Astrophotography in the Atacama Desert by Alexis Trigo
In the heart of the Atacama Desert in Chile, landscape astrophotographer Alexis Trigo is making waves with his mesmerizing night sky photographs. Based in San Pedro de Atacama since 2016, Trigo's work has been featured in renowned publications such as Amateur Astrophotography, Forbes, The Guardian, DIY Photography, PetaPixel, and Digital Camera World, as well as media outlets like National Geographic, NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day, Capture the Atlas, and Ladera Sur.
Trigo's passion for capturing the Atacama's captivating nights is evident in his photographic expeditions and workshops. His focus on the natural environment, preservation of the night sky against light pollution, and showcasing astrophotography as an art form resonates with many.
When it comes to equipment, Trigo relies on professional-grade DSLR or mirrorless cameras and wide-angle lenses with large apertures. The Tokina 16-28mm f2.8 and Sigma 20mm f1.4 lenses are among his favourites. For post-processing, Adobe Photoshop with the Art Panel plugin is his go-to tool.
Planning is crucial for Trigo, and he utilises planning tools like Stellarium, PhotoPills, or The Photographer’s Ephemeris to determine ideal shooting times and locations. To capture H-alpha, he plans to astro modify his camera.
Trigo recommends observing a lot of photography and painting, and using a super long exposure for the foreground for those learning astrophotography. He also advises carrying sturdy, reliable gear that can handle harsh desert conditions, using a stable tripod and remote shutter release to avoid vibration, and planning shoots during new moon phases for darker skies.
To follow Trigo's work, one can find him on Instagram, Facebook, and his website. Skies & Scopes, a publication and community focused on amateur astronomy and astrophotography, is another excellent resource for those interested in Trigo's work and the wider astrophotography community. Founded by Anthony Robinson, Skies & Scopes provides interviews, case studies, best cameras, best lenses, and information about astro modified cameras.
- Landscape astrophotographer Alexis Trigo, known for his mesmerizing night sky photographs in the Atacama Desert, increasingly advocates against light pollution for the preservation of the night sky.
- For astrophotography, Trigo uses professional-grade cameras like DSLR or mirrorless, wide-angle lenses with large apertures such as the Tokina 16-28mm f2.8 and Sigma 20mm f1.4, and relies on Adobe Photoshop with the Art Panel plugin for post-processing.
- Planning is essential for Trigo, who employs tools like Stellarium, PhotoPills, or The Photographer’s Ephemeris to determine ideal shooting times and locations, as well as planning sessions for astro-modifying his camera to capture H-alpha.
- Beginners in astrophotography can learn from Trigo's advice to observe other photography and paintings, use a super-long exposure for the foreground, carry sturdy, reliable gear for handling harsh desert conditions, use a stable tripod and remote shutter release to minimize vibration, and plan shoots during new moon phases for darker skies.
- To learn more about landscape astrophotography, one can follow Alexis Trigo's work and exploits on Instagram, Facebook, and his website, or refer to Skies & Scopes, a publication and community focusing on amateur astronomy and astrophotography that offers interviews, case studies, gear recommendations, and information about astro-modified cameras.
