligned you can work with much longer exposures and
reveal fainter details. There are some great products
out there from the likes of Fornax and Skywatcher,
price tag, from around £350 upwards, and are essential
accessories for astro photographers”
While the debate about dark skies is now, belatedly,
PROFESSIONALPHOTO.ONLINE PROFESSIONALPHOTO.ONLINE ISSUE 189 PROFESSIONAL PHOTO | 15