Capturing Light at Night
Every image of a starlit landscape has a story behind it: a long drive to a dark corner of the coast, a battle with cloud that broke at just the right moment, a night spent alone on a clifftop or a mountainside waiting for the sky to do something extraordinary.
Capturing Light at Night is my talk for camera clubs, astronomy societies, and public stargazing events, built around exactly those stories. It's designed to inspire your members or audience to pick up a camera and give nightscape photography a go themselves, while giving them enough practical, technical grounding to actually make it happen.
I'm Paul Haworth, an award-winning landscape astrophotographer and filmmaker based in the Cambridgeshire Fens, and I'd love to bring this talk to your group.
What the talk covers
Capturing Light at Night blends narrative and technique. Rather than a dry run-through of camera settings, it's a cinematic journey through real nights under real skies, illustrated throughout with my own images and film footage, covering:
The Milky Way, star trails, meteor showers, and the aurora, as seen and photographed from locations across the UK and further afield
The adventure side of nightscape photography: remote hikes, foul weather, tricky access, wildlife encounters, and the occasional mishap
Practical, beginner-friendly camera technique: the core settings and kit needed to get started, without overwhelming an audience who may never have pointed a camera at the sky before
Planning a nightscape shoot: reading weather and cloud forecasts, working with moon phase, and scouting foregrounds using tools like Google Earth and PhotoPills
The reward of dark skies: why the tranquility, silence and remoteness of shooting at night is, for me, just as compelling as the images themselves
The talk is updated with new material and images on an ongoing basis.
Who this talk is for
I regularly speak to:
Camera clubs, looking for a fresh, visually striking subject and a change of pace from typical competition-judging evenings
Astronomy societies, wanting a talk that connects the observing side of the hobby with the photographic side
Observatories and Dark Sky Discovery sites, running public outreach or visitor evenings
Nature reserves and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, hosting stargazing events or dark skies festivals
Wildlife trusts, national parks, and tourism bodies, looking to promote responsible enjoyment of their dark sky assets
If your group falls into one of these categories, or something adjacent, I'd love to hear from you.
Format, length and adaptability
Capturing Light at Night is flexible by design:
Tailored length: two main versions: 45–60 minutes (ideal for outreach) or 80-90 minutes (typical camera club), with time for questions afterwards
Suitable for all experience levels, from complete beginners to more experienced astrophotographers looking for new locations and ideas
Delivered in person across East Anglia, with travel further afield considered on request
Online version available: broadcast with professional quality audio equipment for optimum experience
Highly interactive: I actively encourage questions during and after the talk, and I'm always happy to give attendees my contact details so they can follow up afterwards with specific gear or technique questions
If you have a particular theme in mind, whether that's aurora photography, a specific region such as East Anglia or the Norfolk and Suffolk coast, or a focus on a particular subject like the Milky Way or noctilucent clouds, I'm happy to tailor the content.
About Paul Haworth
Paul is an award-winning landscape astrophotographer and filmmaker based in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Through his cinematic nightscape adventure films, he brings audiences into the tranquility of the landscape at night, chasing starry skies, the Milky Way and the aurora, and capturing compelling images that reveal the majesty of the cosmos above our heads.
In Capturing Light at Night, Paul narrates stories of adventure under the stars and offers a practical introduction into the fascinating, and rather addictive, world of nightscape photography.
You can seem examples of his work on his Nightscape Journals channel on YouTube or his website.
FAQs
What is "Capturing Light at Night" about?
It's a talk about nightscape and astrophotography: photographing the Milky Way, star trails, meteor showers and the aurora from landscapes across the UK and beyond, combining storytelling with practical photography tips.
Is the talk suitable for beginners?
Yes. It's designed to be accessible to people with little or no experience of night photography, while still offering enough depth to interest more experienced members.
How long does the talk last?
The talk follows the typical camera club format, with two parts of roughly 45 minutes and 25 minutes, followed by time for questions. There is also a 60 minute version. The talk can be adapted to fit your event's schedule.
How is the talk delivered?
The talk is most engaging when given in person. However it has been delivered very successfully via Zoom and Teams too, so if your club is further afield and has a junior budget the remote version could suit you.
Do you travel outside East Anglia?
Yes, Paul is based in the Cambridgeshire Fens and can travel further afield though reimbursement for costs and time is requested. Alternatively the talk can be delivered via Zoom or Teams.
How do I book a talk?
Email Paul with your club or event details, preferred dates, and any specific requirements, and he will get back to you to confirm availability.
