https://takingsley.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/48e2ad90-7c35-4f6f-994e-d030f2c2395a/Full+Moon+and+Morris+Island+Lighthouse+Closeup https://takingsley.com/about daily 0.75 2025-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/b05bf42f-f8ad-40f4-86e9-1c10cb5d863d/TAK_capelookout_behindthecamera.jpg https://takingsley.com/home daily 1.0 2026-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/84aa405f-9fb2-4afa-8881-b397d1825898/2025-0428-0522_M101_35100s_v11_2000long.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/bc85f898-39aa-4c76-aa4a-a538ad294d78/My+very+own+Mineral+Moon+Photograph https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/dfc359a6-adbd-480f-b129-f8b898aa17b7/2020+08+16_07+50_9029.jpg https://takingsley.com/photo-stories daily 0.75 2025-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/437955db-33ba-49d1-a7f7-7ebfa7638cf0/2023+10+28_18+43_02510-Enhanced-NR.jpg Photo Stories https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/e562883f-36e3-4d9a-b4a4-cdc757040ddd/2023%2B12%2B26_16%2B41_02697.jpg Photo Stories https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/fcf782ed-a425-4417-946e-aeba1bf600fc/2023+07+31_018-ART+VulcanFBM_2x3-signed.jpg Photo Stories https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/c9da5262-596f-4701-8933-0e096776b956/2022+10+10_07+06_14419.jpg Photo Stories https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/7095c383-ca27-4eda-a736-7d2fa8dfb8f6/2020+08+16_07+02_9023.jpg Photo Stories https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/eb2ff0a5-da64-4d2e-aed2-a8fe75a76d03/DSC9609-9710_AS_P70_lapl2_ap1177_PS-processed-jpg50+sRGB+4000long-2.jpg Photo Stories https://takingsley.com/hatteras-light-full-moon daily 0.75 2025-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/e033f78b-58ca-46ea-93c1-89d3f70075c5/2022+10+10_06+40_8997.jpg Hatteras Light by Full-Moon-Light 6:41 am - Set up and ready in the prime location. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/50ce61a4-01d2-43fa-92ea-e5ac089ea39f/2022+10+10_06+58_9006.jpg Hatteras Light by Full-Moon-Light Am I in exactly the right location? Hmmmm… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/7b4cfff5-77cb-45f4-b309-b978f28c462b/2022+10+10_07+03_9014.jpg Hatteras Light by Full-Moon-Light 7:03 am - Move left, refocus and reframe - quickly! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/0efbfff5-ada5-410b-99bf-f9996d501e3a/2022+10+10_07+06_9025.jpg Hatteras Light by Full-Moon-Light Another person on this very spot at this very time. Coincidence? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/02df7c92-84cf-468a-aacb-dc78af5e5f3c/2022+10+10_07+05_9022.jpg Hatteras Light by Full-Moon-Light 7:05 am - Perfect Lighting! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/b7133f67-8029-4a78-aa50-c3283adb8eaf/2022+10+10_07+06_14419.jpg Hatteras Light by Full-Moon-Light 7:05:33 am - Moving to the left about 15 feet was just right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/e88b8539-c5da-4c9f-bc1b-8bcbfd9baab7/2022+10+10_07+07_14434.jpg Hatteras Light by Full-Moon-Light 7:06:32 am - Precision. Very cool! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/dab30085-8f7d-44c3-997a-62990a52daaf/2022+10+10_07+08_14437.jpg Hatteras Light by Full-Moon-Light 7:09 am - My work here is done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/6eba79a6-0a3d-44b9-9654-1ff24c959b36/2022+10+10_07+31_9046.jpg Hatteras Light by Full-Moon-Light Heading back for a second cup of coffee as the Sun takes its turn lighting up the lamp house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/9147db97-854e-479c-aee7-caa5ebb2d242/2022+10+10_07+01_14391-ART+HatterasLHMoon_2x3-signed-v3.jpg https://takingsley.com/vulcan-forging-by-moonlight daily 0.75 2025-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/10788d7f-840a-411b-80f4-6a2215059961/2023+07+31_016_web01.jpg Vulcan - Forging by Moonlight 7:26 pm - You must do proper research, arrive early, and hope you are in the right location. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/6612dd5b-c560-4ff2-9797-2def52c15c32/2023+07+31_017_web02.jpg Vulcan - Forging by Moonlight 7:52 pm - I was hoping for just a bit of sunlight - it's getting pretty dark when, Ahhh, the lights come on! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/bef9f93f-3f5c-4e5f-b44e-741e5d5bbf18/2023+07+31_018_web03.jpg Vulcan - Forging by Moonlight 8:03 pm - Still waiting. When was the Moon supposed to rise? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/f6c1768d-55f7-4266-b008-a0e31ff6a41e/2023+07+31_029_web04.jpg Vulcan - Forging by Moonlight 8:07 pm - Rising above Red Mountain right on time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/19c79a11-dae8-4a90-a39c-31fa9fa6803f/2023+07+31_mobilepic_web06.jpg Vulcan - Forging by Moonlight And why are you in that parking lot at UAB? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/07b4fc89-b20f-450f-bc50-cab81a0b6dcb/2023+07+31_045_web05.jpg Vulcan - Forging by Moonlight 8:15 pm - Things happen quickly now. Do I need to move to the left, perhaps to the right, or hold my ground? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/544f6c3a-1137-4716-ac59-6476d98f5af1/2023+07+31_018-ART+VulcanFBM_2x3-signed.jpg https://takingsley.com/cape-lookout-christmas-moon daily 0.75 2025-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/417326a9-775b-42a0-91a9-29b7cca2bbfe/2023+12+26_16+40_02691.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon 4:39 pm - First Moon sighting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/7f21bcb6-a333-4d3f-9f47-2f510500d312/2023+12+26_16+40_02693.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon 4:40 pm https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/1742658938750-J52CJZVEWFTVWFQCF48S/2023+12+26_16+41_02697.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon 4:41 pm https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/e2a2fe41-58c2-4364-a87e-d74008f4d520/2023+12+26_16+42_3045.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon Will we see the Moon again? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/92251e68-ba01-4b84-b9b5-2bfcb22ee5b3/2023+12+26_16+45_02707.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon The clouds are moving quickly, and... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/2bd15a37-ddc7-4230-910e-28afa6e56672/2023+12+26_16+46_3054-Enhanced-NR-2.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon YES!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/964e4034-dce1-46a8-b777-7264bb1e816e/2023+12+26_16+50_3058-Enhanced-NR.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon Happy with the lucky break in the clouds, I turn to get a shot of Chris… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/f6efc8ff-2523-43f5-b83f-cd2c47c17a8c/2023+12+26_16+50_02748.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon … as she captures the last images of… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/9ad2789a-5347-4fbf-8dfa-73ba590c5c6f/2023+12+26_16+53_3061-Enhanced-NR.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon … the Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/e6bf8471-3571-4a22-a52e-d7a802bd998c/2023+12+26_16+54_3071-Enhanced-NR.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon 4:55 pm - Time to pack up and wade to the boat for the chilly ride back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/ba8f1f23-2dfb-464f-91ed-335a402bb15a/2023+12+26_17+08_3107-Enhanced-NR.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon 5:08 pm - Night falls and the storm approaches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/bfea4dc1-e449-4bd9-a28e-d69b28950a03/2023+12+26_17+27_3119-Enhanced-NR.jpg The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Christmas Moon 5:27pm - We return to the Harkers Island Marina as the a light rain begins to fall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/91321a40-8d75-48ac-a905-397336e6c655/2023+12+26_16+47_02722_CapeLookoutLH-2x1print_Edited-Flattened-Sig.jpg https://takingsley.com/lunar-colors daily 0.75 2025-05-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/a4bce13a-97ca-41c3-a32c-2013a2470cda/Full-Moon-unprocessed.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/73100e70-f066-4663-8366-7a1a7b3f4fa4/DSC9711-9835_lapl2_ap313_conv_PS+edge+cleanup.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/f3353815-5983-4449-8db5-924af283be1f/DSC9609-9710_AS_P70_lapl2_ap1177_PS-processed.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/1744395294050-PX6XODQLAD1SEKFT4244/DSC9609-9710_AS_P70_lapl2_ap1177_PS-processed.jpg https://takingsley.com/morris-island-moonrise daily 0.75 2025-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/1745086921515-DX6NAT4W454HH7AJVTHB/2023%2B10%2B26_04%2B58_02249.jpg Morris Island Moonrise Early morning of October 26. We walked along the beach in the dark to get to the jetties for the sunrise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/433b4413-0138-42bc-a3f0-70f5ddc0b6f4/2023+10+26_17+55_02372.jpg Morris Island Moonrise Afternoon of October 26 - our trial run for setting up to take the moonrise photo but no moon until... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/f9b83754-b7a3-4b8b-ab49-70e8e12f38d3/2023+10+26_17+55_02368.jpg Morris Island Moonrise ... it finally came out of the clouds well above the lighthouse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/5cdb1f9d-cb83-465a-8c9f-4b09fe04979a/2023+10+26_07+39_9867.jpg Morris Island Moonrise No moon, but a nice frame and a great sky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/6d8977ab-e85c-4cf2-afce-076ca6541106/2023+10+26_18+17_3114.jpg Morris Island Moonrise The road to the beach from the end of E. Ashley Avenue is an incredible, even inspiring, array of graffiti. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/59d76d3d-fc86-454e-ba1c-af04f683f6d5/2023+10+28_17+53_0001.jpg Morris Island Moonrise The boat ride on the Folly River to Lighthouse Creek. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/269e7fa0-3f48-4e0c-b1db-88c46b22a445/2023+10+28_18+09_0063.jpg Morris Island Moonrise Arriving at the tiny sliver of beach in time to get set up and be ready. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/455cefe2-cf22-4159-8b96-668a8485f56f/2023+10+28_18+28_0065.jpg Morris Island Moonrise On the spot - set up and waiting for the Moon as the Sun heads toward the horizon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/7330ba72-5b50-400a-8238-98f5f871a696/2023+10+28_18+31_02442.jpg Morris Island Moonrise 6:31 pm - The Moon appears, barely visible through the low haze. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/8ee4caa1-d980-4f93-88cc-40abd721caa8/2023+10+28_18+36_02469.jpg Morris Island Moonrise 6:36 pm - It quickly becomes clear as it rises up and toward the lighthouse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/ec53a26a-7d0d-4ddf-8aaf-7b043a399a41/2023+10+28_18+40_02484.jpg Morris Island Moonrise 6:40 pm - With the Sun now below the horizon to our back, the lighthouse gets darker as the Moon gets clearer and brighter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/1745088293718-QWT5M3L7HYNKURS1D6X2/2023%2B10%2B28_18%2B43_02502.jpg Morris Island Moonrise 6:43 pm - Amazing to see the Moon through the ancient glassless lamphouse frame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/73c39f26-bcbb-408b-a841-57a5497f561c/2023+10+28_18+43_02502-ART_2x3_v3.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/93669a88-9e3a-4422-803d-28bab3b3c8fe/2023+10+28_18+39_02480_The+Morris+Island+Lighthouse+and+the+Rising+Moon-Art+Landscape+3x2-V3.jpg https://takingsley.com/gallery-shop daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://takingsley.com/gallery daily 0.75 2026-05-17 https://takingsley.com/gallery/favorite-photographs monthly 0.5 2026-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/eeab4292-f126-48d0-9f05-5f4e166f6004/2023+10+26_04+58_02249.jpg Gallery - Lighthouses and Moons The Morris Island Lighthouse | Early Morning at the jetties on Folly Beach, South Carolina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/c553ab6d-b047-48f2-b388-6ae1eef02091/2023+10+28_18+43_02510-Enhanced-NR.jpg Gallery - Lighthouses and Moons The rising Full Moon behind the lamphouse of the ancient and abandoned Morris Island Lighthouse from Folly Beach near Charleston, South Carolina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/73c39f26-bcbb-408b-a841-57a5497f561c/2023+10+28_18+43_02502-ART_2x3_v3.jpg Gallery - Lighthouses and Moons The Morris Island Lighthouse with a rising full Moon | Folly Beach near Charleston, South Carolina (portrait version) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/93669a88-9e3a-4422-803d-28bab3b3c8fe/2023+10+28_18+39_02480_The+Morris+Island+Lighthouse+and+the+Rising+Moon-Art+Landscape+3x2-V3.jpg Gallery - Lighthouses and Moons The Morris Island Lighthouse with a rising full Moon | Folly Beach near Charleston, South Carolina (landscape version) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/67ea8b92-41a0-4304-9dec-b277af3d8bcd/2023+12+26_16+35_3038-WEB+2000+jpg60-2.jpg Gallery - Lighthouses and Moons North Carolina's Cape Lookout and the Cape Lookout Lighthouse on a stormy day in December https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/60bae992-28b7-48b1-9a06-c080824c8761/2023+12+26_16+47_02722_CapeLookoutLH-3x2print_Edited-Flattened-Sig.jpg Gallery - Lighthouses and Moons Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the full Moon | The Outer Bank near Beaufort, North Carolina (landscape version) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/34bf6aad-f9a6-4a1b-942c-e20adada3f79/2023+12+26_16+47_02722_CapeLookoutLH-2x3print_Edited-Flattened-Sig.jpg Gallery - Lighthouses and Moons Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the full Moon | The Outer Bank near Beaufort, North Carolina (portrait version) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/544f6c3a-1137-4716-ac59-6476d98f5af1/2023+07+31_018-ART+VulcanFBM_2x3-signed.jpg Gallery - Lighthouses and Moons Birmingham Alabama's Vulcan sculpture "Forging by Moonlight" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/9147db97-854e-479c-aee7-caa5ebb2d242/2022+10+10_07+01_14391-ART+HatterasLHMoon_2x3-signed-v3.jpg Gallery - Lighthouses and Moons The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and a setting full moon | North Carolina's Outer Banks https://takingsley.com/gallery/deep-sky-astrophotography monthly 0.5 2026-05-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/6ed1a60a-cf9b-4be4-9e92-cd8022c333c3/2026-0115_M42_r_pp_light_stacked_16640_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography The Orion Nebula is visible with the naked eye even from areas affected by light pollution. This image is a stack of 126 two-minute long exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/eaa5178c-fbd4-4890-8401-43e3ed53c058/2025-0716_M27+Dumbbell+Nebula_9000s_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography Messier 27 is also known as the dumbbell nebula. It is found in the Vulpecula constellation, just below the better know Cygnus constellation. It is 1,360 light years away, but bright enough to be seen with binoculars - if you can find it. This photo is from 60 three-minute exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/1dc23b63-3c2a-405c-8c79-cb3595c4293a/2025-0716_C27+Crescent+Nebula_9000s_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography The Crescent Nebula, Caldwell 27, is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, about 5000 light-years from Earth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/49059484-d397-4cf1-a1f3-f30c54abd6b6/2026-0115_LeoTriplet_result_11100s_16x9_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography The Leo Triplet is a small group of galaxies about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. This image was created from 47 five-minute long exposures. This was taken in my Fort Mill, SC yard January 16, 2026, between 2:30 and 7:00 AM. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/f5d0673c-3088-4b91-94dd-72374b51ca74/2025-0623_NCG6992+East+Veil_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography This is just slice of a larger nebula known as the East Veil. It is catalog NGC6992. There is a West Veil as well. This photo is from only 17 three-minute exposures in metro Charlotte skies. Just imaging how much better it can look under dark skies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/6a204520-4cc1-4389-b2d6-4cbee1d4e33c/2026-0115_IC434_HorseheadNebula_result_18000s_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography The Horsehead Nebula is a small dark nebula located about 1,375 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Orion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/288196e9-219d-4da1-9cfb-f61b84b99889/2026-0112_Markarians+Chain_result_12300s_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography This amazing scene is called Markarian's Chain. It is a scattering of galaxies that is part of what is called the Virgo Cluster. How many galaxies can you count? This image is compiled from 41 five-minute long exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/99f956f8-a1e6-4aec-b929-3bad687e13e4/2025-0623_M20+Trifid+Nebula_11880s_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography The Trifid Nebula is a relatively bright object catalogued as Messier 20. It is about 4,100 light years from Earth. The name means "three-lobe". This photo is created from 63 three minute exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/663b1677-de9e-4bc2-a326-d5cca51206d9/2025-0622_M16+The+Eagle+Nebula_31140s_v2_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography M16 is also known as the Eagle Nebula or Star Queen Nebula. It is an amazing site that gained much recognition from the Hubble Telescope image called "The Pillars of Creation". The nebula, lying in the Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way, contains several active star-forming gas and dust regions. This photo was edited from a stack of 173 three minute exposures taken over two nights. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/738a22bd-1079-4f12-8f9f-16fb5baffe0b/2025-1214_M81+Galaxy_result_8100s_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography Messier 81 is also known as Bode's Galaxy. It is a grand design spiral galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. This image is compiled from 50 three-minute exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/eb2b796c-401b-4762-9cb7-d6319087d4b2/2025-0530_M101_12600s_v3_a6400_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography I really like this wide field view of the Pinwheel Galaxy in the M101 group in Ursa Major. Look closely and you will find more galaxies, all amazing, but none like the Pinwheel. It is 21 million light years from Earth. This photograph is processed from 70 individual three-minute exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/6e64f290-a892-486f-90e6-0525871e1427/2025-1214_M1+Crab+Nebula_stackresult_9000s_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant, a nebula from a long ago exploded star, in the constellation of Taurus. It is 6,500 light years from Earth. The image is made up of 63 three-minute exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/48cd4a18-6e8c-42fa-b95d-7feac5b9c5cf/2025-1214_C30+Galaxy_stackresult_9000s_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography Caldwell 30 is an unbarred spiral galaxy about 43.79 million light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. This galaxy is similar in size and structure our home Milky Way galaxy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/84aa405f-9fb2-4afa-8881-b397d1825898/2025-0428-0522_M101_35100s_v11_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography The Pinwheel Galaxy, also called M101 is an almost unbelievable image - what we might imagine as the perfect galaxy. Consider that all of the stars in the image are close to us by comparison - in our own Milky Way galaxy. M101 is a large galaxy, 252,000 light-years across. The Milky Way has a diameter of 87,400 light-years. Being far away and quite dim (22 million light years), this photograph was coaxed from 117 five-minute long exposures over two nights. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/8a22e74a-5265-4c6b-80d2-a64a04517c4b/2025-0427_M17+Omega+Nebula_2700s_v2_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography M17 is called the Omega Nebula. In a search for names it is also tagged the Swan Nebula, Checkmark Nebula, Lobster Nebula, and the Horseshoe Nebula. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/727d7740-ab9c-4e09-8bdf-625ca21ff907/2025-0901_Veil+Nebula+C33+C34_12300s_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography You really need darker skies to get the best photos of this ghostly Veil Nebula. It is cloud of heated and ionized gas and dust found in the constellation Cygnus. These East and West portions are what remain from a super nova, or explosion of a star 20 times more massive than the Sun. It is thought to have exploded between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/2f29626a-2e9f-46b6-abdc-f10457e175e9/2025-0322_M51_4800s_v2_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography The Whirlpool Galaxy is catalogued as M51a as it is interacting with the smaller M51b. This relatively bright object was photographed with only 20 two-minute exposures using a Sony a6400 camera and Sony telephoto lens. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/66bc5fa1-32fd-496a-aeb3-b925f94c60a3/2025-0830_M31_Andromeda+Galaxy_19260s_2000long.jpg Gallery - Deep Sky Astrophotography The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest galaxy to Earth. In dark skies it is visible to the naked eye. Referenced as Messier 31, it is said to have about a 50% chance of colliding with our Milky Way galaxy in the next 10 billion years. (Yikes!!) This is a relatively easy astrophotography target but to get this high quality image under metro Charlotte skies I took over 100 three-minute exposures. https://takingsley.com/gallery/hummingbirds-return monthly 0.5 2025-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/2560b4c0-9ad2-48a9-af94-3b03e347ebf7/2020+08+16_06+51_9018.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/42936943-a55b-4068-991a-bf5cab13e495/2020+08+16_07+45_9028.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/88db6df3-5afb-4a70-8e3e-96044e1a7ce0/2020+08+16_07+50_9029.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/cdaee76e-25b2-4439-b06e-77092e56a74a/2019+08+22_17+46_801.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/6512f279-66b8-49e9-b691-877539368452/2020+08+16_06+59_9022.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/59b807fd-f8a5-42ca-bcb4-a513210eb3ab/2020+08+16_06+59_9021.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/e4b673a9-ed20-4b52-b25a-5b803b164545/2020+08+16_07+02_9023.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/d1ff6932-29d1-49fd-a644-bf0c3b1bade3/2020+08+16_06+53_9019.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/aa326bfd-1a30-416e-a079-2303d5ecb649/2020+08+15_10+29_8970.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/ee932ff3-d55c-47fb-9922-ed34ae3c3daf/2020+08+16_06+50_9017.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/0d611355-f5de-4996-8755-c3de67ad5786/2020+08+16_06+49_9016.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/460f9647-07e9-4268-a861-241434b3f7f9/2020+08+15_09+59_8964.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/a025f182-10b5-4582-b641-bada37e72dbe/2020+08+15_10+18_8968.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/25d8b783-b66c-4212-b089-d7da0598e2f3/2020+08+15_10+29_8969.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/9e97c993-fe26-44aa-9c69-92c9a6dee1cc/2020+08+15_09+53_8963.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/0850c222-dba7-43ab-86a5-b1edc35c47c4/2019+08+30_17+57_1202.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/f30f8a4d-4a42-4ccf-80fa-ed18dfbdd03b/2020+08+15_09+53_8962.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/bed29b59-d245-48ab-85c6-3f5e8274c957/2020+08+15_10+02_8965.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67995f8e4e46184e8f17e73a/27ecf844-ce96-42ea-8ecf-d20928300d9b/2020+08+15_10+02_8966.jpg Gallery - Hummingbirds of the Carolinas