Contest prizes & awards

Capture the Dark presents awards across nine categories, with first, second, and third place prizes in each. Winners are selected by judges based on how well each photograph reflects the category theme and its overall artistic merit.

In addition, one photograph will be selected as the Capture the Dark overall award winner, recognizing the most exceptional submission across the entire contest. The public will also take part through the People’s Choice Award, where the public will vote for their favorite image.

Global Promotion Package

All Winners

Capture the Dark Overall, People’s Choice, and all category winners will receive a global promotional package showcasing their winning photographs, including:

Inclusion in a global press announcement picked up by major publications each year (past coverage has included Forbes, Sky & Telescope, Popular Science, and others)

• A feature in Nightscape, DarkSky’s award-winning magazine and website, reaching a global audience of 40,000 readers

• A subscription licence to PhotoPills, a powerful planning app that helps photographers visualize and calculate the position of the sun, moon, Milky Way, and stars to capture perfectly timed shots.

• Social media promotion across DarkSky and contest sponsor channels
• A complimentary one-year DarkSky membership, including a subscription to Nightscape magazine
• Recognition at DarkSky’s Under One Sky Global Conference
• An official DarkSky winner certificate

Note: Second and third place winners will receive a selection of these benefits as part of a partial promotional package.

Select category prizes

Additional prizes provided by this year’s event sponsors will be awarded to select categories.

Two night stay at Under Canvas resorts

Capture the Dark Overall & Nightscape winners

In addition to receiving the full promotion package, the Capture the Dark Overall Winner and Nightscape Winner will receive a two-night getaway, generously provided by Under Canvas, a leader in astrotourism hospitality and the primary sponsor of this year’s contest.

Enjoy a star-filled getaway for two under luxury safari-style canopy tents and lighting designed to meet DarkSky’s requirements to protect the night.

The stay may be redeemed at any of Under Canvas’ six DarkSky Approved Lodging locations within an 18-month window.

Sky View Tents

Nighttime Adventures & People's Choice

In addition to the full promotional package, the Nighttime Adventures and People's Choice category winners will each receive a stargazing tent from contest sponsor Sky View Tents. Designed for anyone who loves the night sky, these tents feature expansive mesh panels for full sky views and an internal rainfly that can be deployed from inside the tent to quickly protect campers if the weather changes.

Perfect for nights under dark skies, this prize will help the winning photographers continue their adventures and capture the beauty of the night.

Celestron Telescope

Youth Astrophotography & International Dark Sky Places

In addition to the full promotional package, the winners of the Youth Astrophotography and International Dark Sky Places categories will each receive a StarSense Explorer 130mm Dobsonian Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope (#22481), including tripod.

Each telescope will also be paired with a NexYZ 3-Axis Universal Smartphone Adapter (#81055), allowing winners to enjoy both visual observing and smartphone astrophotography.

Oberwerk Binoculars

Creatures of the Night & Impact of Light Pollution

In addition to the full promotional package, the winners of the Creatures of the Night and Impact of Light Pollution categories will each receive a pair of Oberwerk binoculars. Since 1999, Oberwerk has been a leading supplier of high-powered binoculars, offering models capable of 40× magnification or more for exceptional nighttime exploring.