Capture the Dark 2026: Winning photographs
DarkSky International is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Capture the Dark photography contest.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. With over 2,200 entries from 30+ countries, together we’ve created a powerful story of the night: revealing its wonder, exploring its mysteries, and inviting others to join us in our journey to protect it.
Thank you to all who participated in this year’s contest.
Category Winners
Nightscapes | International Dark Sky Places | Quality Lighting and Design | The Impact of Light Pollution | Creatures of the Night | Deep Sky Observations | Mobile Nighttime Photography | Young Astrophotographers | Nighttime Adventures
SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS
People’s Choice Award | Star Trek 60
Press Release
Read the official press release: Capture the Dark 2026 winners announced
Nightscapes
First Place
Razorback
by Paul Wilson
“Captured from Razorback Lookout in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, this panorama spans the entire southern night sky. The Milky Way arches overhead while the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds hang to the south and the Zodiacal Light rises in the east, all visible in a single winter night. It celebrates the remarkable clarity of Australia’s dark skies, where multiple celestial phenomena can be experienced together above an iconic outback landscape.
Award
First place | Nightscapes
Location
Quorn, South Australia, Australia
Technical details
Tracked panorama | Canon R5 | Lens: 28mm Sigma Art | Aperture: f/2.5 | Shutter speed: 30s | ISO: 3200
Social media
Instagram: @paul_wilson_images
Second Place
Wind-Carved Earth, Star-Written Night
by Yifei Pei
Award
Second | Nightscapes
Location
Mangya, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China
Technical details
Blended | Nikon Z 7 2 bcf | Lens: Astrhori 6mm F2.8 Circular Fisheye | Aperture: f/2.8 | Shutter speed: 45s for sky, 1 panel, stacked 300 pics; 120s for foreground, 3 panels; 30s for people, 1 panel | ISO: 1600 for sky, 3200 for foreground, 3200 for people
Social media
Instagram: @yuitari.0719
Third Place
Forest of Stars
by Marcin Zajac
Award
Third place | Nightscapes
Location
Keetmanshoop, Karas, Namibia
Technical details
Tracked Panorama | Nikon D810 | Lens: Sigma 40mm | Aperture: f/1.4 | Shutter speed: 30s | ISO: 1600
Social media
Instagram: @mrcnzajac
International Dark Sky Places
First Place
Window to Orion
by Kathryn Lawman
“Captured beneath the pristine skies of Arches National Park, an International Dark Sky Park, this self-portrait frames Orion within the natural window of Turret Arch. Standing alone beneath the arch, I wanted to convey the scale of both the landscape and the cosmos. Using an astro-modified camera and blended H-alpha data, I revealed the delicate hydrogen clouds surrounding Orion, including Barnard’s Loop and its glowing nebulae. The image celebrates the importance of preserving dark skies, where the universe can still be experienced in remarkable detail above one of Earth’s most spectacular desert landscapes.”
Award
First place | International Dark Sky Places
Location
Sychdyn, Flintshire, UK
Technical details
Blended | Sony A7iii and Sony A7IV | Lens: Sony 20mm F1.8 | Aperture: f/2.2 | Shutter Speed: 30s for foreground, 60s stacked 9 frames for sky, 11 frames with Ha filter | ISO: 5000 for foreground, 800 for sky, 1600 for Ha frames
Social media
Instagram: @adventure.nightscapes
Second Place
Alpine Archway
by Max Inwood
Award
Second place | International Dark Sky Places
Location
Twizel, Canterbury, New Zealand
Technical details
Blended | Canon 6D | Lens: Sigma 28mm | Aperture: f/2 | Shutter Speed: 30s | ISO: 3200
Social media
Instagram: @max.nti
Third Place
Allos
by Florian Riou
Award
Third place | International Dark Sky Places
Location
Barcelonnette, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France
Technical details
Tracked Panorama | Sony A7iii | Lens: Sigma 28mm 1.4 | Aperture: f/1.4 | Shutter Speed: 60s | ISO: 640
Social media
Instagram: @florian.riou
Quality Lighting and Design
First Place
Little Mt Hoffman
by Ross Steensland
“Perched atop a cinder cone volcano, this small lookout offers sweeping views in every direction. From the warmth of a cozy wood stove, you can watch a sky filled with stars or the moon rise behind Mount Shasta through panoramic windows.
Award
First place | Quality Lighting and Design
Location
Myrtle Creek, Oregon
Technical details
Stacked | Astromod Sony A7iii | Lens: Sigma 24mm f1.4 | Aperture: f/2.5 | Shutter speed: 13s | ISO: 6400
Social media
Instagram: @rsteensland
Second Place
Colmars-les-Alpes: A “Starry Village”
by F. Xavier Cuvelier
Award
Second place | Quality Lighting and Design
Location
Colmars-les-Alpes, Alpes de Haute Provence, France
Technical details
Single exposure | Nikon Z6 | Lens: Samyang 24mm f/1.4 | Aperture: f/2.0 | Shutter speed: 3s | ISO: 3200
Social media
Instagram: @fxcuvelier
Third Place
Visions from Sicily Gangi, Etna with Gas Rings, Venus and the Sickle Moon
by Dario Giannobile
Award
Third place | Quality Lighting and Design
Location
Gangi, Sicily, Italy
Technical details
Blended | Canon 7D| Lens: Sigma 105mm | Aperture: f/2 | Shutter speed: 1.6s for landscape, 1/125 sec for sky | ISO: 100
Social media
Instagram: @astro.dario.giannobile
The Impact of Light Pollution
First Place
Artifical Comet
by Kouyu Wang
“This frame captures a newly launched Starlink satellite group. In time-lapse footage, they appear as short lines. The stacked images show their orbital drift and reveal the impact of satellite constellations on the night sky.”
Award
First place | The Impact of Light Pollution
Location
Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, Jiang’an Sumu, Siziwang Banner
Technical details
Stacked | Nikon D750 | Lens: Sigma 14mm Art | Aperture: f/2 | Shutter speed: 20s | ISO: 2000
Second Place
A dialogue between space and human light
by Mikel Iraeta
Award
Second place | The Impact of Light Pollution
Location
Nugget Point, Otago, New Zealand
Technical details
Blended | Nikon Z6a for sky, Nikon Z8 for ground | Lens: Nikkor Z 20mm f1.8 for sky, Laowa 10mm f2.8 for ground | Aperture: f/1.8 for sky, f/2.8 for ground | Shutter speed: 45s for sky, 60s for ground | ISO: 1600 for sky, 6400 for ground
Third Place
Night Sky over Yuanyang Terraced Fields
by 文俊 韦
Award
Third place | The Impact of Light Pollution
Location
Yunnan Province, Yuanyang County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous, China
Technical details
Stacked | Sony A7R III (BCF Astronomically Modified Camera) | Lens: Sigma 15mm f/1.4 Fisheye Lens | Aperture: f/1.4 | Shutter speed: 15s | ISO: 4000
Creatures of the Night
First Place
The Chasm
by Tom Rae
“These images were captured after rappelling over 100 metres (330 ft) straight down into a vast cave system in New Zealand’s North Island at night. The cavern was alive at night with glow worms and fragile ecosystems, an otherworldly show hidden deep in a landscape shaped over millions of years. Photographing this environment at night was incredibly challenging. The extreme humidity, subtle light from the glow worms and long exposures pushed my skills to the limit.”
Award
First place | Creatures of the Night
Location
Waitomo, New Zealand
Technical details
Tracked Panorama | Nikon Z8 + Z7IIA | Lens: Nikkor 20mm F1.8 + SIgma 40mm 1.4 | Aperture: f/1.8 | Shutter speed: 180s / 30s | ISO: 6400 / 1600
Social media
Instagram: @txmrae
Second Place
Chicago Lights
by Gerri Whitley
Award
Second place | Creatures of the Night
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Technical details
Stacked | Canon R6 | Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm
Social media
Instagram: @gerriwhitley
Third Place
Scorpion & Scorpious
by Nanthakumar K Nallvan
Award
Third place | Creatures of the Night
Location
Mersing, Johor, Malaysia
Technical details
Stacked | Nikon Z7ii | Lens: Viltrox 16mm F1.8 Z | Aperture: f/1.8 | Shutter speed: 15s | ISO: 1600
Deep Sky Observations
First Place
The Dementors of Cepheus (LBN 528 & LBN 532), Wardens of a Dead Star (SNR G110.3+11.3)
by Julien De Winter
“This rich region of Cepheus showcases multiple stages of stellar evolution through dust clouds, reflection and dark nebulae, a planetary nebula, and an ancient supernova remnant. LBN 532, LDN 1221, vdB 152, and LBN 528 reveal the intricate interplay of light, dust, and stellar winds, while PNG 111.0+11.6 represents the peaceful death of a low-mass star. Together, these objects form a striking portrait of cosmic birth, transformation, and stellar death.”
Award
First place | Deep Sky Observations
Location
Rockwood, Texas
Technical details
Stacked | ASI 6200 MC
Social media
Instagram: @dwj85
Second Place
Echoes of a Merger
by Paul Montague
Award
Second place | Deep Sky Observations
Location
Bendleby Ranges and Golden Grove, South Australia, Australia
Technical details
Stacked | ZWO 294MM Pro
Third Place
The Auriga Neblua Complex
by Andrew Warner
Award
Third place | Deep Sky Observations
Location
Rockwood, Texas
Technical details
Composite | ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Mobile Nighttime Photography
First Place
Aurora Over Mount Shuksan
by Enrique Barquet
“Captured with a mobile phone during the geomagnetic storm of May 10–11, 2024, this image shows the aurora spreading above Mount Shuksan. The snow-covered mountain reflects the green and magenta light, turning a familiar landscape into something completely different. It was one of those rare nights when simply being outside and paying attention was enough to witness an extraordinary scene.
Award
First place | Mobile Nighttime Photography
Location
Mt Shuksan, Washington
Technical details
Single exposure | Aperture: f/1.4 | Shutter speed: 5s | ISO: 1600
Social media
Instagram: @enriquebarquet
Second Place
Milky Way in White Pocket of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument
by Katrina Brown
Award
Second place | Mobile Nighttime Photography
Location
Marble Canyon, Arizona
Technical details
Single Exposure | Pixel 9 Pro XL | Lens: back camera 6.9mm f/1.7 | Aperture: f/1.7 | Shutter speed: 16s | ISO: 352
Social media
Instagram: @redheadkatrina
Third Place
Milky Way Arch with LMC and SMC over Taranaki Maunga
by Nikita Veerabahu Pillai
Award
Third place | Mobile Nighttime Photography
Location
Te Papakura O Taranaki, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Technical details
Panorama | Aperture: f/1.78 | Shutter speed: 30s | ISO: 4000
Young Astrophotographers
First Place
River of Light
by Norah Swann
“This photo captures synchronous fireflies over a creek. It shows how darkness is essential for the survival of nocturnal creatures.”
Award
First place | Young Astrophotographers
Location
Waynesville, North Carolina
Technical details
Stacked | Nikon D3500 | Lens: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8 DX
Second Place
Take A Nap In The Atacama Desert
by Kunzhe Chen
Award
Second place | Young Astrophotographers
Location
Antofagasta, Region de Antofagasta, Republic of Chile
Technical details
Tracked Panorama| Nikon Z6 | Lens: Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 S | Aperture: f/1.8 | Shutter speed: 60s | ISO: 1600
Third Place
Midsummer Night Cat and Fireflies
by Avis Kennedy-Stirling
Award
Third place | Young Astrophotographers
Location
Township A Range 12 TWP, Maine
Technical details
Single Exposure | iPhone 16 pro max | Lens: 24mm | Aperture: f/1.78 | Shutter speed: 1s | ISO: 10000
Nighttime Adventures
First Place
Aurora over the Prince Christian Sound
by Dennis Lehtonen
“The aurora forecast was promising, so I spent several hours jumping from one ice-covered rock to another, looking for an ideal photo location. Luck was on my side as the lack of wind allowed for some reflections also.”
Award
First place | Nighttime Adventures
Location
Tennant, California
Technical details
Single Exposure | Sony A7IV | Lens: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM | Aperture: f/1.8 | Shutter speed: 2.5s | ISO: 2000
Social media
Instagram: @astrodenniina
Second Place
Watching the Galaxy Rise
by Dustin Bischke
Award
Second place | Nighttime Adventures
Location
Waterton, Alberta, Canada
Technical details
Blended | Sony A7V | Lens: Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM | Aperture: f/1.8 | Shutter speed: 20s for sky, HDR blend of 8, 15 and 20s for foreground | ISO: 1600
Social media
Instagram: @db.astro
Third Place
The Cabin
by Chris Owen
Award
Third place | Nighttime Adventures
Location
Bannockburn, Otago, New Zealand
Technical details
Single Exposure | Sony A7IV | Lens: Sony 20mm F1.8 FE | Aperture: f/2.5 | Shutter speed: 10s | ISO: 4000
Social media
Facebook: Twentysix Frames Photography
People’s Choice Award
First Place
The Great Bear and the Rainbow Bridge La Grande Ourse et le pont arc-en-ciel
by Ethan Keller
“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.”
Award
People’s Choice Award
Location
Morinville, Alberta, Canada
Technical details
Single exposure | Canon 80D | Lens: Tamron SP 15-30mm F2.8 Di VC USD | Aperture: f/3.2 | Shutter speed: 1.3s | ISO: 1250
