• Several national parks and monuments within the US are known for their starry night skies 
• Popular tourist locations are among the places with the best nighttime views 

By Emma Saletta For Dailymail.Com

Published: 18:15 EST, 31 December 2023 | Updated: 18:15 EST, 31 December 2023

Stargazers looking to escape a city full of lights and enter a sky full of stars are in luck thanks to the many parks and monuments that provide beautiful scenic views. 

States like California, Colorado, and Utah have popular camping locations known for breathtaking views of the night stars.

Some locations have dangerously hot temperatures while others are well-known locations for people who are looking to ski in the winter.

The areas that provide travelers with the famous night skies they are looking to see on their trips are all different in ways that involve activities, history, and stargazing sky protection.

From popular tourist spots, to night skies hardly viewed by anyone, stargazers everywhere may be proud to witness all the locations that contain the beautiful night views filled with enough stars to create unforgettable experiences.

One famous tourist spot for travelers in California is the Joshua Tree National Park in the south.

It’s location has been known for its droughts and high temperatures, but it’s also gained fame for being one of the areas that look over the Coachella Valley – the area where the annual Coachella festival takes place.

Other than the hot temperatures and large desert lands, Joshua Tree National Park is a clear area that is an International Dark Sky Park, which means that it is a protected area that preserves and protects dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education. 

Travelers looking to go outside of California can also visit Montana and Nevada, states with beautiful locations that provide great views of stars and the northern lights.

A popular Nevada National Park in Nevada is Great Basin, which features a peak of more than 13,000 tall to view stars in an area that is also an International Dark Sky Parks. 

Interesting Arizona stargazing areas include ones that don’t require travelers to camp outside.

One of these locations is Quailway Cottage, located between the Chiricahua and Peloncillo Mountains near Portal.

Visitors would have to spend at least $100 a night, but it may be worth it if it means one can stargaze and not sleep outside with a variety of nocturnal animals.

It is also home to the Grand Canyon National Park, which could be considered one of the most popular tourist attractions in the US. 

An interesting place one may be afraid to go to is the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, which is located on an actual volcano in Flagstaff.

Travelers and astronomers love to travel to the now-extinct volcano to witness the stars that fill the dark skies.

The volcano park even includes summer night star events related to the dark skies, one being solar viewing at the Sunset Crater Volcano Visitor Center. 

Utah includes a variety of stargazing locations famous for a variety of events it puts on to celebrate astrology and the proof of its connection to paleo people.

The Hovenweep National Monument in Montezuma Creek contains evidence of the existence of paleo people and others from the archaic period. 

It’s also a Utah location that can have as many as 15,000 starts in the night sky every night.

Travelers hoping to have a little bit of fun in the Utah area can enjoy the Astronomy Festival held every year at Bryce Canyon National Park.

The park, already known for its scenic views, puts on the festival every year and offers visitors telescope viewings and constellation tours. 

This year’s festival has already happened, but the dates for the 2024 celebration are June 5-8. 

Other major areas to star gaze in the west are Colorado and New Mexico. 

The Chaco Culture National Historical Park is the place to go for anyone interested in learning more about history and astronomy.

The two programs that take place at the park include the Chaco’s Night Sky Initiative and the Chaco Night Sky Program.

The Night Sky Initiative combines the teaching of stargazing practices from the Chacoan people, along with modern day techniques to get the perfect star view in the night skies.

Their Night Sky Program is more for amateur astronomers who help monitor the levels of light pollution.

This popular program has over 3,000 annual visitors and include volunteers that help the park present programs that are connected to the Chacoan people. 

As we bid farewell to another year and welcome the possibilities of a new chapter, photographers around the world are gearing up for fresh challenges and adventures. In this article, we’ll explore six New Year’s resolutions tailored for photographers seeking to elevate their practice in 2023.

2023 is now drawing to a close, and what a year it has been, with multiple major camera releases over the year, from the Nikon Zf to the Fuji GFX100 II. We have seen major advancements in AI technology, which is now widely available to photographers as another tool in our repertoire. There has certainly been a lot to inspire image creation, but perhaps when summarizing 2023, you had hoped for more out of your personal or professional journey.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an enthusiastic hobbyist shooter, the dawn of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on your photography journey to build on existing growth or get back in the saddle after some disappointment.

The calendar year is a convenient way to measure time, and January 1st marks the beginning of a new cycle. This makes it a convenient and logical time for people to set goals and resolutions. New Year’s resolutions have become a tradition in many cultures around the world. People often view the ending of one year and the beginning of another as an opportunity to reflect on, then leave behind the challenges and shortcomings of the previous year and begin a new chapter with a positive mindset.

Six New Year’s Resolutions For Photographers 

By adopting one of these six resolutions, you might just inspire growth, creativity, and purpose in your photographic projects.

Master a New Technique

As a photographer, it’s easy to fall into the comfort zone of familiar styles and techniques. If you find yourself in this position, you might have neglected to push yourself for a while. This year, challenge yourself to master a new photography technique. Whether it’s experimenting with long exposure, delving into macro photography, or mastering the intricacies of portrait lighting, adopting a new skill will not only invigorate your creativity, but also add depth to your portfolio.

Continue Your Learning

As photographers, there is never a point when we know everything because technological advancements and creative trends continue to shape the industry. To continue growing as a photographer, commit to a process of continuous learning. This could involve enrolling in workshops, studying the greats, or committing to learn a new lighting technique. Investing time and resources in your professional development not only keeps your skills sharp, but also creates opportunities for growth. Embrace the learning process and watch how incorporating a new technique can breathe fresh life into your work.

Take a Self-Portrait

Step out from behind the camera and become both the artist and the subject. Join the likes of Warhol, Woodman, and Mapplethorpe by creating a self-portrait or series of self-portraits. Exploring self-portraiture can be a game-changer and turning the camera on yourself can serve as a valuable learning tool of which all photographers should take advantage. As you analyze and critique your own work, you gain insights into posing, lighting, and composition from the other side of the camera that can be applied when photographing others. Whether you’re a landscape photographer, portrait artist, or documentarian, capturing your own image allows you to explore something new, or mark a moment where you have committed to expand your practice. And anyway, that headshot you are currently using really needs an update.

Network and Collaborate

Photography is not just about capturing images; it’s about sharing experiences and stories with a community that understands your chosen path. All too often, photographers, including myself, rely on online platforms to stay connected and forget about the huge benefits of interpersonal connections in the industry. This year, resolve to build or strengthen your connection with fellow photographers. Attend exhibition openings, connect with old college buddies, or contact a photographer you admire and ask to meet for a coffee. Perhaps someone has contacted you in the past looking to collaborate, now is the right time to reach back out to them and move this idea forward.

Photography for a Purpose

If you feel like you have lost your way with photography, turn the camera on something which you care about. Photography has the power to evoke emotions, raise awareness, and spark positive change. This year, resolve to use your photography skills for a greater purpose by contributing to a cause close to your heart. It could be environmental conservation, social justice, or a local community initiative. This resolution not only adds depth and purpose to your photography but also allows you to make a meaningful impact in the world. By doing this, you could find a renewed sense of purpose and remember why you started shooting images in the first place.

Tick That Image Off Your To-Do List

You know that image idea that you have had in your mind for a long time but were too nervous or lacked the skills to create? Now is the time to change that idea into an image. Perhaps you don’t think you have the skills to pull it off, but by following all of the other resolutions above this one, you really can’t go wrong.

While setting resolutions in January is a common practice, remember that you can set goals and make positive changes at any time of the year. The key to successful resolutions lies in setting realistic and achievable goals and making consistent efforts to reach them. If January 1st, 2024 isn’t the right date for you, pick an alternative date in the near future and follow the suggestions above. Take a moment to reflect on all of your achievements so far and recognize how far you have come. With that knowledge, you can visualize further growth and skill development, which will help you to navigate all of the changes still to come in the industry.

Happy New Year to you all when the time comes. I wish you all a prosperous year ahead.

Is your art good? Is it mediocre? Is it expected? Are you surprising yourself? Have you seen growth in your craft, or are you simply doing the same thing? Are you proud of your body of work in 2023? As artists, sometimes, we get so busy in art-making that we don’t take the time to evaluate our art. I’ve crafted these 10 questions as an evaluation tool for you to pause in the process of art-making and to congratulate yourself, correct yourself, and direct yourself.

1. On a scale of 1 to 10 how do you feel about your year as a creator?
2. What is one big lesson you learned as an artist this year?
3. Glance through your calendar for this year, are you happy with how you invested your time? Why or why not?
4. What piece or series was the best one you produced this year, and why was it the best?
5. Evaluate your photography. Are your pieces where you want them to be artistically? Technically?
6. What do you like about your images? What do you dislike about them?
7. Are you producing great work, mediocre work, expected work, innovative work, or poor work and why?
8. What did you accomplish this year that you are most proud of?
9. What are you most disappointed about from this past year as a creator?
10. What is one thing you want to stop doing (1), start doing (2), and continue doing (3) in 2024?

It was John Dewey, in his book “How We Think,” who said: “We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.”  Although some scoff at the idea of annual reviews, and New Year’s resolutions, taking time to think about your art-making and evaluate is infinitely valuable, whatever time of year you choose to do it. If you’re bogged down with gatherings and family visits now, I encourage you to save the questions for another day. 

My self-assessment drew out some great observations. This, for example, is what I wrote when answering what my biggest lesson was in 2023: “If I don’t build a particular segment of my business, it won’t grow. Growing and directing the business requires investing time in strategizing. I can follow where and how my business grows organically, but if I want it to grow in a certain way or direction, it takes time and intentionality. Often I’m so busy between answering my emails and keeping up with my shoots, that I just grow in the way referrals lead me. However, if I want to grow in a specific direction, I have to strategize and direct my growth.”

To counterbalance the value placed on self-improvement in this article, I believe that taking photographs, solely for the joy of creating art, is a valuable end in and of itself. Wherever you find yourself in your artistic journey- whether you need the inspiration to propel your skills or simply wish to revel in the joy of being an artist without any other purpose—I extend my heartfelt wishes for a joyful artistic journey in 2024 to you. If you care to share a portion of your own 2023 end-of-year artist reflection, please do in the comment. Cheers!

Zoufi, the commander of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military faction of the Fatah party that is designated a terrorist organization by the United States and others, sits with his son in the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank on Oct. 17.

Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post

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