Fossils and the night sky—two seemingly distant worlds, yet deeply connected. Each fossil is a time capsule, a window into an ancient Earth, just as the stars are glimpses into a distant past. My fascination with these cosmic and earthly timelines has led to an incredible opportunity: Landing Among the Stars exhibition at The Etches Collection Museum,running this July only!
Visitors will not only encounter The Sea Monster—a stunning reminder of prehistoric oceans—but also explore the wonders of the night sky. Through this exhibition, I hope to bridge the depths of the sea with the vastness of space, reminding us that time leaves its marks in stone and light alike.
I’m thrilled to invite you to my upcoming talk at Durlston Country Park, where I’ll share my passion for night sky photography. Whether you’re just starting out or already experienced, I’ll offer practical tips, techniques, and inspiration to help you capture the magic of the night.
During the session, I’ll guide you through 2025’s must-see celestial events—I’ll also discuss the best locations for dark-sky photography and share advice on capturing stunning images of the Milky Way.
Set in the heart of Durlston’s International Dark Sky Reserve, this event will give you the tools and knowledge to take your astrophotography to the next level.
Landing Among the Stars Event at Durlston Country Park – Swanage Dorset
Welcome to the celestial extravaganza at Durlston Country Park! The return of Landing Among the Stars in 2024 promises an enchanting spectacle for both local residents and curious visitors. Running from the 27th of March to the 14th of April, this highly-anticipated exhibition is set to immerse attendees in the mesmerizing world of the Dorset Night Skies.
Prepare to be captivated by a collection of several dozen breathtaking images that showcase the celestial beauty of Dorset after dark. From stunning constellations to awe-inspiring nebulae of the Milky Way core, each photograph is a testament to the ethereal wonders that adorn our night skies.
For enthusiasts and art lovers alike, this is a golden opportunity to witness all-new, very limited prints that will be unveiled exclusively during the exhibition. Notably, prints from the 1st edition will be conspicuously absent, elevating the exclusivity of this event and making it a must-attend for collectors and connoisseurs.
Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or someone who simply appreciates the magnificence of the night sky, Landing Among the Stars guarantees an unforgettable experience for all attendees. Wander through the gallery of cosmic masterpieces, allowing the celestial wonders to transport you to a realm where the boundaries between art and nature blur.
Immerse yourself in the magic of these extraordinary images, each a snapshot of the vast universe above. Gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of the cosmos and the skillful artistry behind capturing its beauty through the lens.
Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and awestruck as you embark on a celestial journey at Durlston Country Park. Secure your spot at Landing Among the Stars and witness the beauty of the Dorset Night Skies like never before. Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity to be part of an event that promises to leave a lasting impression on both your mind and soul.
Kevin Ferrioli Night Photography Exhibition in Durlston Country Park Dorset UK
From 30th March to 15 April 2018, Durlston Country Park in Swanange, Dorset-UK, will hold an exhibition about my night photography in Dorset and beyond. The entry is free, experience the magic of the starry nights and learn more about this type of photography.
Milky Way and moon rise from Peveril Point in Swanage, Dorset, United Kingdom
As I did last year, I went again to the same place for my first Milky Way, Peveril Point, Swanage, Dorset UK. For my previous attempt, I used a Sigma Art lens 20mm F1.4. The idea was to capture more detailed foregrounds. The lens proved to be excellent for low light but it has four major downsides: first, photos of the night sky taken with this lens were extremely difficult to edit. Second, it is not very good for panoramas, despite I used a nodal head. Third, the autofocus is the worst of any lens that I have ever owned, it is very difficult to capture a sharp photo even with the best light conditions. And fourth, the lens profile in Lightroom is terrible, it makes the images worse. I was not bothered by the astigmatism distortion of the corners which virtually disappeared in panoramas. Overall, I was not happy with the lens, I felt I wasted my last year trying to use it. So I went back to my trustworthy Samyang lens 14mm F2,8. Coupled with the Canon 6D, still my preferred choice. I have not tested the Sigma 14mm F2 yet, but given the price, I will stick with my Samyang.
Below is the process used to create it. It is a panorama of 7 photos, Canon 6d and Samyang 14mm F2.8, ISO between 4000 and 5000. Each photo is 25 secs. Stitched in Adobe Lightroom.
Peveril Point Swanage Milky Way: 7 images highlighted below and stitched in Abobe Lightroom.
I also took another one without me, and here is the result:
Swanage Peveril Point Milky Way. Dorset United Kingdom. Canon 6d Mk1 Samyang 14mm F2.8. Panorama of 8 photos. 25 Secs each ISO 4000.
The moon rise was spectacular, one of the most beautiful rises from the sea, it was also so dim that allowed to capture the Milky Way up to the last minute before the astronomical dawn. Again, I thank you the nature for this beautiful experience.
Back in 2015, end of what we call the Milky Way season (that in reality means end of the visibility of the galactic core!), I headed towards the Jurassic Coast, specifically to a beautiful chalk formations. Old Harry Rocks are located in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, United Kingdom. This was a really windy night, and the location very, very dangerous. I was sat all time as a gust of wind could have easily pushed me to death. I wasn’t sure that I was going to get the photo due to the light pollution coming from Swanage. I took several images at different exposures, my Canon 6d Mk1 and Samyang 14mm F2.8 as the resource, with occasional shots with the Canon 24-105 F4 series L. No tracker, only pushing the trigger. I have to say, I was really pleased with the result.
Milky Way from Old Harry Rocks, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset UK. Canon 6D MK1 Samyang 14mm F2.8 Single Exposure.
My friend and fellow photographer Matt Pinner(pinners-photography.co.uk) and I had this planned from years ago. We always talked about it and for one reason or another, we could not make it to the place. It is very difficult to access and dangerous if you don’t know the way.
The day started with a really nice re-encounter with my friend after a long gap without contact with him. As always, we were talking on the way there about possible places, possible photos. We then stopped to photograph a field full of sunflowers in Hampshire.
Sunflowers field in Hampshire
The sky looked unsettled, with a promise of clearing later on. From there, we headed to Wiltshire towards Salisbury and we noticed that the fields were now being flooded by mist. Matt had a place in mind and we took a little detour to capture this view during the blue hour.
Layers of mist in the forests of Hampshire
We left the place, and the mist became more and more abundant, now to the point that visibility of the sky had reduced. We keep going with the hope of going to Stonehenge and capture the Milky Way. When we finally arrived, mist was present, even by the stones, but it was thin enough to allow a photo.
I did research about previous attempts from other photographers and I learned that despite the apparent darkness of the place, the sky right behind the monument is heavily light polluted. With that in mind, I started with my first attempt.
Stonehenge Milky Way, Wiltshire. English Heritage. World Heritage Site. Canon 6D MK1, Sigma Art 20mm F1.4 shot at F1.6 Frames 15 secs each Panorama of 4 photos.
The mist made the light pollution problem worse, and it was also aggravated by the continuous passing of cars behind the monument, the lights were amplified by the mist, creating a huge glow. The road was so busy that it was impossible to wait until there were no cars passing through it.
Now the mist was creating heavy condensation on everything. The camera body, tripod, nothing escaped, and as I wasn’t expecting this, I didn’t bring the heaters for the lens, so I found myself cleaning the lens after each shot of the pano. Conditions were also deteriorating very quickly, and I had no choice but to start to do single shots. I positioned the camera in portrait orientation and also changed the lens to my beloved Samyang 14mmF2.8
Stonehenge Milky Way, Samyang 14 mm F2.8 Cropped photo. 25 Secs single frame.
I have to say that when it comes to foregrounds at night, nothing beats the Sigma Art (not even the expensive Canon lenses). This is to the point that I have experienced the re-birth of my Canon 6D MK1 with the Sigma Art. But when the stars are the subject, the old and mechanical Samyang 14mm F2.8 still producing the most beautiful night skies (I still need to test the Sigma Art 14mm F1.8 which looks very promising!). The lack of light gathering capabilities compared with the Sigma produce more contrast which helps in creating darker skies.
Conditions deteriorated now to the point that clouds started to cover the sky, and the mist became more intense. We had to leave the monument, but we left it bringing with us one of the most beautiful experiences ever, the beautiful energy that emanates from the site, combined with the stars what were visible, a formula that heals the soul, not everyday I have the opportunity to photograph the milky way in the most known and one of the most fascinating places of earth. I thank you all the energy of this universe that took me there.
This year 2017, started with big expectations, always trying to be realistic too about what it could be achieved, as the windows of opportunities in the UK are extremely reduced…so every clear night is so precious, to the point that if I miss one window(a clear moonless night ), I feel like I just wasted my time by doing something else. It is a journey, and a great learning experience and it has become a religion.
Radar Monument St Aldhelm’s Head Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
St Aldhelm’s Chapel – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Studland Beach Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Moonrise Boscome Beach Dorset UK
Lyrid Meteor and Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Durlston Country Park Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Moon and Jupiter above Bournemouth Pier Dorset UK
Lulworth Cove Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Man O’War Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Man O’War Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Man O’War Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Man O’War Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Kimmeridge and Thunderstorm Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Kimmeridge Thunderstorm Dorset UK
Durlston Country Park Milky Way – Dorset Milky Way Photography UK
Photography by Kevin Ferrioli 
You must be logged in to post a comment.