Nightscaper Conference Absentee: May 14-17 ‘26
The first ever Nightscaper conference was held in 2019, put on by “the father of nightscapes” Royce Bair. He has since passed the torch to the team at National Parks at Night (NPAN) who now run the event.
Standing with some of my amazing Milky Way Magic students during the 2023 conference.
When I told someone I was speaking at the conference for the first time in 2023 they said something along the lines of “what the heck is a nightscape?”
Once I explained, then they were dumbfounded there were enough people to have a whole conference for it! The thing that I think is amazing is how much work and love goes into the continuation of this event.
I don’t think we should take for granted these spaces that are made for community to come together “IRL” and celebrate/enjoy/learn about something we love.
Sadly, I did not attend this conference in person.
The NPAN team reached out to me about presenting, but I was limiting my travel this year due to caregiving commitments with my dad. As it turns out I’m planning his internment. So while I could have potentially gone, I didn’t know that at the time. I presented at the previous conference in 2024, but had to change to virtual for the same reasons I declined going this year.
It was while shooting with one of my Milky Way Magic alumni, Stephanie, in Death Valley last month (a short and impromptu trip!) that I was lamenting not getting to see anyone.
Stephanie joked about bringing a giant cutout of me with her to the conference. We laughed about it as we packed up our gear into our cars after a night shoot at Zabriskie…
Only for me to get a Whatsapp message from her later in the day with a website that specializes in giant cutout heads.
Well that escalated quickly
Photos on this page graciously contributed by Stephanie Thi
https://www.instagram.com/stephanie_.bee/
P.S. Thanks Christine for letting me drive your jeep 😂
And so, though I was not at Nightscaper 2026 via my physical body; I was there in spirit via a giant flat Kristine head!
Stephanie, Christine, Lori and Kristy (all MWM alum!) shepherded me around the event, and I think that they may have had a bit too much fun.
Jokes aside, these images give a glimpse of what it’s like to get to be a part of this community.
Maybe they’ll inspire you to come see us at Nightscaper next time, or join Milky Way Magic the next time registration opens.
From Left: Joel, Dennis, Julie, Jeff, Winnie, Kelly, Martin, Jean, Christine, Kristy, Stephanie, Me, Cindy, Lori, Paul, Carlton
⬆️ First up (no, we’re going not in chronological order): a group photo. I’m so grateful to my students for taking the time to bring everyone together for a photo when I know how busy it was.
It makes my heart happy every time I see my students out together in the wilds. Seeing them all here, laughing and being together is a feeling like no other.
I could never have imagined this when I started teaching online as a Covid necessity in 2020.
I mean, would you have put “Have your students from around the world carry a giant head cutout of you around a badass conference” on your bingo card? Me neither.
I really did the rounds
(which is to say Stephanie, Christine, Lori, Kristy and Cindy really did the rounds)
Remember the founder of the Nightscaper conference from eariler, and the group who run it now?
Here I am one step closer to meeting Royce in person!
The National Parks at Night team!
From Left: Lance, Matt, Chris, Tim, & Gabriel
One of my favourite parts of any trip.. the exploring! I haven’t been to this part of the world before.
The conference was held in Farmington, New Mexico. Nearby “Four Corners” the quadripoint in the Southwestern United States where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet.
The geology and landscape is otherworldly. Yep, another place to put on my list (my list is getting looonggg)
The adventure is over now.
But you know what? Now all my students get to edit their images they took 😍😍
Maybe if we ask nicely enough they’ll let me share some of those images here on the blog!
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I couldn't make it to Nightscaper 2026 in person, so my students did the next best thing: they brought a giant cutout of my head. Here's a glimpse into the nightscape photography community I love so much.