I undertook a three-day backpacking trip to Mount Aspiring in July of 2016, a deep winter of Southern Alps of New Zealand. I climbed to the Liverpool Hut, and from a high spot on the ridge above the hut, I could see a grand view: amazing night sky over the West Matukituki Valley.

Mount Aspiring, New Zealand

Nikon D810, 14–24mm f/2.8, 30, f/2.8, ISO 5000, Berno C2980 tripod, panorama image includes two rows of images of Milky Way sky (four frames) and mountain and valley (six frames)

One of the most amazing things to see in the Australian outback is the colours across the landscape at sunset and sunrise. I love how the Milky Way is perfectly positioned here with the silhouette of the ridge line. I started shooting the image just before astronomical twilight, and finished on the foreground just before blue hour.

Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges, South Australia

Sony A7 III, Sony 24mm 1.8GM, 30–60, f/2.0–f/2.8, ISO 6400, tripod, 25 x image horizontal panorama, tracked using a Skywatcher Star Adventurer

Milky Way core arching over the limestone pinnacles in the Nambung National Park, Western Australia. The dark night skies of WA are a dream location to shoot astrophotography, and it is encouraging to see local councils taking steps to preserve these dark sky locations.

Nambung National Park (The Pinnacles), Western Australia

Sony A7 III, Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM, 13, f/2.0, ISO 4000, Sirui W-1204 tripod with K20II head, Nanlite Pavotube II 6C set to 3900K temperature and 2% brightness, photo is a panorama comprising six panels, each panel is
a stack of five individual shots plus a couple of dark frames, stacking in Sequator software, stitching and post processing in Affinity Photo

Milky Way core rising over the dunes in the Nambung National Park, Western Australia. The tracks in the foreground were made by one of the local echidnas. The dark night skies of WA are a dream location to shoot astrophotography.

Nambung National Park, Cervantes, Western Australia

Canon 5D Mk IV, Tamron 15–30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD 15mm, 20, f/2.8, ISO 4000, Sirui W-1204 tripod with K20II head, foreground lighting iPhone screen and passing car, sky panel is a stack of seven individual shots plus a dark frame, fore- ground is a stack of six individual shots, stacking in Sequator software, stitching and post processing in Affinity Photo

Most of our galaxy arcs over a prominent and rocky coastal formation. Venus is reflected in the softened, time-exposed sea, surrounded by faint zodiacal light as a nearby lighthouse shines out to sea.

Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Western Australia

Sony A7R III, Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM, 13 (sky) 121 (foreground), f/1.8 (sky) f/2.2 (foreground), ISO 4000 (sky) ISO 800 (foreground), tripod, panorama with five panels and median stack of six identical images per panel (sky), panorama with five panels and dark frame subtracted from each panel (foreground)

A tribute to the ‘Binalong Tree’ which was a favourite subject of many landscape photographers visiting the region. The tree succumbed to the elements in 2021.

Bay of Fires Conservation Area, Tasmania

Sony A7 III, Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G, 13, f/2.0, ISO 6400, tripod, focus-stacked

A roaring Pelverata Falls plunges off the moon-lit escarpment as the galactic core of the Milky Way rises above Snug Tiers Nature Recreation Area, Tasmania.

Pelverata Falls, Snug Tiers Nature Recreation Area, Tasmania

Sony A7R III, Sony FE 16–35mm f/2.8 GM, 195 (foreground) 10 (sky), f/2.8, ISO 800 (foreground) ISO 8000 (sky), tripod, image is a blend of two frames for noise reduction

A beautiful dead tree stands above the rest as the fog lingers over Lake Toolondo and the Milky Way lines up horizontally across the night sky. When I saw this scene that night, it was as if the tree and the Milky Way were somehow connected despite the distance.

Toolondo Reservoir, Toolondo, Victoria

Nikon D850, Nikkor 14–24mm 20mm, 20, f/2.8, ISO 8000, tripod, 15 images stacked for noise reduction

Taken right before the Milky Way disappeared into blue hour on a dead silent foggy morning. The dead trees scattered throughout Lake Toolondo create an eerie yet beautiful scene under the stars.

Toolondo Reservoir, Toolondo, Victoria

Nikon D850, Sigma 50 mm Art, 13, f/2, ISO 4000, tripod, 13 frame, single row panorama