Jose Luis Cantabrana Garcia Photography

23/11/2025

| Aurōra |

On Wednesday the 12th of November, the solar storm hit harder than expected. Around 2pm, I checked the data, and the numbers were strong enough to show the southern lights well above the usual latitude. Even Sydney had a real chance. I reached out to and dragged him out the door after leaving little Aurora at home.

After crawling through traffic out of the city, we reached the Blue Mountains just before sunset. As the last light faded, the first colours of the aurora appeared, faint but unmistakable at this latitude. As the blue hour deepened, the sky transformed dramatically. Vertical beams began to rise above the horizon, clearly visible to the naked eye.

Within minutes, the first pillars of light were lifting into the sky, growing taller and more defined. They shifted and danced across the sky. Here they were, the southern lights, an incredible sight for this part of the world.

Later in the night, the storm began to ease. The forms softened, and the red glow took over, bright but lacking the structure from earlier. Around midnight, a SAR arc stretched from east to west, although city light drowned most of its detail. Even so, the show after dusk remained the highlight when this shot was taken.

EXIF:
Sky – Canon R8 (Astromod) | 15mm f/2.8 | ISO 6400 | 2s
Foreground – Canon R8 (Astromod) | 15mm f/2.8 | ISO 3200 | 3.2s



.photo .hunters

01/11/2025

| Where the Red Sprites Dance |

A night to remember with and

We were out there under the stars, just another night chasing the Milky Way. Far on the horizon, a distant storm kept flashing the sky. I randomly brought up red sprites. I never thought I was actually capturing them as we spoke about how to get them, what settings to use and how rare they are.

Minutes later, scrolling through the files on the back of the camera, everything stopped. Red sprites. Red goblins, sitting perfectly below the galactic centre. For a second none of us spoke. Then it hit. We screamed, laughed, shouted into the cold. Pure disbelief. Pure happiness. A once in a lifetime feeling.

And it did not end there. In the same frame, a faint aurora glowed on the horizon and the zodiacal light rose softly into the sky. Three rare celestial phenomena meeting in one single photograph. As far as we know, it might even be the first time all three have ever been captured together. Who knows, who cares!

Not long after, Tom and Dan managed to capture them too. The night became something else. More than a photo trip. It was luck, timing, friendship and the night sky showing off for a moment.

A night for the books. A night we will carry with us forever.

📷 Technical details:
Sky: Benro Polaris | Canon R8 (Astromod) | 2x12 × 60s | 35mm | f/2.2 | ISO 800 (tracked)
Foreground: Canon R5 | 2x12 × 135s | 15mm | f2.8 | ISO 8000

26/10/2025

We followed the stars… and the red sprites led us to The New York Times

Three photographers were able to capture the red sprite phenomenon, when lightning flashes above thunderstorms, in high definition against the Milky Way.

10/09/2025

The ocean has always been one of my greatest sources of inspiration. It changes constantly, yet it always feels timeless. For years, I've been drawn back to the coast chasing the rhythm of waves and the fleeting light.

This series brings together seascape photographs I've taken across different shores over the past few years; images that, for me, reflect the ongoing dialogue between water, light, and time.

Photographing the sea is never easy. The tides, the wind, and the unpredictability of the swell, all demand patience and respect. But within that challenge lies the reward: the chance to capture a glimpse of the ocean's endless character.

31/08/2025

| The Tree of Life II |

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It has been over three years since I photographed the first “Tree of Life” back in 2022, my very first image using the Benro Polaris. Since then I have refined both my gear and my post processing, and I have always felt this subject deserved another attempt.

The Blue Mountains in NSW offer some of the darkest skies for astrophotography near Sydney, but I have always found composition here to be the real challenge.

Their endless ridgelines are stunning, but the lack of elements breaking the horizon makes it hard to find a composition that feels balanced. On my first attempt I climbed down to a secluded spot, but the horizon cut through the tree and weakened its presence.

This time I pushed it even further, descending the cliffside in the dark and setting up very low, just a few centimetres from the edge. I wanted the tree to stand tall against the Milky Way with nothing to steal its place in the frame. I shot the entire panorama without moving the tripod, swapping cameras and lenses mid process to make it possible.

I ended up spending over three hours on that edge, with nothing but the quiet watching the slow dance of the stars and I was rewarded by one of the most impressive airglow show I ever captured!

📷 Technical details:

Sky: Benro Polaris | Canon R8 (Astromod) | 2x12 × 60s | 35mm | f/2 | ISO 640 (tracked)

Foreground: Canon R5 | 8(x2) × 90s | 15mm | f3.5 | ISO 5000 (stacked)

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20/08/2025

| Apex Reverie |

For this sunset, Luke Hasaart and I decided to shoot down the river, hoping to frame the scene in its quiet glow. After just 10 minutes, though, a renowned photographer leading a workshop came with his group and set up only 5 meters upstream, completely blocking the view. Instead of getting into an argument and risking missing the sunset, we rushed to this spot and made the most of the light.

Respecting others in the field is the first thing I teach during my own workshops. Photography is about patience, presence, and connection, and part of that is being kind to those who share the same passion for photography.

I can’t wait to be back around this area soon with our upcoming photo tours in September and October with and

29/06/2025

| Orionis Vigilia |

Orion watching over the quieter side of the Milky Way, far from the chaos of the core.

One of those nights out in the NSW outback with the master long roads, loud laughs, dusty gear, and the kind of fun that only comes with chasing stars for no reason other than the love of it.

This photo is available through my print shop for the next 48 hours with 30% off using the code EOFY30 before the sale ends.

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20/06/2025

| Tempus Lucis |
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Time of Light

There are places that don’t offer themselves freely. Most follow where others have gone, drawn to the same familiar views. But every now and then, you step off the well-worn path and find something quietly extraordinary waiting just beyond the obvious.

This frame came after a long day of scouting, walking along wind-sculpted cliffs and salt-stained ledges, guided by nothing but the feeling that something was waiting. No crowds. No road signs. Just the hum of the sea and the slow shift of light.

As the sun began to dip, the sky opened with a brief and golden exhale, just long enough to reveal the textures of this raw, untamed coastline. It was one of those moments that ask nothing from you, except presence. And presence, I’ve learned, is earned.

This is Tempus Lucis, a piece born not from chasing the light, but from waiting with it.

🖼️ Now available as a Limited Edition print (only 10 units)
🎉 Use code EOFY30 at checkout to get 30% off across the entire print shop until June 30
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27/04/2025

| Aoraki Astra |
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As twilight fades, Aoraki rises in silence, watching over river and sky.

For a breathless moment, the world stands still, a whisper between day and night.

Good memories with hassart. Can't wait to be back there in September this year!

10/03/2025

| The Walls of India |

Discovered in late 2024 by the legendary explorer during our scouting expedition in the Australian Outback—just before our workshop with . I can’t help but miss those crystal-clear starry nights, standing among ancient landscapes sculpted by time. There’s something truly humbling about witnessing the cosmos above such timeless formations.

18/01/2025

| Astrae Montis |
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This is, without a doubt, one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever been to. Words and even photos, fall short of capturing the sheer scale and beauty of this location.

Imagine 360 degrees of epic views: one side stretching toward the winding Milford Sound and the ocean, and the other framed by towering mountains and glacier-fed lakes.

Reaching the top of this hike with was no easy feat for me. By the time we arrived, I was completely cooked and my legs were like jelly, but the views made it all worth it.

As night fell, the freezing temperatures didn’t make it any easier, but the reward was worth it: an incredible view of the stars in one of the most awe-inspiring locations I’ve ever seen. You can even spot a faint glow from some minor aurora activity in this image. I can only imagine how magical this place would be under proper solar conditions.

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31/12/2024

| Glacier Threads |
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Part of my Maunga Odyssey collection, this aerial panorama reveals the stunning beauty of the glacier rivers in New Zealand’s South Island, a place that has truly stolen a piece of my heart. Photographed during my last journey with this region’s untamed beauty continues to inspire me.

In 2025, I’ll be returning to this magical land to run two photo tours with and . I can’t wait to share this awe-inspiring destination with fellow photographers and adventurers.

🌟 Happy New Year! Wishing you all an incredible 2025 filled with creativity, exploration, and unforgettable light. Cheers to new adventures! 🥂📸
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