Photographer Transforms Landscapes Into Magical Cosmic Wonders

Under remote night skies, Tom Rae captures the cosmos and landscapes in breathtaking detail, revealing a world both unseen and unforgettable. Rae’s surreal and immersive astrophotography transforms the wilderness into experiences of awe and wonder.

Tom Rae discovered photography at the age of 12, beginning with landscape photography as a way to express creativity and tell stories about the world. What started as a hobby quickly evolved into a serious creative pursuit, eventually leading him toward professional work in astrophotography. Rae was fascinated by how his camera could reveal things invisible to the naked eye, a quality that continues to define his approach.

“Photography for me began as a creative expression and curiosity. It was when I first picked up a camera to begin landscape photography in 2017 at 12 years old, that I had found the perfect way to express visual creativity, and tell stories about the world simultaneously,” Rae says.

By 2019, Rae’s growing curiosity about space led him to explore astrophotography, despite early attempts that he describes as “terrible.” Over time, these experiments honed both his technical skills and his creative vision, allowing him to merge landscape photography with night sky imagery in unique and compelling ways.

“I loved how my camera could reveal more than what my eyes could see, showing something that is real but not visible. My journey has not only developed my creative skills, but heavily developed my communication and philosophical skills, which must exist in order to convey complex insight into whatever my image is trying to display,” Rae adds.

Photography has thus become for Rae not just an art form but a medium for reflection and connection, shaping both how he observes the world and how he invites others to see it through his lens.

Style, Influence, and Creative Process

Rae’s photography is rooted in landscape and night photography, with a focus on atmosphere, scale, and the emotional resonance of place. He gravitates toward raw, remote, and otherworldly environments that feel timeless, finding that the night sky in particular allows him to explore these qualities fully. While Rae often visualizes the image he wants before capturing it, he emphasizes the importance of remaining flexible in response to changing conditions.

“My photography style is rooted in landscape and night photography, with an emphasis on atmosphere, scale, and a strong sense of place. I’m drawn to environments that feel raw, remote, and otherworldly. I find that night images are able to fulfil this. My creative process is influenced by natural light, weather, and the emotional response a location evokes, often allowing the conditions and landscape to guide the final image,” Rae says.

Inspiration comes both from nature itself and the work of other photographers. Rae’s approach has evolved, shaped by careful observation of light, atmospheric conditions, and the emotional responses that particular landscapes evoke. This blend of technical precision and creative intuition allows him to capture images that feel both natural and immersive.

“I always can visualise an image before I shoot it, but sometimes you have to be adaptable! I have been inspired by so many other photographers and artworks throughout my time photographing the night sky, and my approach and vision has developed so much since I began,” Rae says.

Ultimately, Rae’s creative process is both deliberate and responsive. He allows each environment and moment to guide him, letting technical expertise and intuition work together to achieve images that communicate not just what the eye can see, but what it can feel.

The Reward of Capturing the Universe

For Rae, the most meaningful part of photography comes when light, composition, and timing align perfectly to convey the essence of a place. Capturing a moment that can transport viewers and evoke emotion is what drives his practice, giving purpose to long nights under the stars and demanding technical challenges.

“The most rewarding part of creating an image is when everything aligns: light, conditions, composition, and timing to produce a photograph that reflects how a place truly felt in that moment. Knowing that an image can transport someone into that experience, or spark curiosity and emotion, is what makes the process meaningful for me,” Rae says.

Whether photographing auroras, glow worms, or the Milky Way, Rae emphasizes the importance of being present in the environment and experiencing it fully. That immersion, he believes, translates into the final image, giving viewers a sense of awe and perspective.

“Being on scene, underneath beautiful night skies, aurora, glow worms, or whatever beauty planet Earth offers, is an experience of awe that few other things can replicate,” Rae adds.

These moments of wonder are central to Rae’s work, turning technical photography into a profoundly human experience that invites the viewer to share in his encounters with the cosmos.

Workflow, Gear, and Technical Mastery

Rae’s workflow is meticulous, beginning with research, location scouting, and planning. He studies maps, revisits locations, and uses apps such as PhotoPills and Skyguide to simulate night sky conditions relative to landscapes. Once in the field, Rae balances precision with adaptability, responding to light, weather, and other variables while capturing the image as he envisioned.

“My workflow usually starts with research and location scouting, whether that’s in person or studying maps, planning compositions, or revisiting locations multiple times. I use apps like PhotoPills and Skyguide to simulate the orientation of night sky objects relative to the landscape. Once on location, I remain flexible, responding to changing light and conditions,” Rae says.

Rae’s equipment is carefully chosen to meet the challenges of remote and technical photography. He uses full-frame and astro-modified cameras, wide-angle and prime lenses, star trackers, and robust tripods to capture the highest-fidelity images of the night sky. For him, gear is a tool to support the vision rather than define it.

“I use a deliberate capture process, focusing on getting things right in camera to fulfil my vision. Post-processing is used to refine the image and combine reality with my creative desire for the image, while staying true to the scene and atmosphere I experienced in the field,” Rae says.

Technical mastery, combined with preparation and patience, enables Rae to achieve images that are both visually stunning and immersive, reflecting the full scope of the natural environment and sky above.

Recurring Themes and Proudest Work

Rae frequently returns to themes of vastness, scale, and the relationship between the night sky and the landscape. He seeks remote deserts, mountains, coastlines, and other dark-sky environments, often including a human element to give viewers perspective and immersion.

“Recently, I have been diving into glow worm photography, which is an extremely difficult but rewarding type of imagery. I love displaying a sense of place in these caves and allowing the viewer to feel the experience of being in there,” Rae says.

Among his proudest works is Sky Fire, capturing the Milky Way arching over Aoraki/Mount Cook during a once-in-a-lifetime geomagnetic storm, including a rare Stable Auroral Red arc. Another is Lightning Lake, where the Milky Way rises over glacial waters illuminated by red airglow, creating a scene Rae describes as otherworldly.

“There are a few images and series that stand out to me, particularly those created under challenging conditions or during moments that required patience and persistence. These images often carry a deeper personal connection, as they represent not just the final photograph but the experience and effort behind it,” Rae says.

Each image reflects both technical skill and the emotional resonance of being present under extraordinary night skies, turning ephemeral moments into enduring works of art.

Looking Ahead: Exploration and Education

Tom Rae’s future projects focus on continuing to refine his craft, exploring new locations, and expanding into workshops and educational content. He is committed to sharing the experience of astrophotography, helping others develop their creative vision while inspiring awe and curiosity about the cosmos.

“Looking ahead, I’m focused on continuing to refine my craft, explore new locations, and push deeper into long-term projects. Helping others to develop their own photography experience, artistic vision, and to experience all that our night sky has to offer is what fulfils me as an educator,” Rae says.

Through his work, Rae seeks to balance creative experimentation with opportunities for others to engage with photography, combining technical mastery with shared experience. His images and teaching aim to connect people with the universe, revealing the awe and beauty of the natural world and night sky.

By capturing light, landscape, and cosmic phenomena, Tom Rae turns remote wilderness into immersive experiences that inspire curiosity, reflection, and wonder, encouraging all of us to look up and experience the universe anew.

Image credits: Tom Rae