{"id":562810,"date":"2026-04-03T20:51:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T20:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/562810\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T20:51:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T20:51:14","slug":"how-a-photographer-captured-the-artemis-ii-launch-with-14-cameras","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/562810\/","title":{"rendered":"How a Photographer Captured the Artemis II Launch With 14 Cameras"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Close-up<\/p>\n

Photographer Steven Madow<\/a> has been photographing rocket launches for over a decade, but arguably no rocket launch he has photographed has been as big of a deal as the Artemis II launch<\/a> on Wednesday, April 1. Madow set up 14 different Panasonic Lumix cameras to cover the monumental event, including seven remote cameras at the launch site. His outstanding photos are the result of years of practice and planning. <\/p>\n

Preparation, Logistics, and Credentials: The Challenges of Photographing the Artemis II Launch <\/p>\n

There are so many challenges surrounding a rocket launch, ranging from practical, like how to set up remote cameras and nail the shot, to logistical ones, like credentials. For a major NASA rocket launch like Artemis II, there were even more hoops to jump through than usual. <\/p>\n

\u201cNASA credentialing is really tough,\u201d Madow tells PetaPixel. \u201cI started my journey as a rocket launch photographer over 10 years ago and gradually have been trying to figure out the path through credentialing and getting access. All of that fun stuff. During Artemis I, I had gained credentials for SpaceX, the Space Force, lots of these other companies, but not yet NASA.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"APhotographer Steven Madow <\/p>\n

For Artemis II, Madow partnered with Space Explored<\/a>, a website dedicated to sharing all the inspiring stories surrounding spaceflight and exploration. <\/p>\n

\u201cThrough Space Explored, I was able to get credentialed,\u201d Madow says. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been years and years and years of trying to pull this together and be able to get to the Artemis II launch,\u201d the photographer explains. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve kind of viewed every launch that I photographed leading into this, all of the remote cameras, all of that, as helping me sharpen my skills and almost practice to be able to pull off this launch.\u201d <\/p>\n

In the past few months, as preparations really ramped up, Madow has been doing extensive research and planning to dial in the precise camera setup he could use. He needed to settle on specific camera and lens combinations, of course, but also figure out what his options may be depending on where NASA approved photographers like him to set up. <\/p>\n

\"AMadow captured this photo a couple of months ago of the SLS rocket that launched the launch Artemis II astronauts into space on April 1. <\/p>\n

Fortunately, with years of experience under his belt, Madow is very familiar with how to overcome many of the typical pitfalls surrounding photographing rocket launches. He has perfected his exposure settings, how to frame shots in advance, and his remote camera setup, including keeping it powered. <\/p>\n

Rocket launches are inherently unpredictable, though. Artemis II was delayed multiple times during mission prep, and the actual launch time wasn\u2019t determined until Wednesday afternoon, hours before liftoff. Then there are the security concerns. Madow and other credentialed photographers were bused out to the launch site last Sunday to set up their cameras. Fortunately, Madow says that he had plenty of time to dial everything in there, but some launches give photographers just 10-15 minutes to set up all their gear. <\/p>\n

\"FourArtemis II astronauts Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and commander Reid Wiseman are currently in space en route to the Moon.
\n Setting Up Seven Remote Launchpad Cameras <\/p>\n

\u201cI had seven different launchpad cameras,\u201d Madow says. \u201cNASA gave a small group of photographers, a few dozen photographers, access to setup remote cameras.\u201d <\/p>\n

Since this launch was such a notable event, all of Madow\u2019s cameras even had to be sniffed by security dogs. \u201cLots of security,\u201d Madow says. <\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Each location only allows photographers one tripod, so Madow had multiple cameras on individual tripods. These cameras are all inside special remote camera cases made by Camptraptions and are triggered by sound. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have this special trigger on top, made by MIOPS. What it does is just sit there, patiently and listens and listens and listens,\u201d the photographer explains. \u201cWhen there is a loud sound, rockets are really great loud sounds, it wakes up the camera and starts firing away like crazy.\u201d <\/p>\n

As an aside, the first thing Madow did when he was given access to his remote cameras following Artemis II\u2019s successful launch was run over them and make a loud noise to listen for the sound of his cameras firing back up and snapping some frames. It was a massive relief for Madow to hear his cameras firing off in response to his loud noise. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m like, \u2018Yes, my camera is still working!\u201d <\/p>\n

The Orion spacecraft was already on the launchpad on Sunday when Madow and the other photographers were setting up, so he could precisely plan his compositions.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

However, some aspects of the launch remained mysterious even days before takeoff, including the day and time of launch. It could have been mid-day, afternoon, evening, or even nighttime. Of course, these all have dramatically different exposure requirements, but Madow had to be ready for them all. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I didn\u2019t know this launch could have moved to Thursday to Friday. It could have been later in the evening. So I also had automated dew heaters just in case, which fortunately I didn\u2019t need. But with these cameras, so far, I\u2019ve actually only collected, I think, four of the seven cameras. Some of them were collected by some friends, so I\u2019ve got to grab them in a day or two, but all of them performed flawlessly, which is not the case with every single launch,\u201d Madow says. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo they did exactly what I had programmed them to do. None of the batteries died and the cameras, the Lumix cameras, performed perfectly. And from an exposure setting standpoint, the closeup rocket engine shots were maxed out.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"Close-upMadow captured this awesome close-up shot, which has since gone viral, using a Panasonic GH5 and a Lumix G Leica 50-200mm f\/2.8-4 lens. This photo was captured at 1\/8000s, f\/16, and ISO 100. <\/p>\n

The close-up rocket launch shot Madow quickly published, which has also been his most viral photo ever, was shot at ISO 100, f\/16, and with his Panasonic GH5\u2019s fastest mechanical shutter speed, 1\/8000 second. Although this particular photo was captured with a GH5 and a Lumix G Leica 50-200mm f\/2.8-4 lens, Madow had a wide range of Lumix cameras on hand for the launch, including other Micro Four Thirds models and full-frame Lumix S-series cameras, such as an S9 and S1R II. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust a wide range, GH5, G9, G9 II, S1R II, really spanning as wide as 12mm on Micro Four Thirds, so 24mm on full-frame, up to about 150mm, which really is pretty crazy because I\u2019ve got things like this before where I\u2019ve had to use 800mm, so we were pretty close [for the Artemis II launch].\u201d <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Although the close-up rocket launch photo is somewhat predictable \u2014 it\u2019s always extremely bright \u2014 other shots were less predictable given the various possible launch times. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I\u2019ve been experimenting with over years and years is being able to use exposure bracketing on these remote cameras. So effectively, I do a five shot bracket set at negative one EV as the center point and I\u2019ve had to figure out, and the only way to figure this out is from actually shooting other launches,\u201d Madow says. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had to figure out how can I get the sound trigger to effectively work and trigger the exposure bracket. The first time that I put a camera out there trying this technique, I got one set of brackets. So you have five shots, they weren\u2019t very good, and now I\u2019ve been able to really develop this technique where it\u2019s just taking bracket after bracket after bracket.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A Decade of Experience Led to This Moment <\/p>\n

Not only has Madow learned a lot about overcoming technical and logistical challenges over his many years of photographing rocket launches, but he has also gained a vital sense of calm that served him very well this week for Artemis II. <\/p>\n

\u201cSome of it\u2019s the technical side, and some of it\u2019s the mental side. A lot of it just making sure I\u2019ve prepped these cameras, tested these cameras, and know exactly what\u2019s going to happen,\u201d Madow says. For Artemis II, he was able to slow down, take his time, and not rush. Part of that is that NASA provided credentialed photographers generous access and time to set up on Sunday, but another part is all the lessons Madow has learned over the years. Some of them, he admits, were hard-learned. Behind many successful shots are failed ones, no matter what type of photography someone is doing. <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\u201cI think, to me, the most challenging but also the most exciting thing about this sport or art, whatever we want to call it, of setting up these remote cameras is when I\u2019m composing,\u201d Madow says. \u201cI\u2019m out there, maybe in broad daylight or whatever, and I\u2019ve got to be thinking, \u2018What\u2019s the Sun angle going to be at the time of launch? Where\u2019s the rocket going to be? Where\u2019s the plume from the rocket going to be within the frame so I can make sure I\u2019m not cutting it off?’\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re trying to imagine and think through this future scenario because you don\u2019t have access to the camera once it\u2019s setup, of course. It\u2019s a fun game play, and when played correctly, the results are really cool.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"AMadow captured this photo using a camera he set up with an intervalometer. The timing worked out very well.<\/p>\n

It\u2019d have been understandable for Madow to be super nervous about the launch, but he says he\u2019s an optimist, which made him more excited than anxious. <\/p>\n

However, by Wednesday morning, there was a very real chance the launch would be scrubbed and delayed a day or two. In many cases, that\u2019s not a big deal, but for Madow, who had prior work commitments for his primary job, a delay would have meant missing the launch. His remote cameras would still have been there, of course, but he would have been unable to witness the launch in person and take photos from the press site. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was thinking, \u2018Oh man, I really want this to go,’\u201d Madow recalls. <\/p>\n

And go it did. <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are these troughs and valleys of excitement, some worry, some concern, and then just elation and maybe even relief,\u201d Madow says of the actual Artemis II launch itself. <\/p>\n

The launch itself, the culmination of years of hard work by thousands of people, is over so fast. A few minutes after liftoff, Madow says he was just there, reflecting on what happened. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s pure joy, and then after a few minutes, reflection and relief that it went and that I was there at the press site to experience this in person,\u201d Madow says. <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a bit of pressure, like, \u2018Oh man, I\u2019ve got to really deliver for myself.\u2019 And I also love just being able to share this [experience] with the world,\u201d the photographer says. \u201cSo definitely tons of joy, times of relief, and excitement for what this launch represents as well. That is absolutely not lost on me. <\/p>\n

\u201cHumans are curious. Humans are explorers. I think it\u2019s one of the best things in humanity to be able to do things that are interesting for discovery\u2019s sake, for interest\u2019s sake. And I think that what is more inspiring than a lunar mission and then NASA. So it gives me lots of inspiration and certainly I hope that folks find inspiration in the photos that I produced.\u201d<\/p>\n

Image credits: Photos by Steven Madow (website<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, prints<\/a>) <\/p>\n