Dark Skies

The bright dusty core of the milky way rises vertically across the expansive salt flats. The distant amber glow of towns on the horizon bleed into the dark skies above. Countless stars shine all around the heavens. A lone individual dressed in a bright blue coat sits on a chair, small in the frame, gazing up into the sky. — Tuz Golu Milky Way

The core of the milky way rises vertically in the night sky, the long spiral arm extending across the whole scene. At the bottom of the frame, the sky is framed by the peaks of the surrounding Caucus Mountains. A myriad of stars pierce the blue-black of the night sky. The bright glow of Saturn and Jupiter stands out among the star field. — Milky Way Rise in Georgia

The Milky Way Core

Every year in the summer months of the northern hemisphere, as the sun sets below the horizon. Wait a few hours as the deep dark of night encroaches, and you'll see (If the skies are dark enough) the core of our Milky Way galaxy rise.

The bright dusty core of the Milky Way is less visible against the dark skies. The amber glow form the towns around the edge of the vast salt lake cast brighter glows into the sky and across the horizon. In the far left and right of the frame, two small groups of observers are sat, gazing skyward. The Sky seems to be littered with an endless scattering of stars. — Tuz Golu Nights

The moon is in its 75% waxing gibbous phase against a completely black sky. The myriad craters are shown whiter against the main grey regolith, while the lunar seas are much darker, almost basalt in colour. — Waxing Gibbous

The Moon

It can be very easy to dismiss an object with such permanence as the moon as an uninteresting. The moon's presence is constantly changing as it moves across the sky, and its illumination shifts through its phases, offering a myriad of perspectives to capture.

White a red streams of light flow across the dark desert below the star-filled sky. The lower horizon has a gentle amber glow from the distant towns, while the full moon's light pierces through the thin scattering of clouds in an otherwise clear night sky. — Bidiyah Moonrise, Oman

The illuminated dome of Ankara's Atakule is illuminated in bright red against the black sky. Adjacent to the domed tower is a bright full moon highlighting the contrast between the moon's darker seas and grey regolith. — Full Moon over Ankara, Turkey

A rusty orange-coloured 50% waxing gibbous moon rises over the dark shadowy outlines of three tall towers in Bangkok. The Sky is softly glowing amber from the city's lights below. Red warning lights illuminate the tower's periphery. — Red Moon Rises over Bangkok, Thailand

Cape Canaveral

Low Earth orbit has never been more accessible than now. And as such, the frequency of launches offers many opportunities to capture one of the most marvellous of spectacles.

The sky in the distant horizon, beyond the low cloud layer beneath the volcano's rim begins to brighten from the warm glow of the encroaching dawn. Above the horizon's glow the still dark skies display a spattering of the brightest stars. The edge of the volcano's rim is silhouetted against the surrounding cloud, while in the lower right of the frame, the radio towers of the national park's guard office stand out against the darkness. Just beneath the clouds, the lights of the town of Boquette glint in the still night. — First Light in Panama, Volcan Baru, Panama

The very edge of the volcano's rim casts a black silhouette against the lights of the towns below, and the myriad of stars above. The light of civilisation casts a gentle glow on the low cloud in the distant horizon. Above, a couple of shooting stars can be seen streaking across the dark sky. — Stars Above, City Lights Below, Volcan Baru, Panama

High atop the tallest mountain in Oman, the isolation of the scene is apparent from the distance between the mountains dark valleys and the far distant lights of towns beyond. The intensity of the bright lights in the distance casts a murky orange glow on the distant clouds in an otherwise black sky. A few bright stars manage to peer through the darkness. — Night Atop the Roof of Oman, Jebel Shams, Oman

Mountains and Water

To stand on the roof of the world really does bring you that much closer to the heavens above. And likewise, there's a surreal majesty in seeing the skies reflected in stillness of the water.

The still clear lake ahead, rimmed by the tall trees on either side perfectly mirrors the starry skies above. In the distance, at the waters edge the soft amber glow of a lodge casts its light upon the lake. Close to the horizon, the distant glow of habited spaces casts a warm glow against the darkness. — Midnight Reflections, Table Rock, SC, USA

The tropical jungle canopy wraps itself around the frame, its left protrusions framing the stars littering the dark sky beyond. — Jungle Shrouded View to the Stars, Bocas del Toro, Panama

The expansive horizon is filled with the bright lights of the star field against a dark sky. The bare branches of the tall trees reach up into the dark sky, as though stretching out to touch the heavens. — Reach for the Stars, Table Rock, SC, USA

The long exposure creates a serenely smooth effect on the water below the starry night sky. To the right, the light of the jetty illuminates the dense tropical foliage at the waters edge. in the distance, the glow from the town of Bocas del Toro casts a bright white glow against an otherwise perfect night sky. — Islands & Stars, Bocas del Toro, Panama

Barely illuminated are the surrounding peaks of the caucus mountains. Beyond the dense dark clouds the stars can be seen shining brightly. — Caucus Nights, Shatili, Georgia

The caucus mountain peaks form a 'v' where they intersect with the sky beyond the mountains. The sky is the darkest blue of night against the clustering of stars in the sky. To the right of the frame tall tree is illuminated in red and amber from the town just behind. — Caucus Nights 2, Shatili, Georgia

Looking towards Disneyland's Epcot lake. The outline of a Japanese style Tori gate stands above a crows of revellers. In the sky, a white laser light points to the clouds, while to the right of the gate fireworks burst in the sky. Colours of purple, red and orange. — Epcot Fireworks, Disneyland, FL, USA

Looking towards Disneyland's Epcot lake. The outline of a Japanese style Tori gate stands above a crows of revellers. In the sky, tow fireworks, with trailing bright sparks shoot across from left towards the centre. Right of the gate, an enormous white burst of light, with some hint of miniature firework streams present in the expanding sphere of light explodes in the sky. — Epcot Firework Finale, Disneyland, FL, USA

Thunderbolts and Lightning

Playing with light on a night canvas. While I may not have directed the fireworks, being able to frame up, depress the shutter and enjoy the show is a welcome reprieve. Photographing lightning, is an exercise in frustration by contrast.

A single, straight road in the desert occupies the centre of the image. In the centre of the road, a lone figure is silhouetted against the bright white and purple light streaks behind, as though emerging from it. In the far distance, the skies are dark blue, with a soft glow on the horizon. A few stars can be seen glinting in the sky. — The Visitor

A wide perspective of the sprawling city spreads outwards, the maze of street lights below forming rivers of amber light. in the skies above, the dark storm clouds are converted to an electric purple from the bolt of lightning racing from a cloud cluster on the right towards the centre. — Lightning Strikes, Ankara, Turkey

Celebrations Dark Skies Landscapes Motion Portraits Urbanscapes

If ever there was a way to remind oneself of the vastness of the universe we occupy, it is when one pauses and gazes at the stars.

Dark Skies

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