“I Wish To Capture A UFO”- Astrophotographer Rakesh Roul

“I Wish To Capture A UFO”- Astrophotographer Rakesh Roul

American photographer and photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt once said, “When I have a camera in my hand, I know no fear.”His words resonate deeply with those who find fearlessness through their lens, and Rakesh Roul is no exception. Rakesh Roul is a young and talented journalist by profession and a photographer by passion, who has been capturing the impossible with courage for over 12 years. While he is known for his wildlife and sports photography, it’s his fascination with the night sky that led him to explore astrophotography, a realm where patience, precision, and a deep love for the stars converge. 

Recently in news for being the first photographer from Odisha who successfully captured comet ‘C/2023 A3’, Rakesh has been Inspired by the vastness of the cosmos since a young age. His journey into astrophotography truly took off during the COVID-19 lockdown when the skies cleared and the stars shone brightly again.

In this interview with My City Links, Rakesh shares his experiences capturing celestial events, overcoming the challenges posed by light pollution and weather conditions and he also gives insights into his research process.

What sparked your interest in astrophotography, and how did you begin your journey capturing the cosmos?

From a very early age I was attracted towards stars and planets. I used to keep an eye on the sky and kept wondering about the uncountable stars. Now, after 20 years, we can't see anything in the sky due to the concrete jungle our city has turned into. The city lights and pollution have made it increasingly difficult for us to see a clear, open sky. Although the COVID period was tough for all of us, this was when cities became almost vehicle-free, pollution levels dropped, and the sky cleared up. This rare moment allowed us to witness the thousands of stars and planets shining once again. During that time I started reading more about celestial bodies and astrophotography. This is how I started my research in this field.

What is the most challenging aspect of astrophotography, and how do you overcome those obstacles?

Pollution and clouds are the main factors which create problems in astrophotography. For any type of photography you need to see the object or subject before clicking your shutter but in astrophotography it's not always possible to see the object. You have to try different methods to take the perfect shot.

What is the status of awareness of this particular photography in Odisha? Can you name a few other photographers working on it from Odisha?

There wasn’t much awareness before but it has increased after the efforts of former deputy director of planetarium, Suvendu Patnaik. He is one of those dedicated individuals who not only created mass awareness programs during his duty hours but also took the time afterward to showcase various celestial events to the public. Under his guidance, I was able to capture many celestial phenomena, and those photographs were often featured in news outlets and digital media. Now, people who are familiar with me and my work often ask about the dates, times, and locations where they can observe planets or comets. I know another photographer from the state, Malaya Patra from Koraput, who also keeps clicking these celestial events. So definitely the awareness is increasing by the day.

Who are the astrophotographers you have been inspired from?

I follow astrophotographers from around the world. But I would like to mention here that a YouTube channel called ‘AstroBackyard’ has inspired me a lot. Astrophotographers like Parshati Patel have guided me in knowing the kind of  telescope or lens I should purchase in my initial days of research.

Till now how many celestial bodies have you been able to capture? Tell us their names too.

I have captured different planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Venus. I have also captured craters of the moon, Orion nebula, Andromeda galaxy, different frames of our own Milky Way galaxy, Leonids meteor showers, Perseids meteor showers, International Space Station (ISS). I feel very lucky to have captured pictures of all 3 comets from 2020: C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE), C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS).

Could you share a memorable experience or location where you captured an extraordinary celestial event?

Capturing the first comet in my career, the ‘Neowise Comet’ in 2020 is memorable for me. I tried to capture that comet for 10 to 12 days at different parts of odisha. Due to the COVID pandemic, I couldn't travel to distant places and because of the cloudy sky I was unable to see clearly. I still remember having only two days left before the comet would no longer be visible from Earth for thousands of years. By God’s grace, I managed to capture it at the last moment and had it verified by the planetarium's deputy director, Suvendu Sir. When it made the news, I felt like I was on top of the world, and all the pain and hard work I had endured to capture the image instantly faded away.

What equipment do you consider essential for astrophotography, especially for beginners looking to explore this field?

To view the moon and some planets, beginners can purchase mini telescopes that cost under Rs. 15000 or an entry level DSLR would also do the job. Wide lens for Milky Way photography and tele or zoom lens for planets and deep sky objects works best according to me.

How do you plan your shots in terms of timing and location to ensure the best possible results? Tell us about your research process.

To shoot meteor showers or comets, I research a month ago and plan to go to the nearest dark area without any pollution and I have to check the weather too because cloudy skies may hinder the results. I then check the timings and directions for capturing meteor showers, with the most favourable time being after midnight. So I carry food, lights, 2 to 3 cameras, different lenses, tripod and telescope while moving to my selected locations.

What celestial bodies or phenomena do you find the most fascinating to photograph, and why?

Capturing galaxies other than the Milky Way is most fascinating for me, which are lakhs of kilometres away from earth.

Have you ever faced any unexpected difficulties during a shoot, like weather conditions or technical issues? How did you handle them?

More than 50% of the time, the weather doesn't support astrophotography. During winters the fog disturbs the lens and the output becomes blurry. Weather conditions and technical issues occur frequently, but there are even scarier challenges. While it might seem like an adventure, it’s genuinely risky to carry expensive equipment and travel to remote, eerie locations late at night in search of the perfect spot to capture celestial bodies. There have been many times when I've feared being attacked by wild animals or thieves. However, in this line of work, patience is key. You must be able to accept failure, retry, and keep going with a brave heart.

What role does post-processing play in your astrophotography, and what are your go-to editing techniques?

Post processing is very important. Photo stacking techniques result in noise free output and for light adjustment photoshop is the best option.

What advice would you give to someone who is passionate about space and wants to start exploring astrophotography?

Anyone interested can start with Milky Way and planet photography. It's not difficult at all. You need to have patience and some basic knowledge. If interested, you can directly reach me through social media and join the ‘Odisha Astronomy Club’. I have started this club for those who want to start exploring the astrophotography field. Lastly I’d like to say that it may sound funny but my wish is to capture a flying saucer or UFO if possible in India. Nowadays, ISRO’s chairperson has also started talking about the same. It will be interesting, although, it's not easy. Hopefully it will be possible with the help of experts and my guru's guidance.