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DarkSky International has introduced the winners of its nighttime images contest, Capture the Dark 2026. This yr’s contest, its sixth annual version, drew a document variety of entries from photographers in over 30 international locations.
“Light pollution is increasing at an alarming rate — nearly 10% each year worldwide –disrupting wildlife, affecting community well-being, and making it harder to experience the beauty of the night sky,” DarkSky International explains. “DarkSky International is working to change this through advocacy, education, and programs that encourage responsible, community-friendly outdoor lighting.”
The Capture the Dark images competitors is a crucial a part of the group’s efforts to protect darkish skies and lift consciousness about mild air pollution. The contest makes use of “the power of photography to showcase the beauty of the night while highlighting the harmful effects of light pollution through a variety of contest categories.”
The judges chosen the highest three finishers throughout 9 customary classes, starting from expansive evening panorama pictures to deep-sky observations, plus winners in a particular Star Trek-themed class and one People’s Choice Award winner. All 31 profitable pictures are featured beneath.
Nightscapes
Paul Wilson received prime honors within the Nightscape class with a good looking tracked panorama picture captured in Quorn, South Australia. Wilson used his Canon EOS R5 with a Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG Art lens.
International Dark Sky Places
In the International Dark Sky Places class, photographer Kat Lawman received for a good looking blended composite captured in Arches National Park in Utah, United States. Lawman used each Sony a7 III and a7 IV mirrorless our bodies alongside a Sony 20mm f/1.8 lens for the ultimate picture.
Quality Lighting an Design
Photographer Ross Steensland’s picture from Little Mount Hoffman Lookout in California bested the stiff competitors within the Quality Lighting and Design class. Steensland used an astro-modified Sony a7 III with a Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art lens.
The Impact of Light Pollution
While the DarkSky International Capture the Dark Photo Contest goals to showcase what folks can see on the planet’s darkest skies, it additionally endeavors to point out the influence of sunshine air pollution on the evening sky. Kouyu Wang’s category-winning shot exhibits the paths of many satellites within the sky, for instance.
Creatures of the Night
On Earth, many animals depend on very darkish evening skies to outlive. Light air pollution can have an effect on wildlife in varied methods. Tom Rae’s profitable picture captured in Waitomo, New Zealand, superbly exhibits off how life not solely survives within the lifeless (or dwelling) of evening, however thrives.
Deep Sky Observations
Dark skies are additionally essential for astronomers who need to swap out their wide-angle lens for a telescope. Julien De Winter’s picture captures the cosmic great thing about nebulae LBN 528 and LBN 532 and supernova SNR G110.3+11.3.
Mobile Nighttime Photography
Smartphone digital camera know-how has improved dramatically in recent times, making it potential to make use of telephones to seize the fantastic thing about the evening sky. Enrique Barquet received this class with a cellphone picture of an aurora over Mount Shuksan in Washington.
Young Astrophotographers
Category winner Norah Swann, second-place photographer Kunzhe Chen, and bronze winner Avis Kennedy-Stirling present that astrophotography isn’t only for veteran adults; children can expertly seize the evening sky, too.
Nighttime Adventures
Dennis Lehtonen received the Nighttime Adventures class along with his improbable single-exposure aurora shot captured in Greenland utilizing a Sony a7 IV and Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM lens.
Star Trek 60
This yr’s particular class, Star Trek 60, celebrates the sixtieth anniversary of the enduring sci-fi franchise, Star Trek, which has impressed a love of the cosmos amongst many followers through the years. Monika Deviat received the class along with her nighttime self-portrait of flashing the enduring Vulcan salute in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada.
People’s Choice Award
Canadian photographer Ethan Keller received the People’s Choice Award for his picture of the northern lights captured in Alberta.
“As a young Canadian fascinated by ancient folklore, I’ve grown up learning of Indigenous stories in which the Aurora Borealis represents the spirits of ancestors. I believe this image reflects those legends, depicting the constellations of Ursa Major (the Great Bear) and Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs) surrounded by the vibrant mosaic of the northern lights,” Keller says.
Image creditDarkSky International’s Capture the Dark 2026 Photography Contest. Individual photographers are credited within the captions.
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