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The World at Night: Spectacular photographs of the night sky
See the full beauty of our night sky revealed as never before in over 200 photographs from around the world.
Bringing together the images of over 40 photographers across 25 countries, be astounded by the lights of the night sky in some of the darkest places on earth ; discover the beauty of galaxies , planets , and stars ; view great celestial events ; and see some of the world’s most important landmarks against the backdrop of an incredible nightscape.
Babak Tafreshi, founder of the international organization The World at Night, has curated the images in this collection—many of them previously unseen—to reveal the true splendor of the sky at night. A specialist guide to night-sky photography will help you capture your own gorgeous images of the heavens.
Commentary on the science, astronomy, and photography accompany stunning images organized by
Bringing together the images of over 40 photographers across 25 countries, be astounded by the lights of the night sky in some of the darkest places on earth ; discover the beauty of galaxies , planets , and stars ; view great celestial events ; and see some of the world’s most important landmarks against the backdrop of an incredible nightscape.
Babak Tafreshi, founder of the international organization The World at Night, has curated the images in this collection—many of them previously unseen—to reveal the true splendor of the sky at night. A specialist guide to night-sky photography will help you capture your own gorgeous images of the heavens.
Commentary on the science, astronomy, and photography accompany stunning images organized by
240 pages, Hardcover
Published November 19, 2019
13 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 1, 2019
”But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will separate between him and what he touches. One might think the atmosphere was made transparent with this design, to give man, in the heavenly bodies, the perpetual presence of the sublime. Seen in the streets of cities, how great they are! If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
I don’t know how many people today have seen a night sky devoid of man-made lighting, which, of course, detracts from the natural beauty that can be found where night prevails. I don’t know how many people grew up in neighborhoods where there were such childhood delights in lightning bugs, or just laying under an open sky, enjoying that moment with a friend or loved one. I do know that when I moved from the part of New Jersey where I grew up, it was over 20 years before I saw another lightning bug, or went anywhere beyond city limits, where the night sky was awe-inspiring. And when I did, and when I remembered, it made me want to cry.
I wanted to read this because photography has been one of my passions since I was very young and my father bought me my first camera. And now that I’ve travelled a bit beyond my own back yard since my childhood, and acquired a camera or two, studied a bit more, I’m still in awe of these photographs, their beauty, and also the stories they tell.
I’ll never see some of these places, but it’s (almost) enough for me to enjoy them through the photography of others, and especially the photography of the Church of the Good Shepherd on Lake Tekapo in New Zealand. The last time I was there I took photographs of the same church, but I wish I could claim to have taken the one in this book. It’s stunning, and yet it isn’t close to being the more stunning than the others. They’re all stunning. Beautiful. Works of art.
There’s a Bavarian castle in one with the sky filled with a swirl of stars, lighting the one side of this castle that is surrounded by massive trees - it looks like something out of a fairy tale. Many of these have an essence that reminds me of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, the stars in swirls in the night sky.
There is a serious side to this, which addresses the problem of light pollution and the affect it has on our planet, and beyond that, the skies above us littered with the remains of man-made objects now floating in space, polluting not only our planet but the universe.
Educational, as well as visually enticing, this is a lovely book for all ages to learn about our planet, and share some sights through photography that most have never seen.
The author, Babak Tafreshi, is the founder of the international organization ’The World at Night’, and was responsible for selecting and organizing the more than 200 photographs taken by more than 40 photographers who live in 25 different countries, making this an ambitious and challenging task.
Pub Date: 19 Nov 2019
Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC provided
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
I don’t know how many people today have seen a night sky devoid of man-made lighting, which, of course, detracts from the natural beauty that can be found where night prevails. I don’t know how many people grew up in neighborhoods where there were such childhood delights in lightning bugs, or just laying under an open sky, enjoying that moment with a friend or loved one. I do know that when I moved from the part of New Jersey where I grew up, it was over 20 years before I saw another lightning bug, or went anywhere beyond city limits, where the night sky was awe-inspiring. And when I did, and when I remembered, it made me want to cry.
I wanted to read this because photography has been one of my passions since I was very young and my father bought me my first camera. And now that I’ve travelled a bit beyond my own back yard since my childhood, and acquired a camera or two, studied a bit more, I’m still in awe of these photographs, their beauty, and also the stories they tell.
I’ll never see some of these places, but it’s (almost) enough for me to enjoy them through the photography of others, and especially the photography of the Church of the Good Shepherd on Lake Tekapo in New Zealand. The last time I was there I took photographs of the same church, but I wish I could claim to have taken the one in this book. It’s stunning, and yet it isn’t close to being the more stunning than the others. They’re all stunning. Beautiful. Works of art.
There’s a Bavarian castle in one with the sky filled with a swirl of stars, lighting the one side of this castle that is surrounded by massive trees - it looks like something out of a fairy tale. Many of these have an essence that reminds me of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, the stars in swirls in the night sky.
There is a serious side to this, which addresses the problem of light pollution and the affect it has on our planet, and beyond that, the skies above us littered with the remains of man-made objects now floating in space, polluting not only our planet but the universe.
Educational, as well as visually enticing, this is a lovely book for all ages to learn about our planet, and share some sights through photography that most have never seen.
The author, Babak Tafreshi, is the founder of the international organization ’The World at Night’, and was responsible for selecting and organizing the more than 200 photographs taken by more than 40 photographers who live in 25 different countries, making this an ambitious and challenging task.
Pub Date: 19 Nov 2019
Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC provided
October 6, 2019
The World at Night, a photography book, was a solid 5 stars. Separated into various chapters (such as Hidden Universe, Dark Sky Refuges and Fragile Beauty of Darkness), The World at Night is filled with over 200 visual stunning and gorgeous photographs.
Highly recommend to fans of photography and coffee table books. Though I had a digital copy, I can only imagine how beautiful the book will be once it’s released. Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Highly recommend to fans of photography and coffee table books. Though I had a digital copy, I can only imagine how beautiful the book will be once it’s released. Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2019
This was amazing! Each photo was phenomenal and I loved reading the tidbits about where it was taken and what stars/constellations and historical landmark are in the photo.
The book is filled with lots of information like the historical sites, astronomy and some about the photography skills used in the pictures. There were some photos of volcanic eruptions and generally just the night sky itself to name a few.
The best part for me, besides the photos of the moon, constellations and auroras, is that the photos are taken worldwide rather than from just one continent and the various astronomical events that happened.
Overall, this was an amazing read since I love reading and looking at night sky photos filled with stars and the moon. Each photo was full of details and were breathtaking.
I've always wanted to picture the night sky filled with stars but it is a bit hard when you live in the city and without any proper tools. This has motivate me to start researching more about which camera is the best for picturing the night sky and definitely will save up to buy it!
I think the only problem, if everything would stay the same when they print it, is that the font is too small. Otherwise, everything else is great.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
The book is filled with lots of information like the historical sites, astronomy and some about the photography skills used in the pictures. There were some photos of volcanic eruptions and generally just the night sky itself to name a few.
The best part for me, besides the photos of the moon, constellations and auroras, is that the photos are taken worldwide rather than from just one continent and the various astronomical events that happened.
Overall, this was an amazing read since I love reading and looking at night sky photos filled with stars and the moon. Each photo was full of details and were breathtaking.
I've always wanted to picture the night sky filled with stars but it is a bit hard when you live in the city and without any proper tools. This has motivate me to start researching more about which camera is the best for picturing the night sky and definitely will save up to buy it!
I think the only problem, if everything would stay the same when they print it, is that the font is too small. Otherwise, everything else is great.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
November 11, 2022
An absolutely stunning book of photographs of the night sky. It makes up approximately 50% of our time yet how often do we simply stop and observe the world going on above our heads when it gets dark? This book though is full of the creative work of people who do just that. From photographs of northern lights to the Milky Way, to moons to silhouettes it is all here. The photographs are taken in a variety of different countries and information about significance of the location is given. My favourite photograph showed an active volcano against the night sky- power forces of nature at work in different ways. There is writing accompanying the photos which is all very relevant and informative. I especially liked the thought that people throughout history have marvelled at the universe and how that connects people and their work down through the ages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
October 21, 2022Stunning.
Beautiful photographs, brilliant information and wonderful to see the sky and it's beauty around the world. Really happy that light pollution was highlighted and showed what it does to the view we could have.
(Thank You So Much to Net Galley for this Wonderful Book).
Beautiful photographs, brilliant information and wonderful to see the sky and it's beauty around the world. Really happy that light pollution was highlighted and showed what it does to the view we could have.
(Thank You So Much to Net Galley for this Wonderful Book).
January 12, 2023
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I JUST LOVE books about nightskies. Seeing all the stars twinkle in the sky, even on places with tons of light is just so magical. And it gets more magical when you go to place without any lightpollution. I recently read a book like this from my library and so I was eager to start a new one, namely this one.
Note, due to the text being itty bitty on my ADE I couldn’t read them. Instead I just focused on the gorgeous and beautiful photographs, and hot dang, those were gorgeous. The photographs are crisp and clear, yes this may seem weird, but I have had some photography books with photos being blurry/out of focus. But these were all just stunningly done. At times I wanted to touch my screen to see if I could go there.
We don’t just see stars and moons and volcanoes erupting, but we also see the northern light, oh wow. I so wish I could go to those places.
There also eclipses, and I loved that one of Lofoten Islands. Comets and meteor showers also make an appearance and I was glad they were included. I saw one (or two) in August during the Perseids (I believe it is called that). Not more, as that would have meant getting up wayyyy to early for my body. 😛 Maybe one day.
And then there were plenty of other cool and gorgeous stuff that happens at the night sky.
Btw, it was a delight to see Venice again. My hubby and I went there for our honeymoon in July, and it was just so stunning.
Yes, this is one book I would recommend to all. Stunning gorgeous photographs of the night sky. If it ever gets into one of my libraries (though probably translated, urgh), I may borrow it so I can read the text.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I JUST LOVE books about nightskies. Seeing all the stars twinkle in the sky, even on places with tons of light is just so magical. And it gets more magical when you go to place without any lightpollution. I recently read a book like this from my library and so I was eager to start a new one, namely this one.
Note, due to the text being itty bitty on my ADE I couldn’t read them. Instead I just focused on the gorgeous and beautiful photographs, and hot dang, those were gorgeous. The photographs are crisp and clear, yes this may seem weird, but I have had some photography books with photos being blurry/out of focus. But these were all just stunningly done. At times I wanted to touch my screen to see if I could go there.
We don’t just see stars and moons and volcanoes erupting, but we also see the northern light, oh wow. I so wish I could go to those places.
There also eclipses, and I loved that one of Lofoten Islands. Comets and meteor showers also make an appearance and I was glad they were included. I saw one (or two) in August during the Perseids (I believe it is called that). Not more, as that would have meant getting up wayyyy to early for my body. 😛 Maybe one day.
And then there were plenty of other cool and gorgeous stuff that happens at the night sky.
Btw, it was a delight to see Venice again. My hubby and I went there for our honeymoon in July, and it was just so stunning.
Yes, this is one book I would recommend to all. Stunning gorgeous photographs of the night sky. If it ever gets into one of my libraries (though probably translated, urgh), I may borrow it so I can read the text.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
November 10, 2019
I have never been star struck or been hit by a meteor thankfully. As a child, I was intrigued by astronomy, BBC TVs The Sky at Night, and the Apollo missions landing on the Moon.
This book however is beyond mean constellations and swooning in the light of a silvery moon.
It is literary grounded in the world we live; it champions the night sky we share across our planet and roots us in the ancestors who went before and established special sites in civilisations throughout our globe.
The book is a collection of historical locations all of which are captured with the night sky above. Each picture is a wonderful photograph both of the place but illuminating the world above the horizon. Many were taken to reveal the wonders of the stars and planets above.
This is a book for life. If you were to only borrow it from a library you would pay fines for late returns.
As coffee tables go; all are incomplete without this book. Each captured image could feature in a calendar. The text accompanying the photos make for interesting reading and make this such a special read.
I love the links to ancient people; the sense of time past in terms of light years and earthly archeology made me think we are all citizens of a small place.
I am lazy more than uneducated and yet that ancient people looked up and gained inspiration and knowledge an incredible fact. I also marvel about the romance of the moon as well as its physical properties. What is even better, apart from the wonder of the grand scale photography the facts shared about the atmosphere, light and wonders like the Northern Lights build my imagination.
So let’s not look down; feel isolated and ordinary. Let’s look up and embrace the past and face our future.
This book however is beyond mean constellations and swooning in the light of a silvery moon.
It is literary grounded in the world we live; it champions the night sky we share across our planet and roots us in the ancestors who went before and established special sites in civilisations throughout our globe.
The book is a collection of historical locations all of which are captured with the night sky above. Each picture is a wonderful photograph both of the place but illuminating the world above the horizon. Many were taken to reveal the wonders of the stars and planets above.
This is a book for life. If you were to only borrow it from a library you would pay fines for late returns.
As coffee tables go; all are incomplete without this book. Each captured image could feature in a calendar. The text accompanying the photos make for interesting reading and make this such a special read.
I love the links to ancient people; the sense of time past in terms of light years and earthly archeology made me think we are all citizens of a small place.
I am lazy more than uneducated and yet that ancient people looked up and gained inspiration and knowledge an incredible fact. I also marvel about the romance of the moon as well as its physical properties. What is even better, apart from the wonder of the grand scale photography the facts shared about the atmosphere, light and wonders like the Northern Lights build my imagination.
So let’s not look down; feel isolated and ordinary. Let’s look up and embrace the past and face our future.
September 27, 2019
This is an absolutely stunning and educational coffee table book featuring beautiful photographs of the night sky from many different photographers around the world. They are arranged in chapters by themes and feature everything from light pollution to the Northern Lights to great landmarks to meteor showers.
I had a hard time reading the text that accompanied the photographs since the digital ARC I received had very small print and I had to zoom in and out to reach each paragraph. The text was incredibly educational and interesting too, and would make it a great homeschool resource to sneak in astronomy, geography, geology and more.
Because of the cost (retail is $40.00), I can't justify buying a copy for our home, but this is definitely going into my library reserve list. Highly recommended.
I had a hard time reading the text that accompanied the photographs since the digital ARC I received had very small print and I had to zoom in and out to reach each paragraph. The text was incredibly educational and interesting too, and would make it a great homeschool resource to sneak in astronomy, geography, geology and more.
Because of the cost (retail is $40.00), I can't justify buying a copy for our home, but this is definitely going into my library reserve list. Highly recommended.
October 24, 2022
Stunningly beautiful photography book with over 200 color photographs. The focus of this coffee table book is showing the night sky. I love that it uses as settings a variety of major cities, natural wonders, Unesco World Heritage Sites all at night. I loved the images that show the stars spiraling through the sky over landmarks. It also increased my desire to see natural phenomenon like the Northern lights or bioluminescence in nature. The photos are identify the location taken and some include how the shot was captured. There are also helps on taking your own sky shots. And it is a small thing but instead of just using stock photos the photographers are credited and given brief bios. This would be great for your own collection or to check out from a library shelf.
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion for a temporary ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion for a temporary ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2022
A collection of photographs of the night sky taken all over the world. They are arranged by topic, such as photography techniques employed, and subject matter. Scattered within the photographs are essays on techniques for photographing the night sky, astronomic phenomena, some of the best places for night photography and sky viewing, the growing challenge to find truly dark places and what some cities are doing about that.
This had a bit more text than I anticipated or felt was necessary. I skimmed a lot of the text. I did find the bits on the growing light pollution issues and possible answers to balance night safety and decreased night pollution the most interesting, as well as areas that have the best night sky viewing. The photographs were beautiful and from a wide range of locations around the Earth. Hand this to those planning an outing for star viewing, those who like night photography, and those interested in astronomy.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This had a bit more text than I anticipated or felt was necessary. I skimmed a lot of the text. I did find the bits on the growing light pollution issues and possible answers to balance night safety and decreased night pollution the most interesting, as well as areas that have the best night sky viewing. The photographs were beautiful and from a wide range of locations around the Earth. Hand this to those planning an outing for star viewing, those who like night photography, and those interested in astronomy.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2019
This is a beautiful, and comprehensive, exploration of night-sky photography. Technically, it's a brilliant use of time-lapse and faint-light methods, in a collection of enthralling photographs, full color and well-printed (glossy and often full-page). The locales are world wide, including a number of world heritage sites, as well as remote locations; the subjects include not just constellations in motion but meteor, lunar and aurora phenomena. The book also addresses environmental impacts, illustrating the visual deterioration that comes with light and air pollution. It's presented in a way that will appeal to most audiences, but does add a few brief mentions of the technical requirements. In all, a pleasing coffee-table or general-interest book that will intrigue even a casual reader. Highly recommend.
January 4, 2020
Spectacular doesn't begin to describe it. Everyone should see this beautiful collection. The explanatory/educational captions for each photograph make this a rich treasure trove of knowledge of the universe and our planet. (And yes, there are even extremely helpful instructions at the end on how to take your own night sky photos!)
September 20, 2019
I absolutely loved the photography it was visually stunning, I wasn’t quite as interested in the techniques to achieve the pictures , but the phots alone just make the book worth it, just amazing
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
February 9, 2022
It's a really beautiful and well-structured photography book about the sky and stars.
October 28, 2022
This is a brilliant book with amazing photograohy that looks like works of art.
The photograohs are organised into themed sections, I particularly like the selection of images listed under Environmental Impact.
There is a section at the back with a gude on how to photograph the night sky. If you don't wander ot much to look at the night sky, get this book as it is full of wonders of the world.
The photograohs are organised into themed sections, I particularly like the selection of images listed under Environmental Impact.
There is a section at the back with a gude on how to photograph the night sky. If you don't wander ot much to look at the night sky, get this book as it is full of wonders of the world.
November 15, 2019
"Night hides a world but reveals a universe."
One of my recent hobbies has been the task of browsing NetGalley. So, one day, a couple of weeks back I stumbled across a book in the section 'Arts and Photography'. That book happens to be this one. I was so drawn to the book and the reviews underneath it tempted me. A collection of photos of Night Sky around the world? That's really tempting for a night owl! *wink wink* I requested it and thanks to the publishers, my request for approved. I am going to use the book's description here.
Bringing together the images of over 40 photographers across 25 countries, be astounded by the lights of the night sky in some of the darkest places on earth; discover the beauty of galaxies, planets, and stars; view great celestial events; and see some of the world’s most important landmarks against the backdrop of an incredible nightscape.
Babak Tafreshi, the founder of the international organization 'The World at Night', has curated the images in this collection—many of them previously unseen—to reveal the true splendour of the sky at night. A specialist guide to night-sky photography will help you capture your own gorgeous images of the heavens.
Commentary on the science, astronomy, and photography accompany stunning images organized by theme: Symbols of all nations and religions embraced by one sky of endless beauties, UNESCO World Heritage Sites at night, The Universe revealed through constellations, sky motions, atmospheric phenomenon, Aurora, and Images highlighting the beauty of dark skies away from light-polluted urban areas, Celestial events, from great comets to spectacular eclipses, Astro-tourism destinations, like ancient astronomical monuments and modern observatories
I enjoyed every essence of the book! Not only did it make my eyes orgasm by the wondrous beauty of night skies, but it also went on to give specific information on the photograph, on the theme in its entirety, on the photographers and insight on how to take a photo of the night sky including instruments to be used and editing. This book is genuinely the best collection of photographs! Babak Tafreshi has done an excellent job in curating this! There were times when I was so entranced by the beauty of the shot that I skipped reading the snippet of information and had to go back and read it! Every photo is magnificent, enthralling and of eye-orgasming quality! Right after I finished reading it, I went to just see the photographs and take it in. Even though I had already seen them, they didn't fail to surprise me with their regal beauty!
Definitely a worthy read! I am so damn sure that in-print this book might even end up making me drool over its pages. Haha!
Recommended: It is a perfect read for aspiring photographers and professional photographers, star-gazers: professional and interested, astronomers: professional and aspiring and anyone whose heart beats for the night sky!
One of my recent hobbies has been the task of browsing NetGalley. So, one day, a couple of weeks back I stumbled across a book in the section 'Arts and Photography'. That book happens to be this one. I was so drawn to the book and the reviews underneath it tempted me. A collection of photos of Night Sky around the world? That's really tempting for a night owl! *wink wink* I requested it and thanks to the publishers, my request for approved. I am going to use the book's description here.
Bringing together the images of over 40 photographers across 25 countries, be astounded by the lights of the night sky in some of the darkest places on earth; discover the beauty of galaxies, planets, and stars; view great celestial events; and see some of the world’s most important landmarks against the backdrop of an incredible nightscape.
Babak Tafreshi, the founder of the international organization 'The World at Night', has curated the images in this collection—many of them previously unseen—to reveal the true splendour of the sky at night. A specialist guide to night-sky photography will help you capture your own gorgeous images of the heavens.
Commentary on the science, astronomy, and photography accompany stunning images organized by theme: Symbols of all nations and religions embraced by one sky of endless beauties, UNESCO World Heritage Sites at night, The Universe revealed through constellations, sky motions, atmospheric phenomenon, Aurora, and Images highlighting the beauty of dark skies away from light-polluted urban areas, Celestial events, from great comets to spectacular eclipses, Astro-tourism destinations, like ancient astronomical monuments and modern observatories
I enjoyed every essence of the book! Not only did it make my eyes orgasm by the wondrous beauty of night skies, but it also went on to give specific information on the photograph, on the theme in its entirety, on the photographers and insight on how to take a photo of the night sky including instruments to be used and editing. This book is genuinely the best collection of photographs! Babak Tafreshi has done an excellent job in curating this! There were times when I was so entranced by the beauty of the shot that I skipped reading the snippet of information and had to go back and read it! Every photo is magnificent, enthralling and of eye-orgasming quality! Right after I finished reading it, I went to just see the photographs and take it in. Even though I had already seen them, they didn't fail to surprise me with their regal beauty!
Definitely a worthy read! I am so damn sure that in-print this book might even end up making me drool over its pages. Haha!
Recommended: It is a perfect read for aspiring photographers and professional photographers, star-gazers: professional and interested, astronomers: professional and aspiring and anyone whose heart beats for the night sky!
December 9, 2019
I have always liked the idea of a book of photographs. My (late) grandfather once shared a treasured old copy of black and white photos with me by binding it anew and writing on it in the front flap (as well as censuring a few pics as elders are wont to do when giving kids western photos). I still carry that around with me sometimes, and the range of those pictures are very different, but they focus on people and expressions. Another shared time we had was talking against the night sky (it was in the middle of a city with lots of lights, and therefore most days we did not see much of the stars). This book seemed to be a combination of the two, so I had to check it out.
It is more than a book of photos, it is a book about those photos. The sections are divided unambiguously, giving us different versions of all the things that can be seen during the night in the sky. Many of them have fiddly information about how the picture was captured, and many are a series of exposures put into one frame. Capturing the night sky is an art, and this collection by various photographers comes with what was done to create the final picture. Although this might impress the people in the know because they would understand how difficult it was to come about, to a layperson with little to no understanding of the mechanics of photography it seemed a little superfluous. I liked the book and would enjoy owning a physical copy to browse through in leisure someday, but I did not feel as thrilled as I expected to go in. Maybe it was the expectation or the fact that I was looking at a digital copy with a limited time window for me to peruse through them. I would recommend this to those with even a passing interest in the field though since it might mean more to them than it did to me.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own inherent bias towards the night sky and to photographs in general.
It is more than a book of photos, it is a book about those photos. The sections are divided unambiguously, giving us different versions of all the things that can be seen during the night in the sky. Many of them have fiddly information about how the picture was captured, and many are a series of exposures put into one frame. Capturing the night sky is an art, and this collection by various photographers comes with what was done to create the final picture. Although this might impress the people in the know because they would understand how difficult it was to come about, to a layperson with little to no understanding of the mechanics of photography it seemed a little superfluous. I liked the book and would enjoy owning a physical copy to browse through in leisure someday, but I did not feel as thrilled as I expected to go in. Maybe it was the expectation or the fact that I was looking at a digital copy with a limited time window for me to peruse through them. I would recommend this to those with even a passing interest in the field though since it might mean more to them than it did to me.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own inherent bias towards the night sky and to photographs in general.
November 6, 2022
The World At Night by Babak Amin Tafreshi is an incredible book with magnificent photographs of the night sky and the world at night. It brings together almost 200 photographs by about 40 world-class photographers from around the world revealing the beauty of the night world.
Other than the stunning images, the book also talks about the magical celestial events, the beauty of darkness, light pollution and many important topics.
One quote that caught my attention from the book is, "Night hides a world but reveals a universe". Being a night owl myself, I can vouch for the beauty of the darkness and a whole unseen world that the night unveils. You just need to pay attention, is all.
The increase in the usage of artificial lights leading to light pollution and thus impacting the environment around us is an interesting issue that is discussed in this book. Artificial lights are not just used for safety but more than that. Many cities use artificial lights to create an identity, says the author.
"In recent years, more than 90% of Indian street lighting has been upgraded to white LEDs with temperatures more than 5000K."
Artificial lighting is a serious concern now globally.
I absolutely love the book. Pictures are a feast to the eye but the light the author throws are topics that one wouldn't have otherwise is incredible.
I've been following @Babaktafreshi for quite some time and I'm a huge fan of his astrophotography. Now, I'm more in love with him. I look forward to seeing/reading more of your work, Mr. Tafreshi.
A must read!
Thank you NetGalley for sharing this amazing book with me for review.
Other than the stunning images, the book also talks about the magical celestial events, the beauty of darkness, light pollution and many important topics.
One quote that caught my attention from the book is, "Night hides a world but reveals a universe". Being a night owl myself, I can vouch for the beauty of the darkness and a whole unseen world that the night unveils. You just need to pay attention, is all.
The increase in the usage of artificial lights leading to light pollution and thus impacting the environment around us is an interesting issue that is discussed in this book. Artificial lights are not just used for safety but more than that. Many cities use artificial lights to create an identity, says the author.
"In recent years, more than 90% of Indian street lighting has been upgraded to white LEDs with temperatures more than 5000K."
Artificial lighting is a serious concern now globally.
I absolutely love the book. Pictures are a feast to the eye but the light the author throws are topics that one wouldn't have otherwise is incredible.
I've been following @Babaktafreshi for quite some time and I'm a huge fan of his astrophotography. Now, I'm more in love with him. I look forward to seeing/reading more of your work, Mr. Tafreshi.
A must read!
Thank you NetGalley for sharing this amazing book with me for review.
October 2, 2019
Stunning photographs of the night sky accompanied with interesting and informative captions.
I loved reading this book. For me, the night sky has always been something that I've been fascinated by. Whether that be the stars, the aurora borealis, nocturnal animals, or just the feeling of being out on a dark night with crisp air, illuminated by the moon. I love it all. And if you're someone like me, I just know you'll love this book too.
Something I really liked about this book was the different sections. I thought the photographs were classified really well, and I really liked how they included a section on nightscapes taken in or near cities. Pollution is talked about a lot these days, but one of the most important and severe types is often overlooked; and that's light pollution. The photos in that section really show how light pollution affects our night sky, whilst still being very beautiful. Another aspect I liked is how informative the captions were; if you're a newbie to astronomy like me, you won't have too much trouble understanding and will definitely learn a thing or two! And I think you'll also be inspired to get more involved too!
My only issue with the book were captions being the wrong way on one of the pages which was a bit confusing, but as I read an advanced copy I'm sure this will be straightened out before being published.
I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I loved reading this book. For me, the night sky has always been something that I've been fascinated by. Whether that be the stars, the aurora borealis, nocturnal animals, or just the feeling of being out on a dark night with crisp air, illuminated by the moon. I love it all. And if you're someone like me, I just know you'll love this book too.
Something I really liked about this book was the different sections. I thought the photographs were classified really well, and I really liked how they included a section on nightscapes taken in or near cities. Pollution is talked about a lot these days, but one of the most important and severe types is often overlooked; and that's light pollution. The photos in that section really show how light pollution affects our night sky, whilst still being very beautiful. Another aspect I liked is how informative the captions were; if you're a newbie to astronomy like me, you won't have too much trouble understanding and will definitely learn a thing or two! And I think you'll also be inspired to get more involved too!
My only issue with the book were captions being the wrong way on one of the pages which was a bit confusing, but as I read an advanced copy I'm sure this will be straightened out before being published.
I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
September 19, 2019
This book makes me feel that my words could never, ever in a million years do it justice. This book is something that must be seen to understand the beauty within its pages. This is a must have for anyone interested in the world, in astronomy, in photography.
First, let us just stipulate that the photos are gorgeous. There aren’t enough synonyms for “beautiful” for me to write a coherent review, so let’s just state it as fact and move on. The photographs are from all around the world (25 different countries), and in every type of landscape. There are mountains and lakes, canyons and deserts. Stars, moons, eclipses, meteors. Cityscapes, countryscapes, buildings, animals and people. But in every single photograph is an amazing night sky.
There is information to read about every place you see, and what is going on in each photo. There is a section to tell you about each photographer who contributed to the book, and a very nice section on “How to Take Nightscape Photographs”.
Every time I glance back at the photos my mind just freezes up. You have to see it to believe it, and I definitely urge you to take a look.
So many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I can’t get enough of this book, and at 240 pages it will take me weeks to study each photograph. Definitely put it on your Wish List!
First, let us just stipulate that the photos are gorgeous. There aren’t enough synonyms for “beautiful” for me to write a coherent review, so let’s just state it as fact and move on. The photographs are from all around the world (25 different countries), and in every type of landscape. There are mountains and lakes, canyons and deserts. Stars, moons, eclipses, meteors. Cityscapes, countryscapes, buildings, animals and people. But in every single photograph is an amazing night sky.
There is information to read about every place you see, and what is going on in each photo. There is a section to tell you about each photographer who contributed to the book, and a very nice section on “How to Take Nightscape Photographs”.
Every time I glance back at the photos my mind just freezes up. You have to see it to believe it, and I definitely urge you to take a look.
So many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I can’t get enough of this book, and at 240 pages it will take me weeks to study each photograph. Definitely put it on your Wish List!
October 6, 2019
The World at Night is a book filled with beautiful photographs of the night sky from different parts of the world and info sets to go along with them. The photos taken are from various photographers throughout the world and the best part of the book was surely the instructions at the back how you can take photos like this yourself. This isn't a set of photos from amateurs, but photographers specialized in night time photographing and thus the photos are more like science and not just beautiful in their own sense. In a way I felt the texts were vain except for those captions next to the photos. The info side of the book was lacking and just wondering about the philosophical side of the wondrous world. This felt kind of cheap. Perhaps I wanted more of scientific approach.
I would have wanted the photos to take more room, to fill out the pages. Some of them were small and the text ate out the beauty of the photos, which was a shame. The photos were the reason I wanted to read this, but now I got insipid walls of text and too small photos in most cases. The book is still quite good of course, since well, the photos are awesome none the less. With slight adjustments this could've been even better and I wish it had been. We don't have enough books like this, so points for the topic of course.
I would have wanted the photos to take more room, to fill out the pages. Some of them were small and the text ate out the beauty of the photos, which was a shame. The photos were the reason I wanted to read this, but now I got insipid walls of text and too small photos in most cases. The book is still quite good of course, since well, the photos are awesome none the less. With slight adjustments this could've been even better and I wish it had been. We don't have enough books like this, so points for the topic of course.
November 16, 2022
The World at Night, by Babak Tafreshi, is a stunning collection of night photography with excellent captions and information.
For me, what really sets this book apart from many other beautiful books is the commentary that accompanies each photograph. We don't simply get location, we get a little bit of what is in the picture, maybe the history, maybe the natural phenomena that contribute to the effects. The text in each chapter is also quite interesting and explains why whatever is being presented is of interest.
There are also tips for night photography, which unfortunately mean little to me since I am ignorant in this area. However, I would think this would be useful for both amateur and professional photographers. This is one of those books that makes me want to take up the hobby.
While the pictures are a nice mix, I found myself gravitating toward the ones with some architecture in them or the ones that are wide landscape shots. But frankly, they were all wonderful. And even one with sleeping swans!
Highly recommended for both photographers and those of us who just love looking at great photography.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
For me, what really sets this book apart from many other beautiful books is the commentary that accompanies each photograph. We don't simply get location, we get a little bit of what is in the picture, maybe the history, maybe the natural phenomena that contribute to the effects. The text in each chapter is also quite interesting and explains why whatever is being presented is of interest.
There are also tips for night photography, which unfortunately mean little to me since I am ignorant in this area. However, I would think this would be useful for both amateur and professional photographers. This is one of those books that makes me want to take up the hobby.
While the pictures are a nice mix, I found myself gravitating toward the ones with some architecture in them or the ones that are wide landscape shots. But frankly, they were all wonderful. And even one with sleeping swans!
Highly recommended for both photographers and those of us who just love looking at great photography.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
November 16, 2019
I received a copy of The World at Night through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The World at Night is a stunning look at the night sky. It's so easy to take our nightly view for granted, and that is something that Babak Tafreshi wanted to change with writing this book. This novel features over two hundred photographs from all over the world, all featuring the stunning night sky from different vantage points.
Honestly, I'm overwhelmed by how much of an undertaking The World at Night must have been. Tafreshi somehow managed to get forty (more than) different artists together for this collection. And then they created additional commentary, insights, and other helpful information to accompany each and every piece.
I honestly can't say enough good things about The World at Night. It was wildly informative, while also being striking. This is a book you're going to want on your shelf, as it's relaxing to read, but also ready to fill you up with anything you've ever wanted to know about our beautiful night sky.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The World at Night is a stunning look at the night sky. It's so easy to take our nightly view for granted, and that is something that Babak Tafreshi wanted to change with writing this book. This novel features over two hundred photographs from all over the world, all featuring the stunning night sky from different vantage points.
Honestly, I'm overwhelmed by how much of an undertaking The World at Night must have been. Tafreshi somehow managed to get forty (more than) different artists together for this collection. And then they created additional commentary, insights, and other helpful information to accompany each and every piece.
I honestly can't say enough good things about The World at Night. It was wildly informative, while also being striking. This is a book you're going to want on your shelf, as it's relaxing to read, but also ready to fill you up with anything you've ever wanted to know about our beautiful night sky.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
October 4, 2019
Here is another delightful book on the night sky for me to gaze at - I could spend all day looking at the detail of each photograph.
The World at Night is split into six main chapters and then further sections which are:
One People, one sky - horizons, polar, stargazing
World Heritages - astronomy, natural, historic
Hidden Universe - reveals, moon, aurora, seasonal, southern atmospheric, satellites
Events that shook the world - eclipses, comets, meteor showers, conjunctions, atmospheric, aurora storm
Fragile beauty of darkness - above our lights, city skies, impact on environment
Dark sky refuges - reserves, national parks, near the lights, remote, world observatories.
Each chapter and subsequent section comes with an Introduction and each photograph from around the world has a paragraph relating to its location and features.
At the rear of the book is details of each of the contributing photographers, along with a short section on how to take your own photographs of the night sky.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.
The World at Night is split into six main chapters and then further sections which are:
One People, one sky - horizons, polar, stargazing
World Heritages - astronomy, natural, historic
Hidden Universe - reveals, moon, aurora, seasonal, southern atmospheric, satellites
Events that shook the world - eclipses, comets, meteor showers, conjunctions, atmospheric, aurora storm
Fragile beauty of darkness - above our lights, city skies, impact on environment
Dark sky refuges - reserves, national parks, near the lights, remote, world observatories.
Each chapter and subsequent section comes with an Introduction and each photograph from around the world has a paragraph relating to its location and features.
At the rear of the book is details of each of the contributing photographers, along with a short section on how to take your own photographs of the night sky.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.
November 19, 2019
Filled with beautiful photographs of The World at Night, this book also highlights some of the world’s most beautiful places. From Stonehenge to Red Square to Mount Everest, all the photos highlight the night sky. There are pictures of star trails and eclipse paths captured with camera wizardry. It is surprising how much color a camera lens picks up in an aurora that is not seen by the naked eye.
Whether you want to marvel at the pictures or perhaps take some for yourself, The World at Night has you covered. There is an explanation of how each shot was taken. In addition, there is a chapter explaining what you need to be your own astrophotographer. Plus a compelling section on how light pollution is ruining the feeling of awe and connectedness shared by mankind with our ancestors when gazing at a star-filled sky. 4 stars!
Thanks to White Lion Publishing, Quarto Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Whether you want to marvel at the pictures or perhaps take some for yourself, The World at Night has you covered. There is an explanation of how each shot was taken. In addition, there is a chapter explaining what you need to be your own astrophotographer. Plus a compelling section on how light pollution is ruining the feeling of awe and connectedness shared by mankind with our ancestors when gazing at a star-filled sky. 4 stars!
Thanks to White Lion Publishing, Quarto Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 16, 2022
This is the perfect read as the Northern Hemisphere transitions into fall and winter!
Gorgeous photographs (wish they could all have been full-size!) pair well with interesting text, both in captions and introductions. I loved the combination of topics, from science to philosophy to travel--the perfect combination.
Being a bit (okay, a lot :D) of an early bird, I see the early-morning sky way more than the night sky--but maybe that won't be so hard as the sun sets ever earlier, racing toward the winter solstice. This reignited my interest in venturing out to see it, rather than just hibernating come 4:30pm, LOL!
An intriguing read and one I'd be happy to revisit again, both to enjoy the pictures and to inspire new travels. An added bonus: photography tips at the end, to help the amateur capture their own night-sky visions!
4/5 stars.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Gorgeous photographs (wish they could all have been full-size!) pair well with interesting text, both in captions and introductions. I loved the combination of topics, from science to philosophy to travel--the perfect combination.
Being a bit (okay, a lot :D) of an early bird, I see the early-morning sky way more than the night sky--but maybe that won't be so hard as the sun sets ever earlier, racing toward the winter solstice. This reignited my interest in venturing out to see it, rather than just hibernating come 4:30pm, LOL!
An intriguing read and one I'd be happy to revisit again, both to enjoy the pictures and to inspire new travels. An added bonus: photography tips at the end, to help the amateur capture their own night-sky visions!
4/5 stars.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 26, 2023
I've always been fascinated with long exposure night photography, and this book is overflowing with gorgeous images from all over the world. Famous buildings and cityscapes are featured as well as the obscure, and of course landscapes in nature with the sky looming above full of stars, comets, meteors, the moon, and/or planets. It's a book to savor, with brief explanations of the location and identifying astronomical sights. The chapters divide the images into categories, and I added quite a few destinations to my bucket list. The quality of the hardcover book is excellent with a matte cover and pages, embossed title, and would make a wonderful gift.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
January 5, 2020
I love photography. I love night. I love stars and night sky views. I was excited about this book. There are a lot of images taken by different photographers. Cities skylines at night. Moon at remote places. Milky way, stars above the desert, eruption of volcano at night... Night and light is the theme. The images are nice... But I have a feeling that they would look more spectacular if I saw original print. For some reason photos in the book are kind of soft. And it takes away from their glory. I feel like images are slightly blurred. Maybe it's the print. I am sure those images could be printed in bigger size than the book itself. So I am kind of disappointed that the pictures are not that sharp.
Don't get me wrong. This is great collection of extraordinary images. But I think that the quality of the print could be better.
Don't get me wrong. This is great collection of extraordinary images. But I think that the quality of the print could be better.
August 12, 2020
The work of more than forty photographers from more than twenty countries reveals the beauty of night sky. Many of the never-before-published photographs offer readers astonishing views as they reveal the splendor of the night sky.
The photographs, organized in six separate sections, include One People, One Sky; World Heritages; Hidden Universe; Events That Shook the World; Fragile Beauty of Darkness; and Dark Sky Refuges. Each section begins with an overview and includes commentary for each photograph. Here are great comets, spectacular eclipses, constellations, the natural starry sky, and much, much more.
Visually stunning, this coffee-table-sized book is sure to appeal to those wishing to know more about the night sky as well as to those who appreciate magnificent photography.
Highly recommended.
The photographs, organized in six separate sections, include One People, One Sky; World Heritages; Hidden Universe; Events That Shook the World; Fragile Beauty of Darkness; and Dark Sky Refuges. Each section begins with an overview and includes commentary for each photograph. Here are great comets, spectacular eclipses, constellations, the natural starry sky, and much, much more.
Visually stunning, this coffee-table-sized book is sure to appeal to those wishing to know more about the night sky as well as to those who appreciate magnificent photography.
Highly recommended.
October 22, 2022
This book is absolutely breath taking. Babak Tafreshi takes readers around the world on a journey to see the stars. The book features over 200 incredible photographs of the night sky. Each photo is caption with a brief explanation of the location and the significance of the photo. Additionally there are several pages about various sky phenomena that can be captured by camera. I was very happy to find that in addition to the photos and descriptions there was also information on how to take your own night sky photos. Additionally I am pleased to say that the book included bios of the photographers in addition to a list of credits. This book would make a fabulous addition to anyone's collection.
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