Dark Skies: Photography of rare phenomena in America’s public lands
This book is my love letter to the National Park System.
It explores America’s best idea in a way you haven’t seen before. After dark, when most of the crowds have gone home and you have the forest to yourself. At those special times where, if everything lines up just right, you have a chance to see something that’s once in a lifetime.
A waterfall that catches fire at sunset for two weeks.
Thousands of fireflies blinking in synchronicity for one week in one campground.
A comet streaking over Death Valley once every sixty thousand years.
A rainbow caused by moonlight 3 times a year.
This book makes it so you don’t have to go further than your couch to see things most people never get to experience. But maybe it inspires you add these things to your bucket list and start checking them off. Nothing would make me happier.
Over 180 pages of incredible natural phenomena I’ve been able to experience, plus the stories about what happens when you stay outdoors after all the tourists go to bed.
Dark Skies features:
- Firefall–a glowing waterfall of crimson light
- The aurora borealis and northern lights
- The moon
- Solar and lunar eclipses
- Synchronous fireflies
- Moonbows–rainbows caused by moonlight
- Comets and meteors
- The milky way and skies full of stars
- Lightning and stormy skies
- Yosemite National Park
- Denali National Park
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Arches National Park
- Zion National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Saguaro National Park
- Death Valley National Park
- Over 24 national parks and public lands
COMING WINTER 2025
About the Book
Cover quality
Debossed
Individually numbered and signed
Paper weight
Inks
Casing
Etc.
What parks
Without COVID, this book doesn’t happen.
I’d had the idea for this book rattling around in my head for a few years. But it wasn’t until 2020 when I suddenly found myself laid off of work with no prospects in sight. I decided to make the most of it, and set out on a road trip that hit 14 parks in 14 days.
I slept and ate out of my car. Had most of the parks completely to myself. Even no rangers, since most visitor’s centers weren’t staffed. I basked in the iconic places like Yellowstone, and got surprised by hidden gems like Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Then I did it again in 2021. 14 parks in 14 days, ending in Yosemite for my first time witnessing Firefall.
Since then, I’ve tried and failed for years to photograph the Aurora, until I finally bought a one-way ticket to Alaska, refusing to leave until I saw them. I’ve driven 20+ hours to see an annular eclipse that takes 2 hours, and then driven 20+ hours back home immediately. I’ve hiked mile after mile in the cold of the middle of the night clutching my tripod, ready to defend myself against animals of the night.
I’ve been luckier than I can imagine. I’ve seen nature do amazing things.