The popular outdoor photo planning app PhotoPills has picked 36 of the best Sun, Moon, and Milky Way photos captured by photographers in its community over the past year. If you need some photo inspiration and enjoy night sky shots, this is the gallery for you.
Photos in this gallery were submitted to the PhotoPills Awards, which awards a $3,000 cash grand prize to the best overall photo.
Sailboat with an Omega Sunset
“Sailboat with an Omega Sunset” captured in Valencia (Spain) by Toni Sendra (@sendratoni). Canon 5D Mark IV | 400mm | f/8 | 1/4000s | ISO 800.
Sendra is the winner of the 2020 PhotoPills Awards and the cash prize.
Sunrise in Nynäshamn
Man shot from a cave during the last Sunrise of 2019 in Nynäshamn (Sweden) by Philip Slotte (@philipslotte). Nikon D810 | 16mm | f/16 | 1/13s | ISO 100.
Star Trails on the Road
Star trails over the Bixby Bridge on the Pacific Coast Highway in Central California (USA) by Marcin Zajac (@mrcnzajac). Nikon D600 | 15mm | f/4 | 5min | ISO 100 | Stacked photos.
The Moon and the Windmills of Consuegra
Moonrise on December 11, 2019 over the windmills of Consuegra (Spain) at Sunset by Juan López Ruiz (@j.lopez1989). Nikon D750 | 600mm | f/11 | 1/25s | ISO 100.
Solar Eclipse
Man over the solar eclipse in the Andes (Chile) by Michael Ostaszewski (@michael_ostaszewski). Canon 5D Mark IV | 800mm | f/8 | 1/100s, 1/50s, 1/25s, 1/13s, 1/6s, 1/3s, 0.6s | ISO 800.
Milky Way Reflection Over Uyuni
Man over the Milky Way reflected on the Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) by Jheison Huerta (@jheison_huerta). Canon 5D mark IV | 16mm | f/2.8 | 20s | ISO 6400.
Full Moon Behind the Mallorca Cathedral
Full Moon with the Cathedral of Mallorca (Spain) by Jaume Llinàs (@ja1met). Sony a7 III | 560mm | f/8 | 1/40s | ISO 1600.
Red Earthshine
Twighlight earthshine over a silhouette of the vegetation in South Chile by Yuri Beletsky (@yuribeletsky). Nikon D810a | 200mm | f/5.6 | 1/20s | ISO 400.
Bivouac Under the Snow and the Milky Way
Bivouac in the snow under the winter Milky Way, next to the Veronica Cabin Refuge in Picos de Europa (Spain) by Pablo Ruiz García (@pablo.ruizgarcia). Nikon D810 | 14mm | f/2.8 | 25s | ISO 6400 | 3800K.
Spinaker Tower at Sunset
Portsmouth’s Spinaker Tower at Sunset, taken from Hayling Island (UK) by Trevor Owen (@tre_o_photo). Sony a7R III | 500mm | f/9 | 1/4000 | ISO 125.
Color Circumpolar
Circumpolar above some trees by Mario Konang (@lightrecords_mario_konang).
Moonset Behind Monserrat
Moonset behind Montserrat mountain by Miquel (@somriualacamera). Canon EOS 80D | 300mm | f/6.3 | 1/500s | ISO 800.
Sunrise at The Caddell’s Folly
Sunrise over The Caddell’s Folly in Naul (Meath, Ireland) by Trevor Owen (@breaking_light_pictures). DJI Mavic Pro 2 | 28mm | f/3.5 | 1/200s | ISO 100.
Milky Way Arch Over the Grignetta Shelter
Milky Way arch over the Grignetta shelter at the Bergamo Alps (Italy) by Stefano Pellegrini (@pels_photo). Nikon D850 | 20mm | f/1.8 | 30s | ISO 4000 | Haida Clear Night filter.
Parishenge at the Arc du Triomphe
Parishenge at the Arc du Triomphe in Paris (France) by Carole Coiffier (@carole_coiffiercolas). Nikon D850 | 200mm | f/8 | 1/8000s | ISO 160.
Full Moon Behind the Edge NYC Sky Deck
Full Moon behind the Edge NYC sky deck in New York City (USA) by Jeff Casey (@jeffrcasey). Nikon D850 | 390mm | f/9 | 1/50s | ISO 64.
Milky Way Over a Rock Arch
Milky Way over a rock arch in Picos de Europa (Spain) by Pablo Ruiz García (@pablo.ruizgarcia). Nikon D810 | 14mm | f/2.8 | 25s | ISO 6400 | 2-row panorama (foreground) and 1-row panorama (sky).
Solar Eclipse Silhouettes
Solar eclipse silhouettes by Kareem Khalaf (@kareemkhalaf_photography). Nikon D850 | 800mm | f/22 | 1/1000s | ISO 100 | ND 10 stops.
Moon Silhouette
Moon silhouette in La Pedriza (Spain) by Paco Farero (@paco_farero). Canon 5D Mark IV | 840mm | f/13 | 1/400s | ISO 3200.
Comet Neowise Over Heastone Rock
Comet Neowise over Heastone Rock in Josua Tree National Park (California, USA) by Chris Olivas (@cholivas). Sony a7S II | 200mm | f/4 | 10s | ISO 12800.
Full Moon and Jupiter with its Moons
Full Moon and Jupiter with its moons over a climber silhouette in La Pedriza (Spain) by Dani Sanz (@danisanzfoto). Canon 6D Mark II | 300mm | f/5.6 | 1/15s (foreground), 1/60s and 1/125s (Moon) | ISO 3200 | 2x teleconverter | 3-shot blending.
Sunburst Behind the Sassolungo
Sunburst behind the Sassolungo in the Dolomites (Italy) by Davide Donati (@xandet). Nikon D750 | 30mm | f/13 | 1/100s | ISO 100.
Comet Neowise Over Stonehenge
Comet Neowise over Stonehenge (Wiltshire, UK) by Declan Deval (@decsphotos). Canon Ra | 150mm | f/5 |15s (foreground) and 30s (sky) | ISO 1600.
Full Moon Rising Behind Cape Byron Lighthouse
Full Moon rising behind Cape Byron Lighthouse at Byron Bay (New South Wales, Australia) by Bob Charlton (@oz_nippon_images). Canon 5D Mark IV | 1200mm | f/13 | 1/125s | ISO 1000.
Sun Setting Behind the Virxe Do Porto
Sun setting behind the Virxe Do Porto in Valdoviño (Spain) by Daniel Viñé (@danielvgphoto). Sony a7R III | 12mm | f/16 | shutter speed bracketing | ISO 100.
Milky Way Arch Over the Barcience Castle
Milky Way arch over the Barcience castle in Toledo (Spain) by Luis Cajete (@luis_cajete). Nikon D750 | 14mm | f/2.8 | 25s | ISO 3200 | 3700K | panorama.
Full Moon Behind the Belltower
Full Moon behind the belltower of Menorca’s Cathedral (Spain) by Josep Benejam Enrich (@j.benejam). Nikon D7100 | 400mm | f/5.6 | 1/4s | ISO 280.
Full Moon Over an Industrial Chimney
Full Moon over an industrial chimney in Spain by Jesús Manzaneque (@forilmanza). Nikon D500 | 600mm | f/6.3 | 1/100s | ISO 400.
Sunset Silhouettes
Sunset silhouettes in Mumbai (India) by Amit Solanki (@vasco_di_gama). Nikon D3500 | 90mm | f/7.1 | 1/250s | ISO 200.
Milky Way at the End of the Road
Vertical Milky Way at the end of the road in Yecla (Spain) by Jaime Gil (@jamesgilro). Canon 6D | 35mm | f/1.4 | 10s | ISO 2500.
Sunrise Behind the One World Trade Center
Sunrise behind the One World Trade Center (New York, USA) by Alyssa (@amc811.photos). Sony a7R III | 600mm | f/6.3 | 1/4000s | ISO 100.
Milky Way Aligned with the Salinas de Fuencaliente
Vertical Milky Way aligned with the Salinas de Fuencaliente (La Palma, Spain) by Pablo Ruiz García (@pablo.ruizgarcia). Nikon D810 | 14mm | f/2.8 | 25s | ISO 6400.
Full Moon Rising Behind the Campo de Criptana Windmills
Full Moon rising behind the windmills of Campo de Criptana (Spain) by Jesús Manzaneque Arteaga (@forilmanza). Nikon D500 | 600mm | f/6.3 | 1/25s | ISO 100.
Solar Flare
Solar flare captured in Chile by Mariano Srur (@marianosrur). Sony a7R IV | 600mm | f/11 | 1/60s | ISO 100 | 5875K.
Native American Petroglyphs Under the Geminids
Native American petroglyphs under the Geminids Meteor Shower (New Mexico, USA) by Igal Brener (@igal_photo). Sony a7R III | 28mm | f/2.8 | 10s | ISO 1600.
Elliott and E.T. Silhouette Behind a Full Moon
Elliott and E.T. silhouette behind a Full Moon (Madrid, Spain) by Kike Bustos (@kikebustos.fotografia). Canon EOS 77D | 600mm | f/11 | 1/6s | ISO 800.
If you’d like to read the stories behind these photos, you can find them over on the PhotoPills blog. 365 of the featured photos have also been published in the free PhotoPills Awards ebook.
Image credits: All photographs courtesy PhotoPills and copyright their respective photographers.
Author: Michael Zhang
Source: Petapixel
