Meet Andrew Raaber | Astrophotographer & Videographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Raaber and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.“ – Vincent Van Gogh.

This quote really means a lot to me because it helps express my passion for astrophotography, and why I can stand out under the stars in freezing temperatures through an entire night. It stimulates our minds, imaginations and allows us to see light wavelengths we would normally miss because of our sun.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m an astroscape photographer, which means I focus on incorporating a night sky or celestial object with a foreground. A lot of the time this is the Milky Way, Moon, Sun or even a nebula. I put a lot of time into my planning and really enjoy playing with scale in some of my photographs. Using telephoto lenses I am able to get really far away from my subjects which makes the celestial object look massive and while doing it all in camera. Because of my planning and equipment, I am able to pull off unique alignments with precise timing down to the second. This could be the Moon setting between two mountain peaks or a nebula rising behind a tree on a hill way out in the distance.

I also really enjoy videography and film weddings, band promos and even filmed the Aspen Fringe Festival. I have been trying to further educate and share my adventures by vlogging on YouTube and give first views and more access to my Patreon members.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend in town and wanted to show them around, here is what we would do. Start the first morning out with a sunrise hike around Chautauqua Park in Boulder and then grab breakfast at The Buff. Once all cleaned up we would check out downtown Boulder, Lafayette or Denver for the rest of the day.

The next day we get up early and make our way to one of my favorite places in Colorado, Ouray and the San Juan Mountains. We setup our tents and head over to Ouray Brewing for dinner and drinks then back to the campsite to enjoy a nice fire and dark skies.

After waking up we decide on checking out Ouray, Silverton or hiking the Ouray Perimeter Trail, but eventually end up in Telluride for dinner. The next day we head out to Alamosa and The Great Sand Dunes for a couple days. Once we checked out natural hot springs, enjoyed campfires and incredible dark skies, hiked and took in beautiful views, we make our way back to the Denver area to wrap up the week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would have to start with my family, friends and followers. When I first started taking photography seriously I still had no clue where I was going with it or what I wanted to create, so I tried a lot of different things. My family and friends gave me the strength and gave me the courage to put myself out there. Now to hear how my photographs or videos helped someone get through something in their life or brought them back to a time or place, that is another motivator for me to keep creating. Thank you all.

I also have to say thank you to PlanIt Pro and PhotoPills for their incredibly helpful planning software.

Website: https://www.raaberway.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raaberway/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-raaber-748350103/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raaberway

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiOrsZ176LB3jiM-4CDQPMw

Other: I’m also on Patreon where you can see things first and get more information! https://www.patreon.com/raaberway