tomas slovinsky

Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was four years old, I was already asking my dad to let me use his camera, and before long, I became known in my family as “the little photographer.”

Growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors with my parents, camping, fishing, watching meteor showers, counting Perseids, and admiring lunar eclipses. Some of my strongest childhood memories come from those nights under the stars.

As a teenager, I started spending even more time outside with my camera, and the first time I pointed it toward the night sky, something changed. Seeing thousands of stars and colors appear in the image, many of them invisible to my eyes, completely transformed the way I looked at photography.

That curiosity eventually led me to postgraduate studies in astronomy at the Slovak Central Observatory in Hurbanovo. Around the same time, I founded an astronomy education project that brings a portable planetarium to schools across Slovakia. Today, we reach thousands of students every year and introduce children to the wonders of the Universe.

Over the years, astrophotography became much more than an interest. I spent countless nights experimenting, refining techniques, and learning how to combine the technical side of photography with the experience of being outdoors under a dark sky. Aurora photography also became an important part of that journey, especially during my time photographing in the Arctic, where I developed a deep appreciation for the beauty and unpredictability of the Northern Lights.

My main specialty is tracked nightscape astrophotography, combining star tracker techniques with carefully composed landscapes. I like to keep my images natural, with balanced colors and a realistic representation of the night sky. I also believe that good processing does not need to be overly complicated. The best techniques are effective, easy to understand, and repeatable.

That philosophy also shapes the way I teach. I especially enjoy helping photographers who are just getting started because astrophotography can easily feel intimidating. My goal is to break down complex techniques into simple steps and help people understand not only what to do, but why they are doing it.

Even after nearly ten years of photographing the night sky, I still feel the same excitement every time I step outside under the stars. Sharing that feeling with others is one of my favorite parts of being a guide.

Beyond photography tours, I also give astronomy and travel lectures and write about the night sky. Outside photography, you will usually find me riding motocross or playing bass guitar.