Field notes

What the light does, and how to be there for it.

Photography tips, app updates, and guides to help you capture the perfect shot.

Tutorials · August 29, 2026

How to Read a Surf Forecast: Why Period Matters More Than Height

OwlPlot now shows swell, wind and tide alongside the light. Here is how to read those numbers properly — including why a 1-metre forecast can be a better day than a 1.5-metre one, and why the height at your beach is never quite the height in the model.

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Tutorials · August 29, 2026

How to Use AR Sky View to Scout a Shot Before Dark

Numbers tell you the moon will be at 112° azimuth and 14° altitude. They do not tell you whether the hill is in the way. AR Sky View answers that by drawing the sky onto the scene in front of you — in daylight, hours before the shot.

Photography Tips · August 8, 2026

How to Photograph the Moon Rising Behind a Landmark

The shot where a huge moon sits behind a lighthouse or a bridge is not luck and it is not a composite. It is a calculation about where you stand, and there are three numbers that decide whether you get it.

Astrophotography · August 1, 2026

When Is the Milky Way Visible? A Month-by-Month Guide

The bright core of the Milky Way has a season, and it is shorter than most people expect. Here is when it is up, why your latitude decides how high it gets, and the three conditions that all have to line up on the same night.

App Updates · January 26, 2026

AR Sky View: A Fun Feature That Snuck Into the App

How a "wouldn't it be cool if..." idea became a feature, and the one thing it's actually useful for.

Photography Tips · January 18, 2026

What the Photography Score Actually Means

A breakdown of how OwlPlot calculates that 0-100 number and why a score of 65 might still be worth shooting.

Astrophotography · January 17, 2026

Astrophotography and the Boring Calculators That Make It Possible

The 500 Rule, NPF Rule, and why I stuffed a bunch of math into OwlPlot so you don't have to think about it.

Tutorials · January 5, 2026

The Aurora Notification That Actually Worked (Eventually)

The story of why I built OwlPlot, and how aurora alerts that check the weather might finally end my streak of cloudy disappointments.

Tutorials · January 2, 2026

Getting Started with OwlPlot

A personal guide to getting the most out of OwlPlot in your first few days — from setting up locations to understanding that Photography Score.