Captured in Darkness: Stories of Our Night Photography Winners
- The Artist Gallery Team
- Jan 30
- 4 min read
Night photography is an art that demands both technical precision and creative intuition, pushing photographers to transform darkness into powerful visual stories. In this article, we present the stories of the three best photographers from our Night Photography Contest—artists who stood out for their ability to master low light, long exposures, and atmosphere to create truly captivating images. Beyond their winning photographs, we explore their creative journeys, inspirations, and the moments behind the lens that led to their success. Each story offers a unique perspective on how night photography can reveal emotion, mystery, and beauty when the world is illuminated by artificial light, moonlight, and stars.
I first started taking photos during a stint living in the Canadian Rockies, having moved there from the small coastal English town I called home for most of my life I had never encountered a striking, pristine wilderness like it before. I fell in love. I became obsessive over wanting to keep those landscapes for myself, and photography became the means through which I could do that. I spent vast amounts of my time in Canada exploring those wild areas, camera in hand photographing what I could.
I continued my journey into photography with a chance opportunity to work leading photo expeditions in Peru, where I spent two years working closely with local communities in the mountains, leading photographer clients through the Andes conducting workshops in portraiture, landscape and astro photography. After Peru I stepped into the expedition cruise industry where I began work sharing my knowledge and passion in photography with guests onboard expedition ships in the world’s wildest and most remote regions from the high Arctic to Antarctica and everywhere in between.
My first love in terms of photography was always in landscapes, however my time working in the Peruvian Andes introduced me to portraiture and then furthermore my time in the polar regions has given me a great appreciation for wildlife photography.
To me photography absolutely must be about the process, to go out simply to pursue a photo is foolish if there is no enjoyment in the journey to take that photo. I believe a photographer risks bitter disappointment if their only goal is to create an image.
The journey that went into creating my Everest by night image for example, it took 24 days of trekking alone in the Himalayas carrying my photography equipment to take that photo, the experience alone was a worthy objective, the photo was a happy product of that experience.
Each image I take is a deeply personal affair, whenever I look at every one of them I recall the story that went into it, the experiences that led up to it, the feeling I had when I stood in that place and hit the shutter button. This is my primary focus always, if others like the photo too then I see that simply as a bonus.
More of my work can be found on my Instagram @alxxvisuals or my website alexjwphoto.com.
ROSITSA DIMITROVA
Ever since the first time I saw the Milky way core captured in my camera, I knew - that was it. I was utterly in love! That was almost 8 years ago, but I still remember this moment as if it were yesterday.
Since then, every time I go shooting at night, I feel this very special connection not just with nature, but with the cosmos. I feel small, I feel humble and respectful. I am always in awe of the starry skies around the world - especially the very dark ones as in Easter Island. I was so mesmerized by the huge moai statues with the backdrop of the Milky way, that I even forgot about the terrifying hundreds of cockroaches crawling beneath our feet.
The main goal of my images is not the number of likes on social media. It’s telling a story - of connection between people and space. Through photography I strive to teleport the people at that exact place - through provoking emotions - the same emotions I felt while visiting and shooting.
You can follow my travel blog - https://tripswithrosie.com or follow me on Instagram - https://instagram.com/tripswithrosie
I love landscape photography because it gives me the possibility to spend time in nature, from walking up to the top of a mountain or by just enjoying a relaxing walk in the forest.
Following the love of nature and travels too, then came photography: in 2010 I bought my first camera to bring with me on my travels, and then in 2020 I decided to get deeper with this hobby, enrolling in some courses and reading photography books, eventually bringing me where I am today.
My favorite type is night photography, from stars to auroras and moonlit landscapes too !
Quite frankly, I aspire to become the best!
For me photography is a way to express myself, my feelings and not the least to enjoy the beauty of nature ! When I am shooting I pretty much think of not doing mistakes, so I concentrate on what I am doing but also leave a bit of time to enjoy the moment, which is very important, if not the most important!
About me, people can follow me on Instagram mainly but also on my website curtienrico.com.
Don't forget to take a look to our other open photo contests for more opportunities to showcase your skills and creativity. Explore them here: www.theartistgallery.art/open-contests.
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