UK Cloud Magnets is a home for those
who are searching for their place amongst the stars.
The Covid 19 pandemic was a time of great mental strain for me but also a time of great opportunity.
Working in a front-line service during some of the most challenging of times meant I was looking after people’s emotions while finding ways to manage your own.
For me, the way to do that was to throw myself head first into Astrophotography, having seen a blast from my not-too-distant past posting pictures of space on Facebook, I had to give it a go.
To say I was lost, incompetent and persistent is probably the best description of how starting in this hobby felt to me but I was learning and that kept my mind busy which kept me professionally focused for those who needed to rely on me.
To a certain degree I was happy just to see the moon through a telescope, then see stars, then take a picture of a nebula which blew my mind away back then, it is a special image to me, but it won’t be winning any awards.
I then spent a lot of time and energy researching online and stumbled upon UK cloud Magnets.
I joined the group and I was welcomed immediately by Mick Scott who runs the group.
It was nice to be welcomed and to be honest I didn’t know that was a thing for a Facebook group.
I eventually posted an image of the Horsehead Nebula which I had captured over a 20-minute period.
The level of response I received was insane, people commented and everybody had kind words and nobody at all was critical.
Since that moment, I knew this group was going to be worth staying in.
Two years down the line and my skills have improved as an astrophotographer and I can safely say UK Cloud Magnets have been the reason.
The group has provided me with an education, support, and a family of vampiric lovers of the night sky.
Many of the members of UK Cloud Magnets have shared data with me and we have collaborated on projects and editing techniques, some have 3D printed telescope parts for me and one even taught me how to make a battery pack.
There have been raffles and quizzes and photography competitions along the way which have provided me with purpose which in turn allowed me to be the pillar of support for so many others.
If you ever go down the rabbit-hole of astrophotography, there is no better Sherpa than UK Cloud Magnets.