Steven Christenson is an engineering geek by day and a photographer, hiker, backpacker and magician by night. In addition to being a founder and principal of Star Circle Academy, he is also a co-founder and organizer of the very successful Bay Area Night Photography group where 2,000 like-minded, low-light photographers find interesting subjects and challenges. Steven’s love of astronomy, technology and photography have found an outlet in low-light photography, especially stars and star trails. Steven won the International Astronomy Photographer of the Year, 2010 competition in the category People and Space, and was runner up in 2012. He has built custom components to power a camera for all-night unattended shooting, created a Photoshop addition for stacking star trails and timestacks. Steven freely shares his knowledge of astronomy and software tools. He will gladly explain his method for choosing the best celestial subjects, weather, dates and vantage points to capture everything from star trails to unique astronomical events. For a gallery of Steven’s images check here.
Harold Davis is an award-winning professional photographer who is an expert night photographer. He is the author of more than 30 books, including a number of best-selling photography titles such as Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley) and The Photoshop Darkroom: Creative Digital Post-Processing (Focal Press). Harold writes the popular Photoblog 2.0, www.photoblog2.com where almost daily new works and insights can be found. Harold and is a regular monthly photography and Photoshop columnist for Photo.net. See Photography with Harold Davis for a schedule of events, classes and appearances by Mr. Davis. Harold is much in demand as a presenter on many digital photography topics. He is a gifted and enthusiastic teacher, and his photography workshop usually sell out quickly.
Eric Harness is a witty biotech researcher with mad camera skilz. His friends call him “Mr. Panorama” and other clever things. Eric is yet another co-founder and organizer of the Bay Area Night Photography group. Eric leads formal and informal classes for beginners to advanced photographers, and has lead webinars on Panorama creation. Eric also leads expeditions to photogenically delicious locations like Tahoe, Sequoia National Park and more and he is not afraid to strap on a backpack and venture into the snow, sleet, rain or doom of night. Eric is a Nikon and photoshop wizard with near endless energy and patience. He is also the right hand guy handling much of the background heavy lifting at Star Circle Academy.