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Capture the Dark 2026: Winning photographs
A selection of winning images from DarkSky International’s 2026 Capture the Dark photography contest.
TL;DR
- A starlit campfire in Otago, New Zealand, placed third in the Night-time Adventures category.
- An image of Namibia’s Karas region, captured with a 30-second shutter speed, took third place in the Nightscapes category.
- New Zealand’s South Island received second place in the International Dark Sky Places category.
- A self-portrait under Turret Arch in Utah, featuring the Orion constellation, won the International Dark Skies Places category.
- A satellite launch over Inner Mongolia was the winner of the Impact of Light Pollution category.
- An Oregon vista secured second place in the Night-time Adventures category.
- The aurora borealis over Mount Shuksan in Washington state won the mobile Night-time category.