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 Prefecture, Qinghai, 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

Photo 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 Kat 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

Photo Location
Arches National Park, Utah, USA

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

Photo Location
Aoraki Mackenzie, 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

Photo Location
Col d’Allos, Alpes Azur Mercantour, 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

Photo Location
Little Mount Hoffman Lookout, California, USA

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

Photo Location
Colmars-les-Alpes, Alpes Azur Mercantour, 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

Photo 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

Photo Location
Jiang’an Sumu, Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

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

Photo 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

Photo Location
Yuanyang County, Yunnan, 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

Photo 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

Photo Location
Chicago, Illinois, USA

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

Photo 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, Landon Boehm, and Brian Diaz

“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, USA

Technical details
Stacked | ASI 6200 MC

Social media
Instagram: @dwj85, @diazastro2025

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, USA

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

Photo Location
Mount Shuksan, Washington, USA

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

Photo Location
Marble Canyon, Arizona, USA

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

Photo 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

Photo Location
Waynesville, North Carolina, USA

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

Photo Location
Atacama Desert, Antofagasta Region, 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

Photo Location
Township A, Range 12, Maine, USA

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

Photo Location
Aappilattoq, Kujalleq, Greenland

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

Photo 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

Photo 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

Photo 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

Star Trek 60

First Place

In View
by Monika Deviat

Award
First place | Star Trek 60

Photo Location
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Technical details
Blended | Z6ii Astromodified | Lens: Nikkor 20mm f1.8

Social media
Instagram: @monikadeviat

Second Place

Waiting for 2063
by Rositsa Dimitrova

Award
Second place | Star Trek 60

Photo Location
Tyulenovo, Bulgaria

Technical details
Single exposure | Sony A7iii astro-modified | Lens: Samyang 50/1.4

Social media
Instagram: @tripswithrosie

Third Place

Live Long and Prosper (In That Order)
by Ken Lee

Award
Third place | Star Trek 60

Photo Location
Joshua Tree National Park, California, United States

Technical details
Single Exposure | Pentax K-1 Mk 1 | Lens: Pentax 15-30mm f/2.8

Social media
Instagram: @kenleephotography