There are many characteristics that make the Patagonia a different place. The immensity, wild nature, fauna and geographical particularities are, perhaps, the most sought-after attributes. But there is more. And to discover it, it is not enough to look around or ahead. The chest is upstairs and opens every night, revealing the treasure of the universe: the stars. The Patagonian sky is not just another one. The lack of atmospheric and light pollution makes the night sky a spectacle in itself.
In this framework, it was developed a night photography workshop led by Paula Hazebiler, a renowned professional from Chubut who, for more than 10 years, has been dedicated to astrophotography.
The meeting, with free registration, took place at the Patagonia Azul Park, to invite the community to enjoy the portals, spend a night at the camping sites and discover a new way of seeing and discovering nature through photography.
The Patagonian soil is a luxury balcony to enjoy the spectacle that the night sky offers. An ideal setting to live a different experience. This is what the 30 people who came from different locations in Chubut felt.
Camping Cañadón del Sauce: a balcony towards the stars
The meeting took place at the camping facilities Sauce Canyon, at the Isla Leones Portal, located 14 kilometers from Camarones, from 8 p.m. Participants shared a campfire, talks and then were instructed in the basic techniques for taking night photographs.
“It was a long and very nice night. Some stayed until 4 in the morning, others, very excited, woke up there right away. The place is truly incredible, being in the middle of nowhere, with the typical Patagonian wind, the sound of nature alone, is magical. When the sun went down, the sky was filled with stars, it was truly incredible,” Paula explained.
“In addition – he continued – there was a lot of expectation among the people, it was a very homogeneous group, fun and very eager. Few had lived the experience of being at night like that, so it was something wonderful.”
To organize the activity, the participants were divided into groups of 4, who were assisted to achieve the proposed objectives. “We were all very satisfied because they quickly learned the technique and were able to take their astrophotos in a place as magical as this,” remarked the photographer from Chubut.
“We progressively advanced in basic photography techniques and entered the world of the stars and the care of the skies,” Paula stressed.
The Route of the Stars of Chubut
The workshop was aimed at giving participants effective knowledge when taking photos of the night sky. These activities are part of a comprehensive project carried out by Paula Hazebiler.
“During the workshop I gave a talk about the star route project and taking care of the dark skies in Chubut. A project that I have been carrying out for a few years,” highlighted the photographer.
And he expanded: “I have developed my astrophotographic technique, transforming it into a tool for education, conservation and promotion thanks to its great scientific, cultural and natural content. Managing to convert this technique into a branch of art, where procedures for capturing and processing digital images are used that give a visual result in a set of emotions that transport the observer to places never seen before.
The project undertaken by Paula has provided Chubut society with tools to promote the care of the Dark Skies and astronomical tourism, and has collaborated with strategies to enhance the province’s night sky.
What does dark skies care consist of?
The workshops are not only aimed at provide night photography tools to the participants, but they also seek Raise awareness about caring for the skies.
“We want people to use the light in their homes appropriately. For this we recommend turning off all those that are not used, removing the photocells because they are very invasive, that the rest of the lights illuminate downwards as much as possible and that they be warm lights. The lights often cause enormous damage to both humans and flora and fauna,” explained the photographer.
And he concluded: “Many cities and protected areas are working on lighting regulations to address this issue.”
