Out of This World: Milky Way Captured in Stunning Detail

By Amanda Stringfellow @amanda_l_s

LIGHTS from the Milky Way dazzle above the Isle of White in these rarely seen British sky-scapes

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Out of this World: The shape of the echium pininana which grows all around Ventnor Botanic Garden can be seen here resembling the structure of our milky way galaxy as seen from earth

Chad Powell captured images of spectacular light patterns above the familiar beach scenes of England’s largest island.

Lighting up the skies: Spots like this are great for stargazing due to the limited amount of houses there and no street lights in the cove itself

The 23-year-old used a DSLR camera to enhance the Milky Way from the white strip visible to the naked eye into an explosion of colourful lights.

The graphic designer from Ventnor, Isle of Wight, used the local architecture, coves and plant life of the island in the foreground of his photographs to create a contrast with the dramatic sky.

Wheat fields, night daisies and a medieval lighthouse are some of the scenes Chad captures against the startling natural light displays.

Light in the darkness: Framed here in the sky is the fainter part of the Milky Way's centre, which is home to Orion as well as Sirius, the brightest star in our night sky

Moon Daisies: In the summer months, Flowers Brook springs to life with an explosion of flowers. These ‘moon daisies’ unlike garden daisies, stay open at night

Chad said: “The Isle of Wight's southern location and relatively small towns allow the skies to be fairly uninterrupted by light pollution compared to the majority of the UK, making it one of the darkest locations in England.

Dazzling: The bright light prominent in the very centre of the image is a large container ship, often anchored in the distance, ready to dock at Portsmouth harbour

“Although the scenes in my images often seem surreal, they are completely genuine and can be seen with the naked eye.

“The use of long exposures and a light sensitive camera allow for the bright colours and details to be visible.

Lighthouse: Known as the ‘Pepperpot’ this medieval lighthouse was built in 1328

Today’s DSLR cameras can gather much more light and capture a lot more detail than our eyes can.

“My favourite location to photograph both day and night is Steephill Cove. A stone’s throw from Ventnor Botanic Garden, and an unspoilt hidden gem of the Island.

“It is also great for stargazing due to the limited amount of houses there and no street lights in the cove itself.”