by Božan Štambuk

While researching the literature of my birth island Brač I was left surprised by the numerous cultural richness and natural phenomena in my vicinity.

An idea was made for my first independent project to capture the wonders of island Brač in a never before seen way. I’ve photographed exclusively during the night to showcase the motifs under a new light and to accentuate their mystique.

Unfortunately, in a few decades, human expansion and light pollution will most likely make sights such as this impossible. I wanted to point out this issue and perpetuate all the wonders of the night sky before they disappear.

Astrophotography was new to me, I’ve studied for months not only the technique but also the movement of stars, moon phases, meteor showers and light pollution and I’ve constantly monitored weather conditions via the satellite.

My daily obligations prevented me from exploring the terrain during the daylight, because of that I never knew what was in store for me, except for complete darkness and unpredictable nature.

An adventurous spirit and love for the island led me through unknown and inaccessible terrains so that I could complete my project, despite sleep deprivation and dangerous animals. In addition, out of 8760 hours in the year, Milky way is best visible for only about a hundred hours, so I was also limited by time.

It’s because of all this invested time and effort and unforgettable experiences, this odyssey of mine of more than thousand kilometers during three months forever changed the way I think as a photographer and fortified my love for the island Brač.

All photos by Božan Štambuk. Check out his impressive 4K timelapse video below.