The Person Behind the Lens
I'm just a guy with an expensive hobby and questionable sleep habits
The Unfiltered Story
Hey there! I'm Danny, a software engineer by day and astrophotographer by night (and sometimes by day, when the weather cooperates). My journey into photography began in 2019 when I finally decided to stop just looking at space photos online and actually try to capture them myself. Spoiler alert: my first attempt at imaging stars resulted in completely black photos. Turns out, I'd left the lens cap on. Classic beginner move, but hey, we all start somewhere.
That first camera was a Canon Rebel T7i with kit lenses – nothing fancy, but it was my gateway drug. Fast forward to July 2020, and I managed to capture Comet Neowise over Horsetooth Mountain. That moment, seeing that cosmic visitor in my viewfinder, completely hooked me on astrophotography.
I've been accumulating gear and knowledge ever since, though my bank account wishes I'd picked a cheaper hobby.
Iceland changed everything. I went there hoping to see the northern lights, thinking I'd signed up for a landscape photography workshop. Turns out, it was more of a photography tour where they basically said "okay, we'll be here for 30-40 minutes, go shoot." I was completely lost – this was my first real exposure to daytime landscape photography. The guide eventually took pity on me and helped out, but that trip sparked a love for both astro and landscape work that I never saw coming.
I've been in Fort Collins for 15 years now, and it still feels like a vacation. I moved here from Pennsylvania after a visit to see my cousin, and that trip sealed the deal. This place has become my photography playground, though I'm still incredibly close to my large, loud Italian family back in PA.
When I'm not debugging code or debugging camera settings, I'm probably planning my next remote observatory project. I'm sending one of my deep space setups to a remote observatory in Texas so I can control it from anywhere and finally have access to those dark skies that Colorado's light pollution keeps stealing from me. No spoilers on the projects yet, but let's just say the universe better be ready for what's coming.
My Photography Philosophy
100% Authentic
I'll never replace a sky with AI or create something that wasn't there. Every image is 100% authentic – what you see is what I captured, even if it took me three hours of waiting for the right light.
Processing Philosophy
For landscapes, I keep processing minimal – just enhancing what's already there. But for deep space and nightscapes? That's where the real work happens. Those images need serious processing to reveal the beauty hidden in the data.
Your Feelings, Not Mine
I don't post inspirational quotes or tell you how to feel about my photos. I'd rather let you have your own emotional response. Maybe it makes you want to go outside, maybe it makes you feel small in the universe – that's up to you.
Hiking With Purpose
I used to hate hiking – too slow for my trail running and mountain biking pace. But photography taught me to slow down and appreciate the journey. Now hiking gives me purpose when I have my camera in hand.
At the end of the day, my goal is simple: create images that make people pause their endless social media scrolling for just a moment. If my photo of a starry sky makes you think "wow, I should go outside more," then I've done my job. Even if you immediately return to watching cat videos afterward.
Let's Connect
Whether you're interested in prints, want to chat about photography, or just need someone to explain why your smartphone will never capture the Milky Way like a proper camera rig, I'd love to hear from you.
Get In Touch