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Benjamin Barakat

@benjaminbarakat

Photographer based in Switzerland

Benjamin is an astrophotographer based in Switzerland, and in his inspiring article, he provides tips for capturing the beauty of the Milky Way in photography, addressing crucial points such as the orientation of the galaxy to your location and latitude, avoiding light pollution by finding areas with dark skies, planning, and preparation, using appropriate lenses with fast aperture and superior optics, and post-production techniques. 

Benjamin Barakat
Benjamin Barakat
France, Chamonix @benjaminbarakat
VOL. 6
VOL. 6

Taking a leap of faith

Deciding on my life’s purpose has been a challenge I’ve grappled with for as long as I can remember. Unlike many photographers, I lacked clarity in my vision for the future. My life was filled with more downs than ups and lacked meaning.

However, everything changed in 2014 when I met my wife in Dubai, a city that offered little in terms of inspiration, motivation, or purpose. The moment I laid eyes on her, I fell deeply in love. My life took a sudden turn, and I was willing to leave everything behind to be with her and start a new life filled with endless possibilities. I didn’t concern myself with what I would do for work, my sole focus was to be with her. Six months later, I took the leap of faith and resigned from my job, relocating to Switzerland to embark on a new journey with my love.

Discovering Switzerland and Astrophotography

Nestled in the lush Swiss countryside was a quaint village that my wife and I called home. Although not as picturesque as other parts of Switzerland, it was a significant upgrade from the artificial city where I previously lived. Living here provided me with the freedom to contemplate my life and set goals.

Blessed with dark skies, my wife and I would often sit on our porch and gaze at the stars each evening. Counting shooting stars and observing meteor showers became a frequent pastime. During one of these star-gazing sessions, I impulsively declared my desire to capture the stars through photography. Luckily, Switzerland is full of stunning landscapes that never cease to inspire me, with the rugged Alpine mountains being a particular source of inspiration. I love exploring the hidden gems of Switzerland and some of my favorite spots for photography include the Jungfrau Region, Zermatt, Susten Pass, and Flims.

At the time, I had no experience with photography, but I was determined to make it happen. I remembered my father had a camera, so on my next trip to Lebanon, I asked him if he still had it. Thankfully, he did, and he graciously gifted it to me – a Canon 5D Mark III with two lenses: a Canon EF 24-105mm and a Canon EF 100-400mm. Although these lenses were not ideal for night photography, they served as my starting point.

A quick online search taught me the basics of astrophotography, and I was eager to put my newfound knowledge to the test. I stepped outside my doorstep and snapped my first picture of the stars – even though I had attached the wrong lens hood. Despite the mistake, I was overjoyed to see stars in my image, which was exactly what I had hoped for.

The tipping point

I grew more confident with each attempt, venturing into the hills and forest at night. Although it was initially intimidating to be out in nature alone in the dark, I soon grew to love the thrill of astrophotography. Some of my later expeditions were even more challenging, pushing me to overcome my fears.

Despite my lack of experience and knowledge, I was persistent in my pursuit of astrophotography. Through online research and reading, I discovered the Milky Way and was in disbelief that I had never heard of it before. My new goal was to see and capture this celestial wonder.

Then, I turned to social media for help and connected with a person who led night expeditions in Lebanon. On my next trip, I joined one of these expeditions, but the group left early, and I wasn’t comfortable staying alone in the mountains. I asked to join another expedition, and that’s where I met Maroun Habib, a skilled astrophotographer who became a good friend. Maroun showed me the Milky Way for the first time and guided me with the perfect settings, leaving me in awe.

How to capture the Milky Way at its best

1) Consider the orientation of the galaxy to your location and latitude.

To capture the beauty of the Milky Way, it’s important to consider the orientation of the galaxy to your location and latitude. If you’re located in the southern hemisphere, the Milky Way will appear upside down compared to how it’s viewed in the northern hemisphere. Despite this difference, both hemispheres offer unique and stunning perspectives of the night sky, including stars and other celestial objects that may not be visible in both regions.

2) Go to areas with dark skies, typically located in remote and sparsely populated regions away from civilization.

When comparing the shooting conditions for the Milky Way in Switzerland and Iran, there is a noticeable contrast. Switzerland, known for its picturesque Alps and central location in Europe, is unfortunately impacted by heavy light pollution. On the other hand, Iran is home to vast deserts and remote landscapes, resulting in some of the darkest skies in the world. This difference is especially noticeable when observing the Milky Way, as the galaxy seems to pop out in the sky in places like the Lut Desert in Iran, creating an otherworldly and unforgettable experience.

Thus, one of the most significant challenges in Milky Way photography is the issue of light pollution. To overcome this, the best solution is to go to areas with dark skies, typically located in remote and sparsely populated regions away from civilization.

3) Check the weather and the phase of the moon.

So my creative approach begins with identifying the desired location and composition. Once that’s established, I proceed to check the weather and the phase of the moon. The ideal scenario for Milky Way photography is to have clear skies with no visible moon. Afterward, I make sure my equipment is ready and that I have the appropriate clothing for the location. With proper planning and preparation, I find that my photography trips typically run smoothly and according to plan.

4) Use the right camera lense

As a photographer, I have had the opportunity to experiment with a variety of lenses. Based on my experience, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite lenses for Milky Way photography:

Wide angle lenses

– Samyang 14mm XP f/2.4

– Sigma Art 20mm f/1.4

– Samyang 24mm f/1.4

– Sigma Art 28mm f/1.4

Medium lenses

– Samyang 35mm XP f/1.2

– Sigma Art 40mm f/1.4

– Canon RF 50mm f/1.2

Telephoto lenses

– Canon RF 85mm f/1.2

– Sigma Art 135mm f/1.8

– Samyang 135mm f/2.0

– Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8

These lenses are all excellent choices for Milky Way and Astro Photography. The key to capturing stunning images is having a lens with a fast aperture and superior optics that produce minimal to no coma or aberrations around the edges of the photos.

5) Working with layers, I make adjustments to curves, hue, and saturation to enhance the image.

Then, in post-production, I typically set the white balance and turn off profile corrections in Lightroom. Depending on the desired outcome, I either stack multiple images of the same composition and camera settings to minimize noise, or I skip this step and proceed to load the single image directly into Photoshop. Working with layers, I make adjustments to curves, hue, and saturation to enhance the image. I often use masks to differentiate between the foreground and sky, allowing me to make separate adjustments to each. This allows me to increase the shadow detail in the foreground while adding more contrast and color to the Milky Way in the sky.

France, Chamonix @benjaminbarakat
Benjamin Barakat
Benjamin Barakat

Favourite images

The thought of capturing an image that I have envisioned and imagined is what excites me the most. But if I had to pick one existing image, it would probably be “Comet Girl”. This shot captures a special moment of my wife gazing at the sky and touching Comet Neowise, and no words are necessary to describe the emotions it evokes.

Four valuable lessons learned along the way

Each of my assignments holds a special significance to me, and each has its own special place in my heart. However, last year, I was given the opportunity to embark on a journey to Iran with a selected group of photographers and influencers. The trip was an amazing experience, filled with fun and inspiration. I had the chance to meet and connect with talented creatives, and I was thoroughly impressed by the beauty of Iran. The memories and friendships I made during that trip will stay with me forever.

And these experiences, so far, have allowed me to gather important pieces of advice. Below I share four of them with you: 

1) It is important to be open to hearing others’ opinions and constructive criticism, but it is equally important not to internalize these comments to the point that they affect your self-esteem or creative process. Developing and refining your personal style takes time and effort, and it’s a journey that never truly ends as you continue to grow and evolve as an artist.

2) While it can be helpful to engage with other photographers and creatives to share ideas and collaborate, it’s important to be mindful of the fact that not everyone you meet will have your best interests at heart. Some individuals may try to hinder your progress or steer you in a direction that doesn’t align with your goals. To avoid these negative experiences, it’s important to surround yourself with supportive people who uplift and encourage you.

3) Taking the leap to become a full-time photographer can be both exhilarating and challenging. On one hand, it’s incredibly fulfilling to turn your passion into a career. On the other hand, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance when your hobby and job are one and the same. Social media platforms play a crucial role in promoting your work and attracting new clients, but it’s important to take regular breaks to recharge and tend to your overall well-being. At the end of the day, balance is key to leading a fulfilling and happy life, both personally and professionally.

4) Many photography projects and trips present their own set of challenges that I must overcome. For instance, capturing the perfect shot may require me to spend 10 hours in sub-zero temperatures, braving harsh conditions, and scaling mountains. Although I have a fondness for outdoor photography, hiking can be a struggle for me, and the cold weather only adds to the difficulty, especially when carrying a heavy load of camera equipment weighing 30kg. However, with each trip, I can confront my fears, grow stronger, and better prepare myself for the demanding projects that lie ahead.

Presently, I am in the process of mapping out my future plans and projects. One of which is to delve deeper into film photography, capturing my travels and experiences, to share with the world. Although I cannot reveal everything just yet, I am actively working on this idea and will not rest until I bring it to fruition. 

Meet Benjamin Barakat

@benjaminbarakat
Benjamin Barakat
Benjamin Barakat
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