DUBAI // Distant stars and galaxies have been captured on camera in a stunning collection of images by a local photographer.

Samy Al Olabi, a Syrian who took panoramas of the night sky, said he was inspired by the UAE’s natural beauty, something many people might not have seen.

“I really enjoy being out in the wilderness, and I have always been drawn to the heavens above,” he said.

“Although nature in the UAE might look harsh and it’s like there is nothing but desert. As a matter of fact, there are lots of hidden beauties within – there are wadis, mountains, dams and other water-gathering areas.

“All you have to do is drive away from the concrete jungle, be adventurous and discover new places.”

Mr Al Olabi, who has lived in Dubai for 12 years, started taking astronomy photographs in 2011 and initially focused on eclipses of the Moon and the Sun, as well as planetary conjunctions and transits.

“Then I started mastering this hobby in 2013. At that time I started developing my skills and knowledge to capture the galaxy and other magical deep-sky objects,” he said.

The images he captures require a lot of preparation, skill and the right equipment.

“To do so you need to have an advanced DSLR camera and, most preferably, a full-frame one. You need a fast and wide lens, a sturdy tripod, a sky map and, finally, you will need post-processing software.

“You need to have some fair knowledge about the behaviour of celestial objects, and you also need to study the location in terms of light pollution considerations, as well as foreground elements and composition.”

The biggest challenge was weak luminosity, or brightness, of celestial objects, which was made worse by light pollution from cities. “To get a good shot you need to be many hours away from any cities,” he said.

For the clearest pictures Mr Al Olabi made sure he was in the right place at the right time.

“Technically, the main concept behind taking such photos is long exposure. The longer you open the shutter, the more light and details the camera sensor will collect.

“But because of the Earth’s rotation, stars and other celestial objects will start to show trails after exposure for more than 30 seconds,” he said.

“To overcome this issue special tracking devices can be used, on which the camera can be mounted.”

These devices allow the camera to move with the Earth’s rotation and allow exposures that last for much longer.

Mr Al Olabi, who has a civil engineering background and works as a senior construction-planning manager, uses his love of photography to relax.

“It is a perfect runaway from different life stresses,” he said.

“And, above all, it is a perfect way to explore and document the beauty around us.”

Mr Al Olabi was working on discovering more locations in the UAE and wanted to raise awareness about light pollution.

He would also like to develop the idea of a galaxy day. “We can choose a certain day of summer, when the visibility of the Milky Way is at its best, and switch off more lights and invite people to look up in the sky and see what we are missing,” he said.

To see more of Mr Al Olabi’s photos, visit samyolabi.com.

nhanif@thenational.ae