I have long enjoyed the night sky and combining that interest with my photography is a logical marriage. It wasn't until April 2024 though that I actually made my first astrophotography image for the portfolio. For my first go, I'd am quite pleased with the results. The shoot took some planning. The Milky Way is best viewed in the spring and summer months in the northern hemisphere, so a mid-April trip to the Outer Banks was a perfect opportunity. I then needed to determine the best time to shoot it and with the aid of a handy app the time of 4:00-4:30am became my target. Up and out on the beach well before dawn I setup my tripod and began taking test images to refine composition, focus, and exposure. This image one of several that were added to the portfolio that morning.