John Hicks (Tools and Techniques for the Solar Astronomer), is a senior landscape architect specializing in site planning Provincial Parks. Coupling his love for astronomy and architecture, he also markets detailed plans for the construction of Domed and Roll-off Observatories to an evolving world-wide clientele. John has studied and photographed the solar disk for 25 years, building his high-wall domed observatory for strictly solar use.

He will share his best images with us while describing the evolution of equipment and methodologies used to capture them. His talk will feature instrumental techniques from White Light photography to the challenges of narrowband monochromatic filters. Technical advances in solar filtration methods ranging from the use of the Herschel wedge, glass objective filters, polyester films through to the Daystar and Coronado narrowband filters will be discussed. The differences in use, advantages and disadvantages along with various telescope preferences will be explored to inspire both beginner and advanced observers in this increasingly popular branch of astronomy.