Electrifying Astrophotography Captures Gorgeous Night Sky Over the Middle East

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

The night sky is an endless wonder and has long inspired photographers to capture its swirling beauty. For the past four years, Basel-based photographer Benjamin Barakat has been snapping gorgeous pictures of the night sky among stunning backdrops. Vibrant purples and electric oranges bring the Earth’s otherwise sleepy landscape to life. And now, he’s sharing his passion for this subject with others by showing them how to shoot their own astrophotography.

Travel is an important component of Barakat’s images. “Being half-Lebanese,” he tells My Modern Met, “my goal has been to explore the Middle East more and share awareness of the beautiful landscapes to encourage others to visit these places.” The country of Jordan is of particular interest to him, and he’s traveled to sites like Petra and Wadi Run.

“Petra is what first attracted me to Jordan,” he shares, “and it was a wish of mine to capture it under the night sky. Getting in during closing hours to one of the Seven Wonders of the World isn’t easy, so I had to build a relationship with the local Bedouin people to gain such access.”

Wadi Rum has dark skies that make it perfect for landscape photography. “I spent just over a year planning with locals to geotag all of the spots in my collection of images before capturing them all,” the photographer explains.

If you’d like to learn how to become an astrophotographer, Barakat will show you how. He has tours and workshops scheduled for 2023 that will take you to Egpyt, Bolivia, and more.

The night sky is an endless wonder and has long inspired photographers to capture its swirling beauty.

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

For the past four years, Basel-based photographer Benjamin Barakat has been snapping gorgeous pictures of the night sky among stunning backdrops.

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Travel is an important component of Barakat’s images.

Nighttime Photography by Benjamin Barakat

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Nighttime Photography by Benjamin Barakat

Nighttime Photography by Benjamin Barakat

“Being half-Lebanese,” he tells My Modern Met, “my goal has been to explore the Middle East more and share awareness of the beautiful landscapes to encourage others to visit these places.”

Nighttime Photography by Benjamin Barakat

Nighttime Photography by Benjamin Barakat

The country of Jordan is of particular interest to him, and he’s traveled to sites like Petra and Wadi Run.

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Astrophotography by Benjamin Barakat

Benjamin Barakat: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Benjamin Barakat.

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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