Where do you start when it comes to photographing the night? We spoke to Katrina Brown about her passion for light painting and capturing star trails to find out what she thinks makes this subject so magical for viewers, and how she uses her camera to unlock some of the secrets of the universe.
Prepare to get nocturnal with our first Spotlight Feature photographer of the year, who certainly isn’t afraid of the dark or the desert.
LG: How long have you been a photographer, and what made you want to get into photography?
KB: When my mother passed in my twenties, I found some old Polaroids that I’d shot, posing my Barbies and family dog. I suddenly recalled getting disciplined for taking the Polaroid film and using it for my projects. I was 5. I look at those now in awe because I believe that creating images is in my DNA and showed early.
I shot throughout my youth for yearbooks and marching band functions, but my photography really took off in 1994 when my first child was born. I purchased professional lighting and got creative, sparking an immense passion for creating commercial imagery. I began licensing those images, and the royalties allowed me to spend time focusing on astrophotography.
I began light painting landscapes after an accidental encounter with vehicle headlights shining onto a tree I was shooting, which made for an excellent image. A light bulb went off, and I went anywhere and everywhere making shots I loved.
Years later, I discovered a different kind of light painting involving people, tools and flashlights, which has now taken over my passion. In between all that I still shoot commercially, but it’s the night sky and light painting that really makes my creative heart happy.
LG: Where is your favourite location to shoot your light painting/night sky images? How much preparation does it take to shoot there?
KB: My favorite location to date is Trona, CA. Many films have been shot there and the unique topography of tufa spires makes for imagery that really looks like another planet.
Preparation for a shoot there takes some time and careful planning. First, I storyboard my ideas based on sky direction and the moon phase. I then prepare the wardrobe or props needed and pack them in their own containers in order to work more easily in the dark.
Sky planning takes me about 30 minutes, and storyboarding/idea planning takes about one hour. I always overplan and end up running out of time, so I make sure to prioritize my intended shots by importance.
It’s also best that before I shoot in a new location, I scout and plan coordinates accurately. It’s almost impossible to find good locations in the night darkness.
Milky Way Overlooking The Trona Pinnacles in Califorinia
LG: When you go out to shoot, do you take any essential items other than a camera and lens (anything other than photography equipment)?
KB: I always travel with comfort items such as blankets and pillows…. when you have to wait 4+ hours for a shot to complete, you need some rest and comfort! Also essential to my photography is bringing along good friends. I am not a lone shooter. Having people I love around me makes me more creative and makes the final image more memorable for me.
LG: What drew you to nighttime photography, and what are the pros and cons of shooting at night?
KB: I really LOVE the idea of capturing something the eye can’t see all at once, hence star trails and light painting. Both only exist in time and not in our sight, but the camera changes all that! You see, the beauty of photographing things like star trails and light painting lies in the fact that they’re essentially like secrets hidden in plain sight. Our eyes, amazing as they are, can’t quite grasp the full enchantment of these phenomena all at once. It’s like the universe’s way of winking at us, saying, “Hey, there’s a whole world of wonder out here that you might be missing!”
So why do I love these hidden-in-plain-sight photography adventures? Because they remind us that there’s more to the world than meets the eye, that even in the darkest of moments, there’s a world of enchantment waiting to be uncovered. It’s like being a photographic magician, revealing the secrets of the universe one click at a time. Who wouldn’t fall in love with that kind of photographic wizardry?
The cons of shooting at night are plunging temperatures and, of course, difficulty seeing the surrounding areas. Knowing your gear is a must as setup becomes like a well-rehearsed choreography that is performed regularly.
LG: Can you tell us about the most challenging photo shoot you’ve had to do and how you overcame the challenges it brought?
KB: The most challenging night image was when Google Pixel hired me to light paint using their astro photography app.
I had to figure out how the app worked in order to create what I wanted. Since that camera had no manual controls, I had to figure out how the app functioned and work within those parameters. It took a few full shoot attempts, but I figured it out and eventually perfected it, but there were a few frustrations along the way!
I worked through it by learning from the mistakes I was making and just kept pushing through. Mistakes are a great teacher, if you’re willing to listen.
We hope you enjoyed reading our fascinating conversation with Katrina. If you’re feeling inspired, make sure you visit Katrina’s Instagram account where she shares lots of behind-the-scenes content and dreamy cinemagraphs of the night sky. You can also visit her website, and if you fancy trying night photography for yourself, why not check out our ‘7 Tips for Night Photography‘ blog?
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