Meet Gary Woodall

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gary Woodall. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gary below.

Hi Gary, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I was a professional meteorologist for 34 years, working with the National Weather Service at several locations across the country. However, I always had an interest in space and the space program. Growing up in central Florida not far from Cape Canaveral, I closely followed the Apollo (dating myself there! :-)) and later spaceflight programs.

Although I had a long-time interest in space, it wasn’t until the summer of 2020 that the idea of photographing the beautiful objects in our skies really spoke to me. I had seen news stories about Comet NEOWISE, a bright comet which would be up in the evening skies. I decided I wanted to get some pictures of it! I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I went out to the edge of town (Bartlett, TN), set up my DSLR, and fired away. A week later on a visit to Texas, my Mother-in-Law set us up with a visit to a darker location. I got some better images, and wanted to try capturing some other targets.

My first few images of “deep space” objects were, to be honest, pretty lousy. However, the idea that those photons of light traveled across space, for thousands or millions of years, and landed on my little camera sensor was very exciting. I knew then that astrophotography would become my new passion.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Astrophotography is the art of taking images of the objects in our night sky. This often involves attaching a camera to a telescope and targeting objects within, or very far beyond, our solar system. Producing images of these “deep space” objects is radically different than “standard” photography. Most of the imaging targets are very faint, requiring many hours of camera exposure time to bring the target out of the background. Because of light pollution, turbulence in the atmosphere, and camera sensor design, we cannot take a single 3+ hour exposure. Instead, we take a number of exposures that are each several minutes in length.

We use computer software to “stack” the exposures, or combine them into a single composite image. The “stacking” term goes back to the days of glass plate photography, when astronomers would literally stack the plates to view a better-quality image. In modern times, stacking basically averages out the noise in the exposures, and enables the target to come through more clearly.

The “stacked” image then undergoes several post-processing steps. These include light pollution removal, color calibration and balancing, contrast enhancement, and additional removal of electronic noise. If the target is a nebula, a cloud of gas and dust, we may apply a false-color palette to the image. This makes it easier to see what types of gas, such as hydrogen, oxygen, and/or sulfur, are present in the nebula.

My astrophotography journey has featured three main components: acquiring the necessary equipment, gaining imaging experience, and enhancing my processing techniques. A DSLR and tripod setup was sufficient for my early astrophotography efforts. As I moved into the long-exposure techniques, a motorized mount was needed to keep the target area precisely centered and to prevent blurring of the image. I then moved from camera lenses to a small telescope, and also to a specialized astronomy camera. Then I acquired a bigger telescope, which needed a bigger mount to keep it steady, a higher-quality camera for the new telescope, and so on. It’s a vicious cycle which continues to this day. (laughs)

The imaging and processing skills are things that come with time. There’s no way around it. When setting up the imaging plan for the evening, I have to decide on the number of exposures and the length of the exposures. This can vary depending on the amount of light pollution and the brightness (or faintness) of the target. Too short of an exposure time may not capture the faint details, while exposures that are too long may result in light pollution overwhelming the target. On the processing side, there are some wonderful video tutorials available which show a variety of techniques. I appreciate the work that the instructors have put into their videos! However, it’s kind of like watching a tutorial on how to swim. Only by actually diving in and trying it can the skills truly be gained.

Early on, astrophotography was very much a hobby for me. My satisfaction was in the process of capturing the light from faint, distant objects and making a presentable image out of it. I also enjoyed sharing results with friends on my Facebook page.

In 2024, I decided to step out of my comfort zone. I entered some of my better images in art shows. I’ve been honored to have had my work selected for a few shows from California to Texas. I’ve also had my images appear in two public installations in Greenville and McKinney, TX. To expand the visibility of my work, I launched a website in late 2024. Then, in 2025, I REALLY stepped out of my comfort zone and sold a few of my images, including a multi-image collection for a residential installation. I joined the Art Club of McKinney to increase my networking opportunities, and to gain inspiration from the talented and gracious members of the club.

Astrophotography is an activity that “checks many boxes” for me. On the scientific side, I spend time to learn about the objects I image, how they evolved, and why they appear the way they do. On the technical side, I have to set up the imaging session to accomplish my objectives. On the creative side, just as in standard photography, I have to frame up the shot in an attractive manner and use the post-processing techniques to bring out the beauty in our universe.

Astrophotography is absolutely a passion and source of enjoyment. For me, it has grown beyond just a hobby and has joined meteorology as a part of my “identity”. As I tell people now, “I’m still looking up, just sometimes I look up a whole lot farther”.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

That’s an interesting question. First, I would say that my scientific career and long-time interest in space set the stage. When NEOWISE came along in 2020, my background interest was ready to be kick-started. Second, I have a desire to learn about the targets that I image. This provides me with a sort of “closure” to the images. I learn the back story of the (sometimes violent) astronomical events which produced the objects. Third, I believe I am able to focus on a long-term goal while breaking that long-term task into manageable pieces. This was especially important early in my journey. I certainly wasn’t producing “Hubble” quality images (I’m still not!), but I could see the incremental progress as my experience and skills grew.

For someone wanting to start out in astrophotography, I’d recommend being patient and starting small. There is quite a learning curve, so keep things as simple as possible. Expand as your experience and skills are ready. You’ll know when the time is right. Also, reach out and become involved with your local astronomy and art clubs. They will have excellent mentoring and networking opportunities for you. I certainly have benefitted from experienced astrophotographers and artists, and I like to “pay it forward” whenever I can.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

It is easy to get frustrated or overwhelmed when doing astrophotography. There are a lot of sometimes-finicky systems that have to work together to produce the image. And a big portion of our success, namely the weather and clouds, is completely out of our control.

When I get overwhelmed or aggravated, I will sometimes step away from it for a day or so. This lets me clear my mind and address the problems with a fresh perspective. If I go through a period of producing “sub-par” images, I have a few actions I may take. As I mentioned, I will perhaps take a day or so off, to recharge and refocus. I’ll remind myself that everyone, including professional athletes and performers, goes through occasional slumps. I also will go back and look at my earliest images, which I still have on file. I’ll use this to remind myself of how far I’ve come, and that I WILL get back “on my game”.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gwastrophoto.weebly.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwastrophoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PiperG63/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@garyw.2224

Image Credits

All images by Gary Woodall (me).