Waterford photographer reaches for the stars
Brian OHalloran 'Comet Tsuchinshan ATLAS In All Its Glory'.
A Waterford photographer has been named as one of the winners of a prestigious astrophotography competition.
Brian O'Halloran, of Annestown, won the accolade in Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies’ (DIAS) astrophotography competition, ‘Reach for the Stars’ for his photo 'Comet Tsuchinshan ATLAS, In All Its Glory'.
The photographer captured the Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in Dunabrattin as it passed perihelion in our sky.
The judges praised the clarity and purity of the Comet within the image.
Commenting on this year’s competition, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: “The Reach for the Stars competition continues to reveal the incredible talent and dedication of Ireland’s astrophotographers. These images don’t just showcase technical skill, they allow us to see the universe from new perspectives and inspire a deeper curiosity about our night sky.”
Head of Astrophysics at DIAS and Chair of the judging panel, Professor Peter Gallagher said: “Now in its fifth year, the DIAS Reach for the Stars competition has reached new heights. It is exciting to see the competition grow. The rare appearances of the Aurora Borealis in Ireland’s skies have sparked fresh curiosity, encouraging more people to get involved in astrophotography.
"The talent and technical skill shown in each of the shortlisted entries is extraordinary, making the judges’ task of selecting winners more challenging than ever before.”
The winning images, along with a selection of the shortlisted images in the Reach for the Stars competition will be available to view as part of an outdoor exhibition, from Thursday, August 21.
