Navaneeth Unnikrishnan’s Surreal Astrophotography Is Incredible

“Technically we are imaging the past, the light that was emitted millions of years ago.”

- Navaneeth Unnikrishnan to BBC.

While most photographers focus on capturing the nuance of culture, the beauty of wildlife, the thrill of movement and more, astronomy photographer Navaneeth Unnikrishnan’s camera is pointed far away from anything remotely ‘earthly.’ Gazing up at the sky through his lens, this self-taught astrophotographer from Kerala beautifully captures meteor showers, the Milky way Galaxy’s dust rings, nebulae, phases of the moon and even just gorgeous starry nights that even Don McClean couldn’t depict any better.

What started out as a hobby photographing landscapes turned into a visual ode to the night sky with clarity and unbelievable colours infused in every picture. Nebulae and comets feature as his favourite subjects, and his passion is fueled by a unique exhilaration derived from his art. As he explains in an  interview, “Its the fact that we are able to record the photons emitted millions of years ago, view the universe through your camera, the kind of feeling and experience capturing these deep space objects from your backyard using your camera is something that no Hubble image can give you.”
Recognising the added challenges that come with his line of photography, he talks about the patience and dedication required to camping overnight just for that one perfect shot. Not to mention, the piles of equipment ranging from telephoto and wide angle lenses to camera and tripod gear. And even after capturing that sublime night-sky moment, there’s more work to be done. As he explains, “Post production plays a major role in astrophotography. Wide field astrophotography such as capturing the Milky way with landscapes and foregrounds doesn’t require much processing as compared to deep space images.”
As Unnikrishnan concludes, “Astrophotography is hard, but once you get hooked on to it, you will never find it hard and will never leave that passion of capturing the beauty of the night sky.” Scroll on for a glimpse of the night sky like you’ve never seen it before through his surreal photographs.

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