Clarissa Human, Milky Way over Vlamingh Head Lighthouse (PLACES 2024)

This photograph (non-composite) was taken while on our annual holiday to Exmouth in 2023. A gently lit Vlamingh Head Lighthouse made for a beautiful foreground as part of a Milky Way shot I'd been eager to attempt for years. Since I was facing east, The Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt added a little extra lighting in the distance but I strategically positioned myself in line with a bush to mitigate the intensity of that lighting. There was no moonlight but the incoming cloud cover limited the time in which I had to take photos. Vlamingh Head Lighthouse is a famous landmark and heritage site steeped in history, it was first lit in 1912 and deactivated in 1969. It is also notable as being one of the few locations in Australia where both the sunrise and the sunset can be observed as well as a viewing platform for the annual whale migration.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.