Babak Tafreshi: Earth and Cosmos in Night Sky Photography

Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1978, Babak Tafreshi discovered his passion for photography as a teenager, inspired by stargazing through a neighbour’s telescope. Now based in Boston, he founded The World at Night (TWAN) in 2007 to promote dark sky preservation through global photography. His career soared with collaborations with National Geographic and the release of his 2019 book, The World at Night. Tafreshi’s images stand out for their high contrast—inky blacks paired with starry whites—and vivid storytelling, merging celestial wonders with earthly landscapes.

Primary Genres: Astrophotography, Landscape Photography
Primary Photography Style: Straight Photography (vivid, high-contrast scenes that tell a story), Minimalism (serene, cosmic simplicity)
Key Message: Tafreshi’s work captures the night sky’s beauty alongside Earth’s landmarks, inspiring awe and a deeper connection to the universe.

Tafreshi’s photography centres on night skies—think Milky Way arcs, twinkling stars, and meteor showers—framed against deserts, mountains, or ancient ruins. His unique aesthetic hinges on high contrast, with deep blacks and bright whites, sometimes accented by nebula pinks, creating an otherworldly yet grounded feel.

He uses natural light from the Moon and stars, captured through long exposures, and enhances images with tools like Lightroom for crispness and depth. Textures, like silhouetted peaks or cosmic dust clouds, add richness to his compositions. His work often appears in exhibitions or large prints, and his book, The World at Night, showcases this blend of art and science, inviting viewers to marvel at the cosmos.

For intermediate learners, Tafreshi’s style offers a masterclass in storytelling through contrast and texture. He relies on digital cameras, not film, paired with star trackers for sharp celestial details, making his approach accessible yet sophisticated. His editing balances natural beauty with refinement, teaching photographers how to enhance low-light shots without losing authenticity. Scouting dark-sky locations and mastering long exposures are key skills to glean from his work, encouraging a mix of patience and technical precision.

Accolades:
- Lennart Nilsson Award (2009)
- Featured in National Geographic
- RPS Award for Scientific Imaging (2022)
- Published The World at Night (2019)

Trivia:
- Photographed night skies in over 50 countries
- Built rooftop observatories in Tehran as a young enthusiast
- Passionate about Persian poetry, influencing his artistic lens
- Member of Astronomers Without Borders

Lessons from this Photographer:

Tafreshi’s approach highlights the power of patience—waiting for the perfect celestial moment—and planning, like choosing pristine dark-sky spots. His high-contrast style teaches how to use light and shadow for emotional impact, while his storytelling urges photographers to weave narratives into their frames. Intermediate shooters can adopt his use of star trackers and long exposures to capture sharp night skies, experimenting with texture and composition to evoke wonder in their own work.