Heavenly Visions: Capturing the Night Sky

Story by Carolyn Males

The starriest skies I’d ever seen were far from home. The first time was at an observatory12,500 feet above sea level at Lake Titicaca in Bolivia when the roof slowly slid open, revealing a vast panorama of stars shimmering in the darkest of skies: planets, nebulae, galaxies, the Southern Cross. The Milky Way deemed Mayu, a celestial river or sacred path between worlds by ancient Andeans. This cosmic tapestry was more expansive than I’d ever imagined. Then years later, while camping in the Sahara, once again I stood awe-struck as I took in the cosmos from an African vantage point, perhaps seeing it just as our ancestors had millennia ago before lights and urban living dimmed the stars. Both times the best images I left with were memories, not photos. 

Capturing a crisp, beautiful night shot, as these five photographers have done, calls for technical skill combined with a good eye for composition. The long exposures needed require patience and a willingness to wait multiple seconds or minutes until the shutter finally clicks. That, in turn, means carting a tripod to stabilize the camera, preventing the blur that one would get from hand holding it. And, of course, traveling away from “civilization” to seek dark places where ambient light does not wash out the heavens offers the most spectacular views.

Bill Gwynne (Bill the Sky Guy): Eta Carina Nebula

I was in a remote part of Africa in the Namib Desert when I photographed the Eta Carina Nebula, one of the brightest nebulae in the Milky Way. There are scientists who have spent their entire careers studying the goings-on in this Southern Hemisphere showpiece. The image you see is the result of more than 100 four-minute exposures that I shot over five nights. When you zoom in, you can see a lot of interesting things: the Keyhole Nebula (a dark area, made of dust and gas), glowing clouds of hydrogen from the radiation emitted from its embedded bright stars, an open star cluster and, in the center of it all, a star that is ready to bust into a supernova explosion.

Ruth McCully: Molokai’sStar-filled Sky

I shot this image on a November night at 4 a.m. on the island of Molokai, the least visited island in the state of Hawaii. While everyone else was asleep, I stood outside in the cool night air, listening to the occasional bird call. The skies were clear and cloudless, with no moon, which allowed for the stars to shine clearly and brightly. Below, the stars were reflected in the water of the pool. I loved how this tree was silhouetted against the sky with the clouds to the right of the tree just above the horizon and the glow of the lights on the horizon that enhanced the tree’s silhouette. As I witnessed the mystery of the heavens and majesty of the universe, I was overcome with a sense of peace as well as exhilaration. I was so taken by the moment that I stayed there for three more hours to watch the birth of a new day. I remember saying out loud, “thank you!” It is a night that I will always remember.

Jamie Anderson: Driftwood Beach at Night

Over the years I took many photos of this tree, which stood on Jekyll Island’s Driftwood Beach. At one time this was a picnic area with tables under the oak trees. Then, as the sea eroded the beach and infiltrated the forest, the trees died out. But the salt in the water preserved their trunks so they can stand like this for many years. Lighting up the sky above its branches are the inner bands of our galaxy, the Milky Way. The brightest spot is its inner core. Our entire solar system, with the sun in one of the outer bands, is no bigger than one of those bright stars. Standing here on this beach at night is a serene experience when you realize how relatively small we are. At times, when I was out here alone, it could be a little spooky. Last September, after withstanding some major hurricanes over the years, Hurricane Helene finally toppled this tree. 

Kendra Natter: Celestial Guardian

I was standing on the quiet shores of Tybee Island, Georgia, at 9:30 p.m. in late September when I shot this photograph. After the last stragglers had departed, I had wandered the deserted beach alone, searching for an ideal place to set up my tripod and camera. Suddenly I came upon a pair of empty lifeguard chairs, which towered over me — a perfect spot! As the night deepened, a void of darkness descended. Lulled by the rhythmic sounds of gentle waves lapping upon the shore, I relished the cool ocean breeze, which kept me alert. Poised and expectant, I scanned the crystal-clear night sky. Before long, the Milky Way appeared — as if out of the ether — perfectly aligned behind the lifeguard stand. An endless array of stars scattered across the Georgia sky, coupled with a hint of the sun’s last light, fading slowly along the horizon. This celestial marvel took my breath away. Spellbound, I pondered what other unseen mysteries lie hidden in the vast expanse of space, acting as a guardian who protects us from harm.

Jeff Keefer: Midnight Moon Rising

I was alone on the beach near Sea Pines Beach Club around midnight, when I was struck by the long tails in the clouds. The bright moon, which was almost full, lit them up against the purplish sky, creating an interesting mix of colors and contrasts. For this photograph, I was focused on getting a good image of the clouds and needed a long exposure to show those patterns. The lights on the horizon to the right are boats headed to the Savannah Harbor. I am in awe of Mother Nature, and I often say a little prayer “please let me capture this the way you have it in the sky” as I press the shutter.