As a consequence of pollution, smog, and many other things, what was once a sky painted the deepest blue and illuminated by millions of tiny glowing stars has now become a canvas of black and gray with few, if any, small beacons of bright hope now visible. At least that's what we've seen until now.
Polish photographer Marcin Zajac, now settled in California, is a man with a keen eye for landscapes, and a real fire for nightscapes. His work has taken him and his extrasensory camera all across America and the world, capturing stunning moments where all of space collides with our beautiful planet under the veil of the night sky. The results are a colorful swirl of nature that are beyond gorgeous. These are just a few of his favorites photographs that he absolutely had to share with the world.
This photo was taken beside a buried treasure located between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, Pigeon Point, the tallest lighthouse along the entire west coast that has been a guiding light since 1872.
A rock formation located in Alabama Hills on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, it is named for the shape that forms within the rocks.
Taken near the Bay area of San Mateo, this photo shows us Martin’s Beach, which has been the subject of numerous lawsuits for public access over the last two decades.
The night lights up Davenport Pier, a platform built and used in the 1860s for transporting timber that has long since been abandoned.
Cars zoom across Central California’s Bixby Bridge, as the night sky swirls around the North Star.
A gnarled ancient bristlecone pine tree leans towards the stars in the White Mountains of Eastern California. Some of these ancient trees are believed to be over 5000 years old.
A photo taken on the coast of Australian city Kiama, showing us the core of the Milky Way and Jupiter, shining against the Southern Sky.
In the heart of Northern New Mexico lies Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness, home to this mushroom-shaped rock-spire (hoodoo) that stands just before this glorious view of the Milky Way.
Captured in Alabama Hills, in Eastern California, Comet Neowise is seen shooting across the sky with its two tails.
The Milky Way is at its brightest when seen from a hot tub in the Eastern Sierras.
The dry and hot deserts of Northwestern New Mexico are peppered with eroding sandstones with a swirl of mudstone and shale that look eerily like alien infants emerging from eggs.
Just beside a beach on the coast of Santa Cruz lies Shark Fin Rock in Shark Fin Cove Beach over which the Milky Way rises.
Where the mother of those eggs sits, this out-of-this-world hoodoo lies in the San Juan basin, in the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness, and in one of the most remote areas in the country, giving us this rare but gorgeous view of the Milky Way.
This place of beauty and perfection is a small cove filled with blue-green waters and an 80-foot tall waterfall, near Big Sur, just off the Pacific Coast.
There are few views that give you more stars than this shot about Davenport beach, in Davenport, California.
The Big Sur coastline often referred to as 'The Greatest Meeting of Land & Water in the world', holds up the Milky Way.
The Milky Way creates an arch of space and beauty over Yosemite Valley, covering the Half-Dome, as seen from Glacier Point in Western Sierra Nevada.
Another treasure of Big Sur is the Pfeiffer Beach Archway, seen here beside the Milky Way in this vertical panorama.
(Source of all images: Marcin Zajac/ Instagram)
Did these photos get you lost in the stars? When you come back down to Earth, be sure to share them!
Want to See Some Big Animals? Just Check Out These Photos!
We know there are a lot of big animals out there. These photos show us by comparison how large the giants of the animal kingdom really are
A Cosmic Gallery of Unusually Lovely and Colorful Galaxies
This collection of photographs shows us space in its most colorful form with these uniquely beautiful galaxies found across our universe
Photos Like These Just Fill Your Heart With Joy And Warmth
Any down day can promptly be turned right side up with a quick scroll through these warm and comforting photos and stories.
This Magical Town Is the Most Beautiful Place in China
In the south of China, a small, peaceful and picturesque town lies on a fertile cliff from which several waterfalls flow in perfect harmony.
The Night Sky Feels like a Magical World in These Pics
Marvel at these strikingly beautiful nighttime photos by a Japanese photographer who captures the magic of the night sky perfectly.
The Best Photos of the Milky Way Taken From Perfect Places
Take a look at the vivid colors of the Milky Way from the most remote and gorgeous locations in the world in this collection of photographs
I Miss Photographers Like This One...
Ran Maltet was a French photographer and poet, who died a decade ago. He had what seemed to be a natural talent to seize upon these split seconds of comedy and philosophy, and capture them on camera.
Some Photos Are Worth Much More Than Words
Amazing photos of fantastic moments in time, captured for posterity. They don't need descriptions, they just are.
These Homeowners Take Interior Decorating to Another Level
Everyone decorates in their own way. These homeowners have let their imaginations go wild with surreal interiors unlike anything you've ever seen.
Some People Go Completely Overboard On Halloween...
While some people just love Halloween, there are others who don't bother with it at all. The owners of these houses certainly do though! Take a look.
Extraordinary Buildings: 13 Stunning Architectural Marvels
Aren’t these buildings just fascinating?
The 25 Coolest Movie Posters Ever Made
Movie posters from the 1900s had a different charm. Let’s check out the best ones from that era.
These Amazing Artworks Defy All Logic and It’s Beautiful
Zulkarnain Ismail is a Malaysian digital artist whose artworks are on the verge of realistic photography and fantasy, check out 15 of his best works.
Take a Look At These Truly Beautiful Dog Photos!
Kristýna Kvapilová's first love in life is photographing dogs, and that's highly evident from her stunning images. Take a look at her best work here.
Even Grown-Ups Can't Resist These Amazing Playgrounds!
This Danish company creates such incredible playgrounds that your kids will never want to go home!
"Andean Architecture" - The Style That’s Sweeping Bolivia
In El Alto, Bolivia- the fastest growing city in the world in recent years - there's a real architectural revolution happening that you have to see to believe!
20 Photos That Celebrate the Spectacular Colors of our World
The right color palette can turn a regular photo into a work of art. This post contains 20 photos that showcase colorful places around the world.
Like a Flower in Bloom, This Glasshouse Unfurls in the Sun
This diamond-shaped glasshouse can open like a flower in bloom!
The Full Glory of a Golden Rome...
Look at these unbelievably colorful postcards from Rome, resurrected by Retronaut.
This Artist Wanted to See What's in Your Fridge...
This fascinating photography project reveals what's in the fridges of different people around the world and what can we can learn from them about their owners.
Goldsmithing Expert Turns a Metal Blob into Pure Gold!
An amazing process of chemisty and gold-working turns this blob into pure 24 carat gold.
This Dark Underground Chamber Contains Millions of Shells
This winding underground passageway contains millions of beautifully arranged shells. But why?
There's Nothing Quite Like These Perfectly-Timed Photos!
Take a look at these 20 incredible perfectly-timed photos, some of which are outrageously hilarious. Enjoy!
The Greatest Wonders of Japanese Architecture
We invite you to explore the finest examples of buildings in Japan - starting with traditional temples to the newest of the new.
Taj Falaknuma Palace: The Most Opulent Oriental Beauty
Taj Falaknuma Palace is one of the most fabulous gems in all of India, with plenty of fascinating stories to tell from the age of the British Empire.
21 Historical Pics That Open a Visceral Window to the Past
Old photographs have a special value to them - they allow us to take a glimpse into the past and experience what life was like long before we came into being.
View Amazing Animated Photos of Landscapes Past & Present
Landscapes change enormously over time, and these photos capture that fact better than ever. Here are 12 landscapes photographed in the past and present.
16 Pictures That Will Make You See the World Differently...
Thanks to the following series of images, your point of view about different things is going to change. Just take a look for yourself!
In Pictures: Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2023
Check out the best winning images from the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2023.
15 of the Weirdest and Most Wonderful Images Ever Seen
There are some photographs that help tell the most astonishing stories you've ever heard. Here are 15.
Polish Castles: Having a Look at Some Architectural Beauty
Flying above the beautiful castles of ancient Poland.
120 Years of the Most Popular Wedding Dresses...
If we look at the last 120-150 years of wedding dress styles, what would we see?
These Photos Capture the Weirdness and Beauty of Japan
Japan has an abundance of beauty and weirdness all at the same time, and photographer Shin Noguchi is dedicated to capturing it. Take a look.
Now This is What Photography is All About...
Each of these photos tells a beautiful story...
These Colorful Photos Are An Affirmation Of Life's Beauty
These photos are concrete evidence of the existence of beauty in every nook and cranny of our world. What's more, they'll fill your heart with joy and wonder.
12 Gorgeous Churches That Reveal France's Beautiful Past
France's rich culture is not built on food, shopping or fashion, but centuries of Christian worship. These 12 magnificent churches remind us of France's gifts.
15 Out-of-This-World Hotels You Simply Won't Believe
These brand new around-the-world hotels offer incredible views from some spectacular, exotic locations. You'd never want to leave these hotels.
25 Photo Restorations of US Presidents Who Lived Long Ago
This talented artist created a series of incredible photo restorations of the portraits of US presidents who lived and served before colored photography
Wow! These Beautiful Travel Photos Are out of This World!
Some of the photos from National Geographic's 2017 Travel Photographer of the Year Competition. These are absolutely stunning!
500 Years of Living Room Design in 12 Astonishing Pictures
Admire how living room interior design has been changing for the past 500 years in 12 astonishingly beautiful pictures
These Cool Cat Portraits Really Capture the Feline Spirit
If you like cats - even only a little - don't miss these phenomenal cat portraits!
Click These Old Photos to See Them in Full Color!
It's fascinating to think that now, we can actually see the past better than we could 30 years ago! Here you'll find 16 classic photos, click on each one to see it in full color.
These Famous Clock Towers are a Sight to Behold!
These famous clocks do more than just tell time. They are an architectural highlight, drawing in throngs of tourists. Let's take a look.
These Photos Bring to Life the Most Beautiful Reflections
These photographs are really spectacular. The conditions were exactly right for the photographers to capture these images. Enjoy the stillness here.
Magnificent Photos of the World's Last Native Tribes
Jimmy Nelson spends his life traveling the world and reminding us of where we came from, namely indigenous tribes. Take a look at his stunning work.
15 Famous People In History That Were Really Good-Looking
A collection of 15 vintage photos that prove that some of the famous figures in history were quite attractive...
From an Unsightly Tree Stump to a Garden's Centerpiece!
If you have a tree stump in your garden that you can't get rid of, why not turn it into something beautiful?