You can ask anyone who identifies as an astronomer, novice or professional, and they all have a common habit: they always look up! When people ask me about my photographs or my general interest in astronomy and astrophysics, the most common question is how I got started. My answer is almost always the same: capture your first image. This is the first image I captured that was even remotely close to something I thought was worth not moving to the trash folder. It was taken on an iPhone 6 while holding it up to a spotting scope lens. I had no equipment, an unsteady hand, and was trying to balance the moon between two focal points, and trying to get some form of accurate focus. After about a hundred tries, this is what I got. It is underwhelming from a photography perspective, but it was my first photo where I stepped back and was so elated that I thought I had captured my first real image of something above us. Every astronomer has their first image and remembers that feeling.
I started Outreach Astronomy to bring that same feeling to youth in my community, as well as the communities I take photos in. This includes various locations in the United States, and just about anywhere I am fortunate enough to visit. The most common barrier to young individuals getting excited about astronomy is simple, its cost. Most people never look through a telescope. Every element of Earth came from elements found in the Universe, and looking up is to explore the origins of humanity. As I get donations from my community, partner with businesses, and sell my images online, I will use 100% of the proceeds to purchase astronomy equipment for classrooms. Furthermore, I want to teach those served the basic fundamentals of our solar system, how to use the equipment, and how it translates to our place in the Universe.
Look up, you will be amazed what is above us.