08-14-2026

On a hot Friday evening at the Science Museum of Oklahoma, I had the privilege of standing in front of the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club to share a practical introduction to photographing the night sky with a modern cellphone.
The talk-“Capturing the Night Skies with Your Phone: A Practical Introduction”-was built around a simple, realistic goal: helping anyone walk out under dark Oklahoma skies with a phone, a tripod, and a remote and leave with images that actually feel like the night they experienced.

I’m deeply grateful to the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club for the invitation and for the warm, engaged audience. Special thanks go to the club leadership and members who have welcomed me into their community, and to everyone who helped make the evening run smoothly. The club’s long commitment to public outreach, education, and protecting dark skies continues to inspire. I’m also thankful for the Science Museum of Oklahoma for hosting and for the continued connection that began with assisting OKCAC observers at Black Mesa State Park during its International Dark Sky designation earlier this year-work that was later featured by KOSU.

At No Bad Rays, the core idea has always been straightforward: there are no bad rays. Soft morning light, golden hour across the High Plains, stage light at live events, the glow after a storm, and the quiet, complex light of a truly dark night sky all have something to offer when we learn to see them. Night-sky photography sits squarely inside that philosophy. The phone is not a replacement for dedicated cameras-it’s a complementary tool. With realistic expectations, solid technique, and an understanding of what modern computational photography can and cannot deliver, it becomes a surprisingly capable way to preserve the feeling of standing under the Milky Way or a bright constellation.

The presentation focused on practical field technique rather than theory: what targets work well with current phones (wide-field Milky Way, bright star fields, certain bright nebulae under good conditions, and auroras when they appear), what remains out of reach, how Night mode and similar systems actually function, the importance of stability and clean optics, essential gear (tripod and remote), platform differences, and a clear step-by-step workflow from composition through quick on-device review and light processing. The emphasis stayed on results people could try that same night under real Oklahoma skies.

The Q&A that followed was one of the highlights of the evening-honest questions, shared experiences, and a room full of people who care about both the science and the beauty of the night sky. Moments like these reinforce why I photograph the way I do: to hold onto the atmosphere and feeling of a place as much as the scene itself.

No Bad Rays continues to grow as a commercial photography practice rooted in natural light, environmental storytelling, live events, and location work across Oklahoma and beyond. Whether the light is the last rays of golden hour, the dynamic illumination of a stage, or the subtle structure of the Milky Way, the approach remains the same-clean composition, strong color, and authentic moments.

Thank you again to the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club, the Science Museum of Oklahoma, and everyone who helped along the way.

Clear skies, and keep chasing the light.

There are no bad rays.

Kinny Tolbert

No Bad Rays