The comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) was one of the first comets I photographed. I still remember the feeling of for the first time photographing such a transient and temporary yet beautiful object.
This photograph of the comet c/2001 Q4 (NEAT) is from 2004 when digital photography was not yet within my reach as an amateur astronomer. Taken with my Pentax SP1000 film camera it is a single 10 minute exposure. I was manually guiding on the comet’s head as it moved through the star field. The result unknown until the print film was developed and returned.
I enjoyed the days of film photography, the simplicity, quiet, lack of cables and distractions. Sitting guiding on a object through the telescope for a long exposure photograph was usually a nice relaxing task, giving me a chance to look up at the night sky often.
I particularly like the colour of this comet photograph. Blue and space photo’s go together perfectly, especially when a comet is involved. The tail of the comet has a nice sparkle and sharpness to it also.