I have so much admiration for astrophotographers, the patience required, not only to wait to get the shot, but to know when to call it after investing hours is a great skill to have. Having checked the weather in detail the following morning and knowing where the best spot was, we headed out the next evening with higher hopes, confident we’d get the shot.
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Photo by Matt Matkin. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 8-sec., f/1.4, ISO 3200
Behind The Shot: Capturing A Star-Spangled Sky Over Zion
Photographer: Matt Matkin
Alpha 7R V , FE 35mm F1.4 GM , 8-sec. , ƒ/1.4 , ISO 3200
Photographer: Matt Matkin
Alpha 7R V , FE 35mm F1.4 GM , 1/125-sec. , ƒ/8 , ISO 320
Photographer: Matt Matkin
Alpha 7R V , FE 14mm F1.8 GM , 10-sec. , ƒ/1.8 , ISO 4000
Reading Time 5 min.
Author
Date 2023.07.04
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Matt Matkin (@matt_matkin) is a visual storyteller who recently moved across to the US to land a dream job as a video producer. “I’ve always had a passion for videography and photography. I always considered myself a videographer over a photographer yet, my love for photography has grown so much that I think I’m taking more photos than videos these days. There’s magic to capturing a moment in time where everything lines up perfectly and you get the shot you had in mind, I can’t think of a better feeling. But my favorite part of photography has to be the story behind the shots. Sharing my photos with friends and family and explaining how I got them is always the best part for me.” We saw this Milky Way image created and we wanted to learn more about how Matkin created it, so we asked. Below, he shares the story behind the shot in his own words.
Product Preview: In This Article You’ll Find: – Sony Alpha 7R V – Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master – Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master
Photo by Matt Matkin. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 8-sec., f/1.4, ISO 3200
Monique Cudbertson: Brilliant, Star-studded Paintings of the Night Sky
If you ask me, there’s nothing quite so awe-inspiring as standing outside at night (far away from the lights of civilization) and seeing countless brilliant stars sparkling overhead, each one somehow shining across millions of miles to reach our little corner of the universe.
Monique Cudbertson captures that feeling perfectly with her “Star Gazing Nightscapes” below, and lucky for us, she doesn’t stop at just stars!
With Galaxies and Arches, for example, Monique showcases both the natural red rock formations of Utah’s Arches National Park and a gorgeous view of the Milky Way.
I love the juxtaposition of orange and blue in this painting, and how it causes the rocks to jump forward into the foreground. The sky behind it feels massive, too, filled with a glow that illuminates a truly beautiful and desolate landscape.
Next, in a commissioned piece titled Two Moons and Mist, Monique features a non-earth landscape with two massive celestial moons floating above a stunning hillside of fog-shrouded trees.
We know there are worlds out there with more than one moon, but knowing it doesn’t hold a candle to seeing it. It seems like a collision is imminent, or at least an eclipse, which makes for an incredibly dynamic visual story.
Last but not least, Starry Joshua Tree is (in my opinion) the perfect way to end this post. I’m a huge fan of non-standard formats, and I especially love extra-tall paintings that allow your eyes to travel up and down a painting, soaking in every detail.
The Joshua Tree manages to remain the focus of this painting, despite the brilliant pinpoints of light and color streaming behind it—no small feat, given the amazing view from that location in Southern California.
If you have another minute, I encourage you to view the rest of Monique Cudbertson’s paintings at her website right away. You’ll be glad you did!
