Though I'm a city girl through and through, I spent my childhood in a little area of Northeast Georgia where the lake was the only thing to do in the summer, there were still big plots of undeveloped land, and the limited light pollution allows you to see billions of stars.
It's still one of my favorite parts of visiting where I grew up.
Maybe that's the reason I fell hopelessly in love with these images by French photographer Thierry Cohen. City scenes are darkened and imposed upon night skies from less inhabited locations on the same latitudes. The resulting images are what we in San Francisco, Hong Kong, New York, Tokyo, and Paris might see if light pollution - responsible for the same vibrancy that makes our cities so wonderful a place to call home - didn't dampen our starry views.
Cohen believes that city dwellers lose a sense of connection with nature and "to show him stars is to help him dream again." You've certainly made a dreamer out of me, Mr. Cohen.
ALL IMAGES | THIERRY COHEN VIA NEW YORK TIMES
I am CONSTANTLY lamenting the lack of stars in Vegas. This is the home of light pollution. Love those pictures.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I wish we could see stars this bright in Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I need to move somewhere where the stars are that amazing.
ReplyDeleteThese are so gorgeous! Love them all.
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking photos! I would love to have a few of these hanging on my wall.
ReplyDeleteThese are absolutely amazing... I love the whole effect of the images!
ReplyDeleteThese photos are stunning. I grew up in a small town where you can ALWAYS see the stars–I really really miss that living in NYC!
ReplyDeleteThese are absolutely gorgeous. I also grew up in a small town in Georgia (the southern region though). The stars are what I miss the most since I've moved to the city. Gazing at stars always gives a sense of peace that can be lost in the hectic life in the city.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing a non-light polluted night for the first time in 1989 after the earthquake in Santa Cruz. A bunch of us were sitting outside on the meadow by Porter College, listening to the radio, and watching the City of Santa Cruz on fire. It was a nice consolation to an otherwise bad day.
ReplyDeleteI love the story behind this post just as much as I love the photos. What an idyllic childhood you must've had! The stars seem pretty bright out here in San Juan, but it's still a city and nothing like these stunning photos.
ReplyDeleteObsessed doesn't even begin to cover it. I love this!! I had a similar experience as you as a kid, when I would spend parts of my summer in the Texas hill country at camp. The stars were unreal! Have never seen anything like it since.
ReplyDeleteOh man! Now I've fallen hopelessly in love with these images, too!
ReplyDeleteUm. I'd like to live in this world now please.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
ReplyDeleteBuuuuut on the other hand you live in NYC, which is also awesome :)
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%! I need to get back home more, I think.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about idyllic, but it was pretty fun. Lots of warm summers by the lake!
ReplyDeleteThese images are stunning!! Thank you so much for sharing them, Lauren!!
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous! Now I hate light pollution even more....
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