Photographer captures breathtaking scenes in the Egyptian desert

Photographer captures breathtaking scenes in the Egyptian desert
Imagine standing in complete silence amidst a mystical desert landscape, while a sky studded with thousands of stars and galaxies unfolds above you.

British-Lebanese astronomy photographer Benjamin Barakat has long sought out dark-sky locations around the world to document the magic of twinkling stars, which transport those who gaze upon them to another world beyond the realm of imagination. It seems Barakat found his calling in Egypt, with a treasure trove of astronomical views in the Western Desert.

In this series of night skies from Egypt's Western Desert, the British astronomy photographer focuses his lens on the stunning combination of black and white desert formations and stunning astronomical views.
"I've always been looking for dark skies around the world, away from urban landscapes, where stars can twinkle and night sky objects like the Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye. That's how I came across the White Desert in Egypt," Barakat told CNN Arabic. During his research, he found many natural rock formations and stunning landscapes that add beauty to the night sky and create unparalleled images. The British astronomy photographer explained that he has been standing under starry skies for the past seven years, since he first defined his life's purpose. He has found spirituality in his closeness to the sky and the vastness and infinity of the universe, noting that he spends his nights under the stars in a "state of amazement."
Among the most unique phenomena he documented was airglow, a natural phenomenon that occurs when solar radiation interacts with the upper atmosphere, creating streaks or faint glows of color in the night sky.

However, this journey into the desert environment was not without its challenges. The weather could be hot and exhausting, especially with little sleep after long nights of stargazing. Barakat recalls, "Once, we were hit by a sandstorm so severe that dust filled the air and made travel impossible. We decided to pitch our tent and sleep until morning. When I woke up, I found myself covered in sand up to my feet. We had to walk through the storm at night, and we lost our campsite for several hours."

Egypt's White and Black Deserts stand out from other locations around the world for their extreme isolation.

"There are no tourists there, making it ideal for finding unique natural formations and enjoying the place while contemplating the sky or taking photos," said the British astronomy photographer.
Barakat believes that the moment he captures is not just the present, but rather a simultaneous synthesis of the past and future, saying, "I am freezing a part of time forever."

He explained, "When we look at the universe, we don't see things exactly as they are at this moment. The light from stars and galaxies takes millions of years to reach us. So what we see is light that left its source long ago; we are literally looking into the past. At the same time, it is a glimpse of the future, as this light has traveled unimaginable distances and time to reach our eyes at this very moment."
Photographer captures breathtaking scenes in the Egyptian desert
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