Welcome to Capture the Cosmos – Under the Warrumbungle Sky

Congratulations to the Winners and Highly Commended awardees that were announced Saturday 27th November, 2021.

Watch this space for details of the 2022 Competition, astro photography workshops and upcoming exhibition events.

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Tag photos and comments with #CaptureTheCosmos #Astrophotography #Warrumbungles

Competition now concluded - 2021 Capture the Cosmos
// Action for CLUBS

Results for competitions in 2021 Capture the Cosmos

There were 6 entries that gained our highest award(s).

Warrumbungles and the Milk Way
Aanika Grant – Winner
Warrumbungle Nightscape Widefield

 

Lunar Eclipse
Rob Lord – Winner
Night Sky Widefield

 

Lambda Centauri and Surrounds
Rodney Watters – Winner
Open Deep Space

 

Star Trail Mount Motel
Kallan Strong – Highly Commended
Warrumbungle Nightscape Widefield

 

Blue Horsehead & Rho Ophiuchi Neb
Paul Mayo – Highly Commended
Night Sky Widefield

 

Fighting Dragons of Ara SHO
Blake Estes – Highly Commended
Open Deep Space

 

by committee coonabarabran, November 27, 2021

2021 Awards Night Now Open for Registration

We are getting ready to roll out the red carpet for the 2021 Capture the Cosmos online Awards Ceremony and it’s time to register to be there on the night of nights! Scheduled for 7pm Saturday 27th of November.

Follow this link to register for the free zoom event where the winners of the 2021 Capture the Cosmos Astrophotography will be announced.

Join our special guests and entrants for this night of nights. Invite family and friends to be a part of this special evening. We will hear from one of our esteemed judges Brad Le Brocque, who will give us insights on the judges decisions and we will unveil the winners from this year’s stunning entries of brilliant night skies!

Date & Time: 7pm Saturday 27th November.

Where: Zoom online event

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkceCrqT0iEtXGNfRtHjBHC4I6fVkj2HkL

#astrophotography #warrumbungles #capturethecosmos #awardsnight

by committee coonabarabran, November 19, 2021

Capture the Cosmos 2021 now closed for judging

Capture the Cosmos 2021 Now closed for judging

Entries closed as of midnight AEDT October 31st and will now be judged by our 3 esteemed judges.

Thank you to all that entered this year’s competition. We wish you well. Winners will be announced on Saturday 27th of November, 2021.

Thanks again to our key sponsors – Watch this space for the details of how and where the winners will be announced.

by committee coonabarabran, November 1, 2021

Prizes for 2021 Competition!

We are excited to announce that the winners of each of the 4 categories in the 2021 Capture the Cosmos – Under the Warrumbungle Sky competition will receive a prize of 2 nights Accommodation at a venue in the Warrumbungle Shire as well as $250 spending vouchers from our valued sponsors.

Many thanks to all our key sponsors for their valued support!

Thanks to Donna the Astronomer for donating prizes to one of the category winners
Win 2 nights motel accommodation at the Warrumbungles Mountain Motel a regular venue for astrophotography groups.
Win 2 nights accommodation at the Binnaway Railway Heritage Barracks – a great win for railway and astronomical enthusiasts.
Thanks to BINTEL who are donating vouchers to two category Winners of the Capture the Cosmos 2021 competition.
Thanks to the Baradine & District Progress Association for their donation to a category winner in the 2021 Capture the Cosmos Competition.

by committee coonabarabran, October 25, 2021

Online Smartphone astrophotography classes 8th & 15th September

We are excited to announce the first two of a series of astrophotography classes that we have various experts sharing their skills on astrophotography.

Donna the Astronomer is hosting 2 mobile phone photography zoom sessions.

Introduction to Using a Smartphone to Photograph the Night Sky

Is it possible to take pictures to capture night sky objects with your smartphone – simple answer is yes! Learn the basics and tips and tricks of using your smartphone to take pictures of the night sky. 

When: Wednesday 8 September
Time: 11:00am AEST

Astrophotography with an iPhone 

Learn what settings, apps and other tools are available. Learn how to take pictures of the Milky Way, Moon and stars. 

When: Wednesday 15 September
Time: 11:00am AEST

For full details and to register head to Donna the Astronomer’s website

by committee coonabarabran, September 1, 2021

Judging Panel for the 2021 Capture the Cosmos Astrophotography Competition Announced

We are delighted to announce the Judging panel for the 2021 Capture the Cosmos – Under Warrumbungle Sky Astrophotography Competition.

They are Dr Angel Lopez-Sanchez, Brad le Broque and Peter Ward

Dr Angel R. López-Sánchez

Dr Ángel R. López-Sánchez
Dr Ángel R. López-Sánchez

Angel is a passionate science communicator who continuously gives talks and public lectures, writes popular science articles and organises science communication events and stargazing activities. An astrophysicist working at the Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) and the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the Macquarie University (MQ) in Sydney Angel also provides support for visiting astronomers to the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT, Siding Spring Observatory).

As an active amateur astronomer Angel enjoys observing the sky with his eyes, binoculars, or small telescopes and taking astronomical images using his own equipment. He  is very active in social media, his Twitter feed is @El_Lobo_Rayado. You can check out his images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelrls

Dr Angel R. Lopez-Sanchez has been our esteemed judge for Capture the Cosmos – under Warrumbungle Sky in 2019, 2020 and now joins us again for the 2021 competition.

Brad Le Brocque

From Astrophotography to intimate portraits, Brad Le Brocque will have a go at shooting anything. He is passionate about photography and has won many awards for his work. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and encouraging people to enjoy the many aspects of photography.

Brad is the president of both the Northern Photographic Federation (NPF), and the Maitland Camera Club, multiple time winner at the David Malin Astrophotography Awards. He has been doing photography for over 30 years starting as a kid at school. Started off with a Pentax ME Film camera in 1982 and has owned every high end Pentax DSLR released since 2007. Check out Brad’s Instagram page

Brad Le Brocque has been our esteemed judge for Capture the Cosmos – under Warrumbungle Sky Astrophotography competition in 2019, 2020 and now joins us again for the 2021 competition.

Peter Ward

Peter Ward
Peter Ward

Peter Ward (B.Sc. ATPL AIPA) has been photographing the sky for over five decades and is one of Australia’s most lauded astrophotographers. His images have won over 60 national and international awards. He was the Deep Sky photography winner for the coveted Royal Greenwich Observatory Astronomy photographer of the Year awards in 2020.

Peter was an Associate Editor at Southern Astronomy and Sky and Space magazines. His astrophotography has been published on the web, local and national newspapers, numerous magazines, text books and have featured in a national advertising campaign and have been screened on national television . He was a vetting judge for the inaugural CWAS Malin awards in 2004 and was guest judge for the RASNZ Astrophotographic competition in 2016.

His portfolio is extremely diverse. He has won every photographic category of the CWAS David Malin awards showing mastery over an impressive range of imaging techniques using varied cameras, lenses, telescopes, filters, focal lengths and software to create unique, compelling images of the heavens.

This is the first year that Peter Ward has joined the judging panel for the Capture the Cosmos – Under Warrumbungle Sky Astrophotography competition.

The Capture the Cosmos committee thank all three judges for their commitment of time and their highly valued expertise.

by committee coonabarabran, August 11, 2021

2021 Capture the Cosmos NOW OPEN

2021 Capture the Cosmos Poster

We are excited to announce that the 2021 Capture the Cosmos – Under Warrumbungle Skies Astrophotography Competition is NOW OPEN!

Open to any photographers – Amateur or Professional – All Ages

4 Categories – See details on cosmos.myphotoclub.com.au/

Prize details and sponsors to be announced soon.

Entries Close at Midnight 31st October 2021

Winners Announced Saturday 27th November 2021

We can’t wait to see YOUR Entry!

by committee coonabarabran, August 6, 2021

Zoom chat with judge

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86460288108?pwd=Z0tFT0dEOVlTOVJCdlI0bjA0QWw0Zz09

by Donna Burton, October 21, 2020

And the Winners are:

Thanks to everyone who entered this year! You gave our judges a difficult time with the quality of entries.

The winners and highly commended entries for 2020 are:

Section:                                Solar System

Winner:                               Niall MacNeill – 3 of the 4 big moons of Jupiter

Highly Commended:        György Soponyai- Analemma of the Moon

Section:                               Warrumbungle Nightscape Widefield

Winner:                               Peter Abery – Moonset from Whitegum Lookout

Highly Commended:        Andrew Davis – Milky Way Over the Dome

Section:                               Night Sky Widefield                       

Winner:                               Paul Mayo – 20200720 EOS R 5×180 v1 copy

Highly Commended:        Jan Breckwoldt – Barrenjoey Lighthouse Star-Trails

Section:                               Open Deep Space           

Winner:                               Rodney Watters – NGC4038 Antenna Galaxies

Highly Commended:        Diego Colonnello – Wide Orion RGB

Section:                                Smartphone Astrophotography  

Winner:                               Balazs Benei – Phases of Venus

Highly Commended:        Balazs Benei – ISS Lunar Transit

Section:                                Youth

Winner:                               Kallan Strong – Fire under the Galaxy

Highly Commended:        Luke Dodd – The Island in the Sea of Stars

by Donna Burton, October 19, 2020

Results for competitions in 2020 Capture the Cosmos

There were 12 entries that gained our highest award(s).

click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results

moonset from whitegum lookout
peter abery – Winner
Warrumbungle Nightscape Widefield

20200720 EOS R 5×180 v1 copy
Paul Mayo – Winner
Night Sky Widefield

NGC4038 Antenna Galaxies
Rodney Watters – Winner
Open Deep Space

Phases of Venus
Balazs Benei – Winner
Smartphone Astrophotography

3 of the 4 big moons of Jupiter
Niall MacNeill – Winner
Solar System – Sun, Moon, planets & sunrise-set

Milky Way over the dome
Andrew Davis – Highly Commended
Warrumbungle Nightscape Widefield

Barrenjoey Lighthouse Star-Trails
Jan Breckwoldt – Highly Commended
Night Sky Widefield

Wide Orion RGB
Diego Colonnello – Highly Commended
Open Deep Space

ISS Lunar Transit
Balazs Benei – Highly Commended
Smartphone Astrophotography

Analemma of the Moon
György Soponyai – Highly Commended
Solar System – Sun, Moon, planets & sunrise-set

Fire Under The Galaxy
Kallan Strong – Youth Winner
Warrumbungle Nightscape Widefield

The Island in the Sea of Stars
Luke Dodd – Youth Highly Commended
Open Deep Space

by Donna Burton, October 19, 2020