Location: United States
KENNETH L NAIFF
Biography
While growing up in Sussex, England, in a countryside peppered with primroses, bluebells and foxgloves, I was enthralled as I watched orbiting Sputnik through my small telescope. This was the beginning of my life-long interest in astronomy.
In 1976, I decided to make the United States my home and enjoyed a highly successful 26-year technical career in electronic engineering and digital systems, being awarded 7 U.S. patents, and leading the U.S. effort to convert analog cable television systems to digital.
Astrophotography began in earnest for me in 2004 with my move to Arizona, and after a steep and comprehensive learning curve, in 2014 my first images were ready for public display.
Artist Statement
The appeal of astrophotography … capturing images of galaxies, nebulae, star clusters … is multi-faceted. I enjoy camping out under moonless and cloudless skies in remote locations. The technical challenges and complexity of capturing very dim, dark, and distant deep space objects appeals to my engineering interests and background.
Finally, after the fieldwork, I have many opportunities to make artistic choices, using specialized software, as I refine the many “grayscale” images into a scientifically accurate, full color, richly detailed image.
I hope my images capture the energy, intensity and power of the night sky and will provoke questions, especially from children, so they may gain some insight into awe-inspiring objects, which our eyes cannot grasp, in the star-studded Milky Way and beyond.
Dark Sky Images specializes in the “art and science “ of digital imaging to capture deep space objects…galaxies, nebulae, star clusters…to create high resolution, richly detailed images printed on metal.
www.DarkSkyImagesByKen.com
Charging through the night sky … The iconic Horsehead is a dark molecular cloud backlit by a nearby massive star. The Flame Nebula is energized hydrogen and dark dust. Located 1,500 light years from Earth, captured using a scientific palette (Ha, OIII, SII), these nebulae generate a visual energy that is powerful and consuming.
Hey, neighbor! Along with the Milky Way and Triangulum, Andromeda, located 2.5 million light years from Earth, is one of three big galaxies in our Local Group that also contains a number of smaller galaxies. Captured using the conventional palette (R, G, B), this one-trillion-star spiral galaxy will collide with us in 4-5 billion years. Tickets, anyone?
Who is the fairest of all? Looking like a fairy-tale crone, the Witch Head is a massive gas cloud illuminated by the giant star, Rigel. This wicked beauty, located 1,000 light year from Earth, is bold and beautiful, captured using the conventional palette (R, G, B).
A jewel in the night sky! A massive stellar nursery!
Located on Orion’s sword, 1300 light years from Earth, this diffused nebula is dominated by bright ribbons and curls of primarily hydrogen gas. It was captured using a scientific palette (Ha, SII, OIII).
California Dreamin’! The visual energy of this nebula, located 1,000 light years from Earth, evokes a sense of rolling thunder. The subtly captivating colors, using a scientific palette (Ha, OIII, SII), represent the chemical activity of this massive gas cloud.
“Horsehead & Flame Nebula”
“Andromedia Galaxy”
“Witch Head Nebula”
“Orion Nebula”
“California Nebula”
