Skyscapes 2024

Category winner

Tasman Gems by Tom Rae

"This photograph shows the rugged peaks of the Tasman Valley reaching up to the impressive features of the southern hemisphere summer night sky," Tom says.

"It includes the hydrogen clouds of the Gum Nebula (central red region) and various other regions of active star formation stretched throughout the fainter arms of the Milky Way."

Taken in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand, 10 December 2023

Runner-up

Symphony of the Night Sky by Fei Xue

"During a two-hour photography session, I captured the trails of stars moving across the night sky as Earth rotated. The night sky resembled a symphony, and the array of metal columns on the ground seemed like conductors leading the orchestral performance under the starry canopy," Fei explains.

"Together, they composed a harmonious symphony of the night sky and the ground. To better showcase this effect, I placed my camera on the ground and shot from a low-angle looking up."

Taken in Minqin, Gansu Province, China, 14 December 2023

Highly commended

Like Blue Lava by Petr Horalek

"I visited the northern beach of the small island of Medhufaru and couldn’t believe my eyes. The whole beach shone with engaging turquoise light, while the gems of the Southern Cross constellation – such as the Gum Nebula or Carina Nebula – appeared in the sky," Petr recalls.

"Locals say the bioluminescence of plankton peaks in early January, but this year the activity was prolonged by a month. In the nights before and after, it was not as strong, but on this night it was simply epic. As you walked on the beach, the plankton, lit up like small torches, stuck to your legs and feet. You could swim in the lagoon and see your movements illuminated by the plankton in the water. When a new wave hit the shore it looked like blue lava.

"This photograph is a single shot, processed for curves, white balance, selective colours, for H-alpha (hydrogen alpha) enhancement and denoising."

Taken in Medhufaru, Maldives, 14 February 2023