Closing out the Oregon Coast after dark
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
It amazes me how fast time goes by. It has felt like weeks to me, but my exhibition opened three months ago! Here is the gallery's introduction to the Oregon Coast After Dark. I kicked off the show with this preview of the exhibit.
As The Oregon Coast After Dark comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what resonated most with viewers, voters, and collectors alike. A clear pattern emerged: the pieces that found new homes were rooted in familiar places and shared moments, scenes where the night sky met landmarks people know by heart.
The museum estimates that 2,400 people visited the exhibition. That's of lot of you! Thank you for your time and interest, and I hope you had a fun and informative experience.
I am thankful for the amazing space that the Chessman Gallery | Lincoln City Cultural Center provided with so much wall space to accommodate images of all sizes while giving them space to breathe. I deeply appreciate the gallery director Krista Eddy's design and vision to lay out my pieces in a way that creates a story that is written as you ex[plore the gallery and helps you connect with the beauty and mystery of the coast after dark. The staff and volunteers there are incredible and supportive.
The works that so
Every piece that sold during the exhibition featured a recognizable location or celestial event tied to the Oregon Coast:
Closer to Home: A comet approaching Yaquina Head Lighthouse, a reminder that even rare cosmic visitors can feel personal when they arrive over familiar ground.
Bleeding Heart: The total lunar eclipse, glowing red with emotion and memory.
Star‑Crossed: The Milky Way and a comet over Yaquina Bay State Park, where land, sea, and sky briefly aligned.
Bright Perspective: The Yaquina Bay Bridge bathed in aurora, transforming an everyday crossing into something otherworldly.
Lit House: Aurora igniting the night sky above Yaquina Head Lighthouse.
Moon and Milk: The Milky Way rising above the Otter Crest Viewpoint, a classic coastal overlook under an ancient sky.
These weren’t just nightscapes—they were places people recognize, moments they experienced or wished they had.
The people’s favorites
The virtual gallery voting told a complementary story. The most‑liked pieces leaned heavily into bold visuals and iconic locations:
Selfie: a Milky Way backed self-portrait
Thor’s Helmet: The hologram piece
Thor’s Forge: The Milky Way at Thor’s Well
Moolack Vantage: Rich detail and definition of an unfamiliar galaxy over the familiar coast
Bright Perspective: Clearly a standout, both with voters and collectors, with the bridge crowned in light
Although many of the pieces sold out, you don't have to miss out. For example, you may have noticed that the very unique, one-of-a-kind three-dimensional space images of Thor's Helmet was listed as "NFS" or "Not for sale." That's because the version on display has a very special hand-carved Oregon dark walnut frame with runes and sayings related to Viking lore. It is a special version that I presented as a gift to my amazing wife. If you appreciate the "wow" factor of a large hologram, you can be one of only five (5) people ever to collect the piece for yourself in the large hologram format with a modern style 1" black metal frame.
Although the sharp, 40" wide Bright Perspective sold in the show, I have 9 more available as part of a limited run.
Visit the virtual gallery
What this tells me
People connect most deeply when the night sky feels local:: when extraordinary events unfold above places woven into their own stories. Whether it’s a lighthouse, a bridge, or a familiar viewpoint, the magic intensifies when the cosmos meets home.
That insight will absolutely shape what comes next.
Let's party!
Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to be informed of upcoming events.
Our star parties are fun and informal. We'll teach you some tips and tricks, then use a projector so you can see the telescope in real-time and explore the cosmos. We might hunt for Jupiter and discuss the Great Red Spot. We might look for lunar landing sites on the moon. We might visit a distant nebula and use a technique called "live stacking" to slowly improve the details and clarity of the image over time by adding multiple exposures together.
My most popular workshop is an introduction to nighttime photography with a specific goal of the Milky Way. We hold the class late so the we can go into the field after the lecture to go hands-on photographing. Last year we went to Cape Foulweather and were surprised with bioluminescence in addition to the Milky Way.
I've also done dark sky field trips with the City of Newport. Last year, we headed to the certified dark site of Prineville Reservoir. I gave a short workshop on the spot and then coached people as the Milky Way played hide-and-seek with the clouds.
Want something a little more personalized? Book a private session.
Watch the mini-movie here:
Stay connected
If you’d like to learn about upcoming star parties, workshops, gallery shows, and even the occasional guided field trip under the stars, be sure to subscribe. There’s plenty more night ahead, and I’d love to share it with you.
Did you know...
I'm continuously adding content, videos, and capabilities to the site. In case you didn't know...
My timelapse videos often use raw dumps of my camera rolls from various shoots so you can experience the shoot in real-time.
Motion art pieces like Rivers of Light are designed to provide a relaxing visual journey into the night skies.
Learn more about the processes I use, tips, and techniques in how-to videos like this one: The moon, filtered.
I also enjoy making entertaining (hopefully) trip reports, like my trip to Hot Springs for the total eclipse and portable astrophotography in Grand Caymen.
Our resources page is a catalog of various software products I use in my workflows.
Find the image you're looking for quickly with advanced search.
Immerse yourself in a filtered slideshow.
I post all of my events along with interesting astronomical events on our calendar.
Thank you!
I deeply appreciate your support of DSW Galleries.
Wishing you clear skies,
Comments