Three Galway astrophotographers have been chosen for the next stage of the prestigious ‘Reach for the Stars’ competition, run by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS).
The competition aims to find the best astronomy photographs taken in Ireland over the past year.
The Galway photographers who were shortlisted were David Mackie from Athenry, Enda O’Loughlin from Loughrea, and Joe Silke from Kilcolgan.
While a high-profile judging panel will select the overall winning entries in the coming weeks, an online vote was launched this week so that members of the public can also have their say.
All shortlisted images can now be viewed on the ‘Reach for the Stars’ website, www.reachforthestars.ie, and members of the public can cast their vote for their favourite image.
There are two categories in the competition: ‘Out of this World’ and ‘Back on Earth’. The ‘Out of this World’ category features images depicting elements of astronomical interest.
The ‘Back on Earth’ category features astro-landscape images that depict an element of astronomical interest and elements such as nature, cityscapes, land or water.
The winning images selected by the judging panel and the public vote will be announced in July, and an outdoor exhibition will be staged by DIAS in August to showcase the best images.
Alongside the Public Choice Award for the winner of the online public vote, the overall winners and runners-up will be chosen by the judging panel for ‘Reach for the Stars’, which includes: Professor Peter Gallagher, Head of Astrophysics at DIAS; Brenda Fitzsimons, Picture Editor of The Irish Times; John Flannery, Vice-President of the Irish Astronomical Society; and Niamh Breathnach, Director, Alice Public Relations.
Dr Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said that the online public vote to select the winner of the Public Choice Award brings Irish astrophotography to a much wider audience.
“Every year we see a large amount of the public engaging with it and voting for their favourite image. It will be a difficult task for people to choose a favourite from the shortlisted entries – and for the judging panel to select an overall winner,” said Dr Meehan.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the online gallery and what this year’s photographers have captured in our night sky. I’m so impressed by the level of creativity and skill we have amongst photographers in Galway and right across the country.”
Professor Peter Gallagher of DIAS said he was delighted to return for a third year of judging for the competition.
“Each year we have seen exceptional standards from Irish astro-photographers. Photographers have shown great creativity and technical skill capturing everything, from stars and galaxies that are millions of light years away to stunning scenery back on earth,” he said.
“We hope the people of Galway will get involved again this year and cast their vote for their favourite image.”
Votes for the Public Choice Award are restricted to one vote per person, and voting will close at midday on Monday, 26 June 2023.
The online gallery is available at reachforthestars.ie/exhibition/.
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