The sky, and the Milky Way especially, has been an object of human fascination since the dawn of time. It brought about many myths, origin stories, and the pure vastness of it doesn't cease to amaze us even to this day. Putting all myths and stories aside, today let's just take a good look at it and sigh in wonder. And these brilliant photos that pair the Milky Way with beautiful images of the Earth will help us do just that.
"Capture The Atlas" has recently announced their winners of the Milky Way Photographer of the Year award. This year has been abundant with beautiful images of the night sky taken by the professionals of this field. Taking a photo like this requires a lot of patience, expertise in the nuances of the night sky, a great deal of planning, and a dash of luck, so let's not just appreciate the photo itself, but also the amount of effort it takes to capture these wonderful photos.
#21 “Desolation” By Phil Sisto
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah – USA
“Utah is a place that captured my heart from the beginning of my journey as a Milky Way photographer. Living in the light-polluted Midwest (I’m located in northeast Ohio), it takes three to four hours of driving from my home to arrive at any place where you can get an even good look at the stars. Because of this, I make my way out West every summer now, seeking out the darkest skies and most epic locations I can find to do photography.
When I learned that Capitol Reef—arguably the darkest national park in Utah—offered a residency program for selected artists, I could live and work under those incredible skies for an entire month. I put together a portfolio of the best work I had and an ambitious program proposal…and got accepted! I captured this image in the remote Cathedral Valley District of the park. I placed my camera low to the ground, exaggerating the otherworldly mud cracks with my wide-angle lens, and shot the sky with a longer lens as a panorama on my star tracker.”
Report
16points
#22 “Adk Magic” By Daniel Stein
Adirondack Mountains, New York – USA
“The East Coast is less commonly known for Milky Way photography due to its condensed population and, as a result, intense light pollution. However, there are still a few dark skies remaining…
Tucked away in upstate NY, the Adirondacks region consists of 6 million acres of land designated as 'Forever Wild.' It is home to some of the last known darkest skies on the East Coast. I feel like I am home when I am hiking in the Adirondacks. This shot, then, captures the magic which I feel fills my heart when I am there. Not only does it consist of a lake that seems to take the formation of a heart itself, but it also shows just how much the East Coast has to offer: beautiful woodlands combined with still water and rolling hills. My heart is in these mountains, and I am so thankful to be able to explore them.
With that in mind, these mountains are constantly being swarmed with light pollution. The yellow glow on the horizon is light pollution from within the region and way off in the distance. My goal is to use my photography to raise awareness about the issue and restore the night. Remember: if you plan to visit the region, please read up on all current regulations, and leave no trace on site.”
Report
16points
#23 “Riaño” By Pablo Ruiz
Riaño, Spain
“I captured this image last winter in the Riaño Mountain Reservoir in Spain. The biggest difficulty that night was mainly the cold; it was over -10 degrees. The moisture in the reservoir was freezing the lens, and it was difficult to shoot for an extended period of time.
I planned the photograph using PhotoPills and, when the weather forecast was promising, I decided to try for it. The composition of the winter Milky Way over the mountains and the reservoir created magical scenery.”
Report
15points
#24 “Rising From The Dust” By Lorenzo Ranieri Tenti
Tenerife, the Canary Islands – Spain
“This photograph was taken in Teide Volcano National Park on the island of Tenerife and showed our beautiful Galaxy over an incredible volcanic landscape—a real night photographer’s wonderland!
From my adventure in Tenerife, this image is the one that best represents my experience, both the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ side. As you can see in the photo, the landscape is shaped by incredible volcanic structures that rise toward the sky as massive towers that perfectly frame the mighty Milky Way. Then, our home Galaxy, the Milky Way, seems to rise from a thick blanket of dust that scatters all the light from the faraway towns, creating a warm glow over the horizon.
The 'Calima' causes this glow, a warm wind from Africa, especially from the region of the Sahara Desert. This warm wind is always loaded with the sand of the desert, and it has a big impact on night sky visibility, obscuring the sky and the beautiful Milky Way.
In the end, all the good and bad things came together perfectly in this image, giving me the chance to show you this incredible panorama and to go back home with a beautiful memory.”
Report
15points
#25 “Paradise Beach” By Alyn Wallace
Lycian Way, Turkey
“I spent the pandemic in a remote valley on the southwest coast of Turkey trying to avoid the chaos of restrictions and lockdowns and be surrounded by beautiful nature instead. Sadly, the valley I was residing in has very steep walls and only a clear view west, but, as the Milky Way core rises in the southeast at this time of year, I had to hike up over the mountains to get a good view.
The path to get to this location is part of the Lycian Way, a popular multi-day hiking trail along the incredibly beautiful coastline of Turkey. The view overlooks a beach known as 'Cennet,' which, translated from Turkish, means 'Paradise,' a name I completely agree with!
Sitting on the mountainside enjoying this view of the Milky Way arching across the mountains while listening to the sound of the waves breaking gently below and the owls twitting through the valleys was just the kind of peace and solitude I needed.”
Report
13points
