Astromodify Your Camera
ASTROMODIFY Your Camera for Mind-Blowing Milky Way Photography (Without Selling a Kidney)—Guess who we found? A camera modification company with NASA credentials. If they’re good enough for rocket scientists, they’re good enough for our Milky Way obsession. These folks might be the holy grail of astro-conversion.
Spencer’s Camera & Photo has been pioneering astromodification since before it was trendy. Their team doesn’t just slap on filters and call it a day – they perform modifications that transform ordinary cameras into celestial light-capturing beasts.
Spencer’s Camera & Photo, the leading provider of Digital Camera Infrared Conversion Services, now provides a unique modification service specifically for nightscape and astrophotography purposes. With the increased interest in Nightscape and Astrophotography, many photographers require more from their normal cameras to create incredible nightscape, astrophotography and/or night sky images with consistent high-quality results. Spencer’s Camera & Photo has solved these problems for you.
Our conversation with Spencer Camera was illuminating. After sharing my astromodification horror story—how another company botched the job twice, leaving me with a persistent purple blob in every frame—they immediately understood the issue.
Spencer’s Cameras’ expertise has made them our go-to recommendation for anyone serious about astrophotography modifications. Milky Way photos will follow!
THE PURPLE BLOB (at the bottom) – Before we discovered Spencer’s Camera & Photo
FROM UNMODIFIED CAMERA MILKY WAY TO AWARD-WINNING
Join our astromodification adventure! From nightmare purple blobs to NASA-grade solutions, our journey with Spencer’s Camera transformed our astrophotography forever.
The Milky Way awaits in the spring of 2026—and we’re armed with our newly converted camera to photograph every celestial detail. Will Pamela’s astromodified setup deliver award-winning Milky Way photography? Absolutely. This season was shot before we found a great company.
SPENCER ‘S CAMERA & PHOTO WORKS WITH NASA
In 2011, they worked closely with NASA specifically to convert and modify two Nikon digital SLRs for use on the International Space Station (ISS). The cameras have now been used and are currently in use by Astronauts on board the ISS for many months and even years of low Earth orbit/space flight photography. They continue to work closely with NASA engineers and Astronaut Donald Pettit, the requesting astronaut, with detailed assistance regarding camera performance and functions.
WHAT IS MODIFICATION?
What exactly is astromodification? In simple terms, it’s a surgical procedure for your camera that removes the standard infrared blocking filter manufacturers install. This filter, while great for daytime photography, severely limits your camera’s ability to photograph the deep reds in nebulae and other celestial objects.
My conversation with Spencer Camera was illuminating. After sharing my astromodification horror story—how another company botched the job twice, leaving me with a persistent purple blob in every frame—they immediately understood the issue.
Spencer’s Cameras’ expertise has made them our go-to recommendation for anyone serious about astrophotography modifications. Milky Way photos will follow!
After witnessing her determination through countless technical challenges, we’re betting her astromodified masterpieces will join the masters in what’s possible in night sky photography. Follow along as we push the boundaries of astrophotography with professional camera conversion! Now done right!! We are considering joining Spencer’s Camera on thier June photography workshop so we can really get this down pat.
WE DROVE SIX HOURS TO BORTLE 2
After driving six hours to reach Cherry Springs State Park’s pristine Bortle 2 dark skies, we took the image above. (UNEDITED) to show you what our astro conversion gone bad pictures looked like BEFORE we met Spencer’s Camera.
The 1,200-mile round trip marked our second attempt at astrophotography. Our first expedition with the newly astromodified Canon 5D Mark IV yielded nothing but spotty images in a 400-mile journey. Despite sending the camera back to redo the modification that went awry, we’ve been rewarded with an even more perplexing issue. This infamous purple blob now haunts every frame, as seen above. The dots are still present in many pictures as well.
UPDATE: The company was a stand-up company. After the second time, when it wasn’t done right, they converted it back and refunded our money. But that took over a month. We won’t disclose their name since they did the right thing.
NOW WE WILL CREATE INCREDIBLE IMAGES
Problem solved! Spencer’s Cameras has come to the rescue! Let’s put all this negativity and the challenging learning experience behind us. Now that we have the perfectly modified astrophotography camera, get ready for some fantastic images!
Stop back in the spring of 2026 and view our Milky Way images with a modified camera done right!
See you soon! THANK YOU, SPENCER’S PHOTO & CAMERA, FOR SAVING THE DAY!!
NIGHTSCAPE & ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
Beyond their camera modification expertise, Spencer’s Camera’s team hosts immersive Milky Way Photography Workshops led by astrophotographers whose celestial knowledge rivals NASA’s own scientists. Their hands-on field sessions transform amateur stargazers into confident night sky photographers.
We run photography workshops, but calling us qualified to run a Milky Way photography workshop would be like calling that mysterious purple blob “a minor inconvenience.” At this rate, we’ll become internet famous as the “Purple Blob Photography Experts”—not exactly the niche we were aiming for.
Your workshop fee provides the following:
- June 16-21st, 2026, guided photo shooting tour with instruction. (Shooting until the early morning hours of the 21st)
- Emphasis on Nightscapes and Astrophotography.
- Guided directions to various photography locations inside Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and surrounding areas near Moab, Utah.
- Experienced instructions for the best Nightscape and Astrophotography techniques.
- Introduction to recommended equipment and gear for each type of photography.
- Daytime and Sunset Photo Tour with Instruction on Techniques.
- After dark, Nightscape, and Astrophotography instruction.
- Classroom instructions in post-processing (Classes will be recorded and shared for future review).
- FYI, Drones are not allowed inside the national parks
SPENCER’S CAMERA LINK TO WORKSHOPS
February’s workshop is sold out, so hurry to secure your spot in the next one in June. You might just see us there.
We’re basically your photography crash test dummies—smashing face-first into every technical catastrophe and equipment failure so you can scroll past our purple-blob disasters while thinking, “Thank god that’s not me.” Consider our trauma your educational entertainment. You’re welcome.
The photography gods usually smile upon us with golden hour lighting and cooperative wildlife, etc. Still, lately they’ve been treating us like we must have committed some terrible sin—perhaps uttering “I’ll fix it in post” one too many times.
Peter Horálek, Renowned Photographer
We invite you to join us in honoring Petr’s unwavering commitment to photographing the cosmos—a testament to both his technical mastery and profound understanding of celestial mechanics. Through his work, he brings the distant wonders of our Universe within reach of all who gaze upon his images.
Milky Way Mike Ver Sprill, Renowned Photographer
Another one of our all-time favorite photographers. Read about Michael Ver Sprill and check out the links to his works for purchase.
