Kildare photographer's stunning pic wins national award

Set among clouds of glowing hydrogen gas and coloured reflection nebulae, the image captures detail in a celestial object located hundreds of light years from Earth
Kildare photographer's stunning pic wins national award

The fabulous photograph, 'Horsehead and Flame Nebulae', taken by John Walsh from Sallins

A SALLLINS-BASED photographer has been announced as a winner in the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies’ astrophotography competition Reach for the Stars.

Drawing more than 140 entries from photographers across Ireland, the competition showcases extraordinary images of the night sky, revealing the beauty of the cosmos through the lens of both amateur and experienced photographers.

In the ‘Out of this World’ category, John Walsh of Sallins was the winner, impressing the judging panel with his image Horsehead and Flame Nebulae, an intricate image revealing one of the most recognisable regions of the night sky.

Set among clouds of glowing hydrogen gas and coloured reflection nebulae, the image captures detail in a celestial object located hundreds of light years from Earth.

The winning photographers will be recognised at an awards ceremony at Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) HQ on Burlington Road, Dublin 4 in the coming weeks. Their photos, alongside a selection of shortlisted images, will go on public display in a special exhibition at a later date, giving visitors the chance to explore some of Ireland’s most spectacular night sky photography up close. 

This year’s winners were selected by an expert judging panel including: Dan Dennison, visual editor of the Irish Times; Dr Donncha O’Driscoll, president of the Irish Astronomical Society; Professor Peter Gallagher, senior professor and head of astronomy and astrophysics at DIAS; and Dr Niamh Shaw, scientist, engineer and one of Ireland’s leading science communicators.

More in this section