by Ian McDermod
The Alaska Pacific University Photo Club took people out to the Glen Alps Trailhead at the edge of Chugach State Park on Thursday Night. The clear evening sky allowed for the perfect opportunity for some nighttime photography. Students were sandwiched between starry mountain skies on one side, and the breathtaking city lights of Anchorage on the other.
For many students this was their first time being immersed in the world of night photography. Eager students gathered around a “community DSLR camera,” where they were given hands on instruction for adjusting the cameras settings to compensate for the darkness. The camera was moved and passed around as students hunted for some long exposure shots of the stars. Even the cold mountain air hardly took a toll on peoples wonder and curiosity of the Alaskan night sky.
Everyone walked away with a new nighttime photography skill, and also a basic understanding of how to control light using a DSLR camera. Photo Club emphasizes getting people out to learn photography even if they are brand new and don’t own a fancy camera. With Alaska as the canvas, anybody with the passion and drive can get out and take some incredible pictures.