STARLIGHT: Deserts of Chile - 4K (UHD)

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Ever since I started astrophotography I’ve waited to visit the dark skies of Chile. I took advantage of the total solar eclipse of July 2nd to give me a ‘good excuse’ to go there and shoot astrolapses as well. For a bit more than two weeks, Alyn Wallace and I roamed about some of the driest areas and darkest skies on the planet. This short films tells the tale of an otherworldly experience filled with many challenges and stunning scenery throughout the deserts of the South-American country.
Chile is unlike any other places on our beautiful planet. The climate there is very strange, especially coming from northern Europe. While the southern part of the country is colder and more humid, the northern part offers some of the sunniest and driest places thanks to the Andes blocking most of the clouds. The high plateaus (Altiplano) actually extends for miles from South to North and even in the winter time, the astrophotography possibilities are almost endless and seemingly easy to come by. During our two weeks around La Serena and Atacama, Alyn and I have almost not seen a single cloud or a major gust of wind. Moreover, despite the growing light pollution around the arid plains, the night remains one of the best on Earth. There, the nigh it is quite long (from 6:30PM till 6AM), and the air is thin and pure to allow less scattering and a clearer view on the stars. So theoretically it was possible to shoot every night.
But that’s in theory. In practice, Chile ended up being the most challenging environment to shoot in so far. It’s even more extreme than shooting the northern light by -35 degrees Celsius in Sweden! Even with a good acclimatization at 2500m, the altitude (~4300m sometimes), fatigue, cold (-11 C sometimes), the constant dust lifting off the ground took a serious toll on our health. In turn that prevented us from shooting every night for two weeks. After both falling sick several times, we simply had to give up even though we’re usually quite resistant and resilient. The desert is a serious hostile environment and unfortunately the movie does not show it. That’s without mentioning some of the other challenges we had, like puncturing a tire in the middle of nowhere, breaking my 70-300mm Tamron lens an hour before the eclipse, or almost having a fit at 4800m of altitude.
Fortunately though, the experience of being under such beauty and shooting it was well worth the trip. The film only features 2 sequences of the total solar eclipse, but the photos cannot do the real thing justice, even in an environment that looks like Mars. I tried my best to diversify the shots and compile them into this short to showcase how jaw-dropping the Chilean desert are at night. At the start of the movie, I featured my first ever night hyperlapse, which is quite hard to achieve, even under a full moon (uneven terrain, anchor points hard to find…). From the flowering cacti in front of the milky way galaxy to the turquoise slaty lagoons reflecting the stars, but also the arid but singular salt flats, the deserts of Chile truly are a unique place for nightscapes. I had two main shooting challenges this time though. Firstly the car lights (many tourists coming around the eclipse) which lit up some sequences (I had to remove some frames and some of the sequences got a bit laggy). The second problem was the difference of light between the sky and foreground. Indeed the sky was very bright and the ground very dark in comparison, so I often had to push the ISO to 10K and 12K, or bump up the exposure time, which in turn resulted in less clean sequences. All in all the experience was incredible and I am quite stunned by the results I got. I hope you enjoy this first opus in my new timelapse series ‘STARLIGHT’ dedicated to the darkest places on Earth. All content is copyrighted NightLightsFilms© (except sountrack licensed seperately), and no footage can be used in any way without the author’s permission. Please contact me for media and purchase inquiry. Please share and comment if you liked the video and follow me for more videos like this one! More at www.nightlightsfilms.com
Cameras: Sony a7s, 2 Canon 6D modded, Sony a7rII
Motion control: Vixen Polarie, Syrp 3 axis systemLenses: Sigma 14mm f1.8, Sigma 20mm f1.4, Sigma 35mm f1.4, Sigma 50mm f1.4, Sigma 85mm f1.4, Samyang 135mm f2, Kenko extender HDPRO x2 (eclispe)
Post-process: Adobe Lightroom, Timelapse+ STUDIO plug-in for Lr, Ps CS6, TDLF, Sequence, FCPX

[@melodym7820]

Is it anyone else dream to see this beauty with there own eyes? To see the colors you didn't know could be and the quick flashes passing by. In the dessert or snow with a loved own staying up all night with the flashing light. no light pollution tainting the sky just you and them in solitude, with the stars thousand of miles away, shining in the sky so you could see them one day

[@vitacurakopen]

I was born in the Atacama desert in Chile and I can assure you that the skies are so spectacular and clear that you can see galaxies with the naked eye.

[@sundown6436]

@@vitacurakopen it´s only possible on a few places on earth....

[@faithless1337t]

This comment made me cry

[@josephh4948]

@@sundown6436 sadly true. It's very difficult to see the night sky in its true form because of all the light pollution. I have to drive an hour away to be able to catch even a partial view of the Milky Way. To deny human kind this marvelous view of the universe has driven us away from our origins, as well as blinded us as to our purpose of existence. Mankind built monuments and founded many if not all religions on the basic question of where we came from based on the night sky. Hundreds of thousands of years of our ancestors sleeping underneath the blanket of stars helped guide and grow humanity, and now we're so self absorbed with the latest technology, gadgets, songs, gossip, trends, foods etc.to even care that light pollution has contributed to us losing our way.

[@JoseSilva_Music]

The creation of Jesus 😍😍😍😍😍

[@gnappibr]

I was in Chile in 2001, in the Atacama Desert and this is an incredible place with the most beautiful sky on Earth!!!

[@andrak02]

algun dia me gustaria visitar chile para ver el desierto

[@arolemaprarath6615]

@@andrak02 si amigo

[@soulmetal5733]

@@andrak02 o

[@paulbrower4265]

The only rivals would be southwestern Africa (Namibia) and the Australian outback. Of course people in the middle and especially high latitudes of the northern hemisphere can never see the full majesty of the Southern sky

[@hdekeryuzaki]

U got lucky brother ☺️

[@justpeachy3583]

I never even realized that you could see this from Earth. It's magnificent, jaw dropping, spectacular, holy!! No adjectives suffice to describe this. As far as I'm concerned, the people of Chile are the most blessed in the world!

[@ZackWolfMusic]

It's seen all over the southern hemisphere

[@justpeachy3583]

@@ZackWolfMusic and the fact that I didn't even know this shows the treasure that we hid from ourselves because of modern technology. Most of us are unknowing of this. How sad it makes me!

[@marcovalencia7917]

Seeing it From earth even in atacama there's no colors in the sky

[@gusgrizzel8397]

You can see the Milky Way.

[@aerokasyeal4840]

All praise be to Allah, God mentions how great is the universe in the holy Quran

[@MdSharif-fy4km]

Never get bored of watching this Stars 🤩 how lucky we are to see this natures wonders i personally love watching stars always fan of Cosmos ❤️

[@shellyrae777]

In my lifetime I will never lay my eyes on this landscape, because of you I just did, thank you, absolutely beautiful! 👍❤️

[@arnavvaishnav1590]

Everything is possible, we never know what we can do.

[@shellyrae777]

Arnav Vaishnav ❤️ For some maybe, you’re right, but I’m disabled and in a wheelchair, the internet allows me to see things I never can. I’m very happy for this.

[@arnavvaishnav1590]

Wheelchair? No thats not a problem, no one is talking about walking till chile atacama😅. And dont call yourself disabled, you are not.

[@shellyrae777]

Arnav Vaishnav Thank you 😊

[@emil_king8237]

@@arnavvaishnav1590 covid says hi!

[@romanm.3529]

What a magnificent dome we have above our us all!

[@ivanlupi5123]

Stunning. What a way to make that trip worth it.

[@JatBadmos]

this is very fascinating to see.... l love watching these videos it always calm me.....

[@nicolejames6796]

The Universe is Spectacular to say the least and I wish I could see it's full splendour with my own eyes

[@jackchow4316]

Wow! This is definitely NatGeo quality content - or I’d say beyond NatGeo’s level! You totally deserves more subscribers!

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much Jack! Yes not to brag but NatGeo's quality has seriously dropped over the past decade... :) Thanks again for the feedback!

[@FactsFactoryDiscovery]

@@NightLightsFilms can't lie! I definitely agree with you

[@upondivineguidanceorder2548]

@@NightLightsFilms 32. He who does not answer the caller to God will not escape on earth, and has no protectors besides Him. Those are in obvious error. 33. Do they not realize that God, who created the heavens and the earth, and was never tired by creating them, is Able to revive the dead? Yes indeed; He is Capable of everything. 34. On the Day when those who disbelieved are presented to the Fire: “Is this not real?” They will say, “Yes, indeed, by our Lord.” He will say, “Then taste the suffering for having disbelieved.” 35. So be patient, as the messengers with resolve were patient, and do not be hasty regarding them. On the Day when they witness what they are promised, it will seem as if they had lasted only for an hour of a day. A proclamation: Will any be destroyed except the sinful people? The Noble Quran

[@abhishekreddy2425]

@@NightLightsFilms Probably many more people started getting the kind of equipment and skills required as they become more accessible and even people working there would have become independent to get acknowledged...

[@gusgrizzel8397]

Yes better than National Geographic, who used to be good, until they became so politically correct.

[@JnrBrianKomun-lb2cy]

The Oldest Stories are written in the Stars. ThankYou ❤️🔭🇵🇬

[@starscraper1336]

Truly a Starry Night Sky.

[@gusgrizzel8397]

Thank you, so very magnificently epic.

[@MariaJose-vm1gd]

Soy de Antofagasta (Ahora vivo en Toronto, Canadá)....Ver este video me traslada a mi hermoso desierto que adoro y añoro en demasía. La verdad es que no me halló entre tanto verde y nieve, necesito ver la cordillera pelada, el cielo despejado, las estrellas y el olor del mar. Ya voy a regresar a mi patria...A mi Antofagasta. La ciudad y región con los cielos más limpios del mundo.

[@nathanialbradford4206]

Tears in my eyes as I watched this, not only because it is an exquisite, awe inspiring, capture of our home galaxy, but also because we KNOW, and understand, what it is we are looking at!!. Thank you all for sharing your passion and vision.

[@NightLightsFilms]

nathanial bradford thanks Nate, really appreciate it :)

[@SuperYtc1]

It's because of the music. Music is very underrated by people.

[@mk4720]

This is a bliss for the soul. Thank you for your work.

[@juanneira9655]

ESO Y MIL COSAS BELLAS ALUCINANTES ,ESO ES MI CHILE ,SIMPLEMENTE MARAVILLOSO ,TU TAMBIÉN ERES PARTE DE MI PAIS.

[@VishalChaudhary-dm7uv]

I was star gazing yesterday for the first time ever and now watching this video makes me cry.... it's the most beautiful thing Every!

[@malvaroyou]

One of the best, if not the best I've seen. I'm from Chile and in love with astronomy but I had never been in the Atacama Desert until some months ago, it is surreal.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Alvaro Cabello wow thank you so much!! Yes it’s such an incredible place :)

[@Aman12353]

It's my dream to visit such places 😍

[@sundown6436]

One word only! Incredible!

[@alexalmeida]

By far my favorite Milky way timelapse video!

[@janineclame]

D'une beauté exceptionnel ! Un ciel d'une grande pureté. Merci pour ces merveilleuses images , uniques.

[@guyjordan8201]

I'm sitting here amazed at not only the images but also the presentation. I am grateful to have seen this... multiple times.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Guy Jordan wow thank you so much Guy!! :)

[@hectorguajardo6784]

Jamás había visto tus vídeos, son una delicia para la vista, saludos desde Chile

[@amitdutta8768]

This is one of the stunning timelapses I have seen so far. You have included such a variety of angles, including an eclipse, its a treat to the eyes. Thanks Richard for presenting such a beautiful creation 😊

[@lakejindsay]

I spent two years in Chile and will be returning to see more of the country. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for making this. I am just starting to do Astrophotography and I can't wrap my mind around the time, skill, patience, and art you had to employ for this.

[@Unicvr]

This is masterpiece of universe😍

[@indranilmondal5977]

Spectacular views...🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@rocioaylenmartinez7252]

Amo como en los comentarios hay gente de todos lados diferentes hablando sobre lo magnífico que es esto. Muchas gracias por el vídeo, realmente es algo que cualquier persona puede apreciar ❤️

[@ontcijferd]

Dear Adrien, You leave me again without words to describe my feelings by watching your videos and often toghether with happiness are some tears in my eyes to see the beauty you share with us of our earth and universe. Thank you so much and greetings from The Netherlands

[@rontz]

Incredibly satisfying.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks :)

[@michael_ostaszewski]

It's just blown my mind.. really amazing!!!! WOW!

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much man! Much appreciated :)

[@d.hipnos4735]

Chile es hermoso 😍

[@NightLightsFilms]

Si!!

[@petrosliatsos9693]

AMAZING!!! Fantastic night sky.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much Petros!!

[@karlamay_]

Goosebumps. It's hard to explain but it hit the feels.

[@jesusmunoz4049]

Thanks universe for letting us live and see this.

[@AlynWallace]

Insane man absolutely nailed it!

[@NightLightsFilms]

Alyn Wallace thanks a lot man, good way to recover from our epic adventures

[@timeviews5406]

Really awesome time lapse. You deserve an award. Looking forward to see more beautiful videos from you.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much!! Much appreciated :)

[@autumnm1079]

0:25 When the most delicately composed shot you've ever seen is of a cactus :) Amazing

[@NightLightsFilms]

haha ;)

[@bloodyhellboy92]

I could barely wait for this one to be released! I can tell there's tremendous work involved in there both in shooting and in post. Watching this on an oled tv was pure perfection! You totally blurred the lines between astrophotography and deep sky photography. Those ultrawide deepfields really pop in a timelapse and offer an otherworldly dimension. Keep looking up, man! Much appreciated all the effort to create this eye-candy!

[@NightLightsFilms]

WOW thanks a lot M-C!! Means a lot to me :) Yes I really wanted to do what you just described. Imo it's rarely done in this field, if ever ;) I'll keep it up for sure!

[@lizmu]

Just wonderful it takes my breath away. Being right there must be awesome. This things we look here on earth makes worth this life journey❤️✨🤩

[@MissAKSky28]

It's a pleasure to seeing this amazing view. completely extraordinary! I feel that. 💙 amazing job, congrats!

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks a lot! much appreciated :)

[@ajit52]

So beautiful photography

[@TheSvillebrat]

Adrien, you have outdone yourself with this one! The most beautiful and spectacular views yet! Even despite the hardships you had endured! Bravo!

[@mehmetkaragul6172]

Wow. What an amazing experience. You and Alyn rock 👌

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much man! Much appreciated :)

[@yeshwonnth]

Beautiful. Thank you for making & sharing such a wonderful masterpiece

[@anettsimon-zsok3943]

This is so wonderful. We need more people to see these type of videos.

[@RobinSeifert]

Pure magic.... I´m speechless Adrien ...

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks!!

[@marcelosoutocamiou9363]

I´m totaly agree, you deserves more subscribers, beautiful, thank you for your work. I love it.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thx!!

[@uknancy3]

Wow Adrien! The colours, the stunning beauty you capture to perfection. It is the next best thing to being there. Thank you! 💙🌌💚

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much!! Much appreciated :)

[@brothers_foresters]

Очень красивые пейзажи! И музыка👍

[@OrlandoSalazartubdoc911]

Must see. Cinematic prowess for sure

[@christinewinton5206]

Absolutely stunning. This made me weep. The beauty is unbelievable.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much Christine!! :)

[@elchupa3694]

Is that what the sky suppose to look like?!? Omg that stunning, I cant even imagine experiencing something so naturally beautiful..

[@gprzv]

Realmente hermoso..! que envidia poder haber hecho esas tomas..! Felicitaciones..!

[@shadow_of_darkness5666]

Absolutely amazing are these mysterious wonders 🥰

[@myates4652]

SO beautiful, thank you for your commitment to astrophotography, I cannot believe your channel is not the hottest thing right now. Please keep up the good work, I hope that KZbin and the audience in general will see your talent, and give you the accolades you deserve. Thanks for sharing your art with us.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks!! Hopefully so yeah, I'd love for it to pick up really... It's been a slow start!

[@tosky8548]

Oh god, words can't describe what I feel when I see this, thank you is not enough ,and as I said you and people like you are Windows we can look at the world through ,thank you again.

[@juanneira771]

CHILE ,maravilloso donde lo imposible es Posible,magico ,irreal.

[@mathilu4453]

My country❤️ it’s so beautiful. We have the driest desert on the world, but one of the best and darkest night skies in the planet

[@altr557]

mis compatriotas tan humildes

[@mathilu4453]

altr557 exacto! Siempre apoyando a nuestro país

[@nitinjadhav5727]

OH MY GOD !! WHAT A GREAT VIDEO !! .....

[@harkup]

Consistently the best there is Adrien

[@spark_6710]

Beautiful ! A mesmerizing video w/ a beautiful music ! 💜

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much!!

[@spark_6710]

@@NightLightsFilms Thank you !!! For making / posting gorgeous videos always ! Thanx for replying & liking my comment !👍💜🎶🎵🥁

[@meandmy2phans]

Breathtaking! It's on my bucket list to go south of the equator, and see the Southern Cross and the Large & Small Magellanic Clouds. Someday, someday. Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@WUZAKING]

Got goose bumps, AWESOME!

[@SystematikSoundz]

Simply breathtaking!! I'm going next year for my 40th, and I almost literally cannot wait.

[@TheGSI3]

I hope you have an amazing experience!! The first time I saw that many stars was a long time ago in 1990. Unfortunately our vacation was interrupted by our van that stopped working in the middle of nowhere. I got out, looked up and could not believe my eyes!! I never saw that again. I tried going to Big Bend national park just last year at 43 years old and I was disappointed by full cloud coverage 😔. I still haven’t been able to see what I saw in 1990. I’m planning on trying again in June. I really hope you get to enjoy the beautiful night sky. It’s breathtaking

[@thekingofpixels6957]

Stunning astro! I’m in awe! Bravo!!!!

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks mate!! Much appreciated!

[@liamsoares9557]

🤔 ...great movie! Really marvellous the nature!

[@ArshadAli8611]

Wow, it’s just breathtaking! Love it. You have beautifully taken those spectacular shots. Watched it again and again. The music is so soothing. Thanks for sharing.

[@youngjezy23]

All I know god could be you doing good for you and everyone else’s interest at heart too

[@Engel-re4bp]

Muy hermoso una oda a la naturaleza de los cielos.

[@WholisticSpeak]

You visually and musically captured the essence of the love that SHE put forth when she created all of this.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks a lot!!

[@MrFrankie1311]

.....just awesome!!! 👍

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks!

[@y0u5uf]

If you watch this with this music and an Alan Watts Talk in the background it will blow your mind.. Thank you this is amazing.

[@sherylsammyweitz1146]

Adrien, I just got the time to go through your pages and settled on watching this today, since I share life in a desert, though not those of Chile! I am so awed by this entire sequence and the beauty that you conveyed, even with some setbacks. In fact, I had to laugh a bit as I'm finding out just how much of a perfectionist you are through your comments. Still, your videos far exceed anything else that I have seen anywhere for depth, beauty and the perfect pairing of music. Thank you so much for sharing this and please continue onward as you keep me on my toes looking toward the Heavens for all sights! It is AWESOME PLUS!

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much for those warming words Sheryl!! :)

[@christianmartinez1921]

Yes, this is Chile, the place where I live.

[@NightLightsFilms]

You're lucky!

[@cbrew8794]

VIVA CHILEE 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@skyhigh33716]

Christian Martínez so what?

[@abhishekbobby100]

How lucky ur God bless u and ur family, friends and neighbors

[@foxxy5678]

Could you say how is your life in Chile?Cuz after watching this I really wanna know?!

[@shashikantbehera1735]

I will definitely visit this place 💓.

[@djdrow9369]

esta pulento gracias por compartir

[@ericagrneyez1839]

I thoroughly enjoyed what you all captured...thank you for the journey but now this makes me want to go to such a place even moreso...and witness the night sky...with my own eye...and take it all in

[@cindyzentic2620]

So amazing... thank you for sharing...💯💯💯

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks!! ;)

[@josemqu]

Un trabajo increíble! Tenés que venir más seguido para el sur. En la Patagonia te esperan paisajes espectaculares! Gracias!!! 😃👍

[@NightLightsFilms]

José M Quintana muchas gracias José :)

[@TajiksWonderlandTravels]

No words. Simply magnificent.

[@ninamoreno8116]

Love it! Absolutely mind-boggling and breathtaking photography. You're a genius!

[@blackskyphotography3982]

I need to go there at least once in my life for astro photography. You can be proud of you have it done and coming home with such amazing results.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Yes you do!! This place is unbelievable!! :)

[@masqerader]

I would spend the rest of my life in that place with nothing else but enough food/water to survive just to watch that every night. We need to bring the night sky back

[@thediscoverer5586]

*BEAUTIFUL*

[@jmfilms3944]

Wow,I lost my words here.. You did amazing work sir! Well done

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks a lot!!

[@ScottPortingale]

Love seeing those starry southern skies. Well done!

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks a lot Scott! Much appreciated :)

[@berioskabarrientos6091]

Esto es realmente maravilloso! Felicitaciones por tu enorme trabajo 💚

[@NightLightsFilms]

Muchas gracias!

[@paomarin4456]

Defenderemos 🇨🇱 con todo nuestro poder bélico si es necesario, por la razón o la fuerza 🇨🇱Viva Chile 🇨🇱

[@georgebokovos]

Masterpiece! Thank you so much for this video, best I have seen! Clear skies

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks a lot George!! :) absolutely appreciate the feed back :)

[@nubesnegras10]

...awesome video!...thank you

Looking forward to this premiere! And it very interesting and fun to be able to read the bts and what really happens during a trip like this. 12 min remaining.... :D

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks man! Very excited to share the film as well. As you mention, it won't show all the ordeals that I went through, but it's perfect cause I just want the film to reflect the beauty of our night sky! :)

[@leandroprz]

So many great shots! This is fantastic.

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much Leandro!!

[@marcofamaonline]

What a fantastic piece of art - Amazing work!

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks a lot Marco!!

[@outdoormaniak9237]

Amazing!

[@juliezea18]

Breathtaking and absolutely stunning!

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thanks Julie!! :)

[@ME2K23]

🙆‍♂️🤓Its out of this world! 😉👍👍 This certainly required an unimaginable amount of work to acheive such results!! Very impressive! 🌟🌟🌟🌟☄

[@NightLightsFilms]

Thank you so much! Yes I can't say it hasn't haha :)

[@suryap7216]

Wonderful place in the earth