NASA's Hasselblad photography manual

[Chris Dodkin]

Imagine, your training is almost done, you're at the peak of human fitness, and your place is booked on the next Russian rocket to the ISS.

You're a keen photographer, so you ask the guys at NASA about taking along a camera for the trip - so you can post images like this to FaceBook.

The boffins at NASA provide you a rather gorgeous Hasselblad camera - and, to help you take pictures in micro-gravity, this rather useful 'Astronaut's Photography Manual'.

http://www.hasselblad.com/media/2207875/astronauts_manual_singlepage_lr.pdf

I love the example photos - you go from shots of a guy on a bike, or a field of flowers, to examples of the Space Shuttle cargo bay!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Brilliant!
great find matey!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I got the tipoff from Engadget - then started reading the manual.

It's actually a very good basic guide to photography - composition, focus, focal length, exposure etc.

It's just so odd seeing the earth-bound examples next to shots of astronauts in space - and the focus example of how to use the split ring focus on the shuttle main tail is pretty specific!

Props to Hasselblad for going to the lengths of producing a specific guide - I wonder if they'll do a revised, shuttle free, edition?

 

[Pete Askew]

Excellent Chris. I'm going to get some big clumsy gloves and a motorbike helmet and give it a go!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Pete, don't forget to draw out the Shuttle cargo bay in chalk on your back yard!

 

[john clarke]

Cor, would love to have a hands-on go. Perhaps if we all club together we could get our own space vehicle.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I'll tell you what, I'll set it up so you can all donate into a fund ... And to save the rest of you the bother of having to go, I'll volunteer my self to go up in one of bransons space plane thangs and take some photos ... I'll even let you lub together to buy me a hassleblad ... Sound like a plan?

 

[john clarke]

Why not Hamish. Just get your cap and go beg.

 

[Pete Askew]

If you can raise the fare, I'll lend you the Hasselblad!

 

[Hamish Gill]

I really hope this forum is sees a member post a photo taken from outside of the earths atmosphere that they have taken... That would make my day!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I see some British school kids have managed this already Hamish!