NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick got creative on the International Space Station (ISS) for a July 4, 2024 photoshoot during Expedition 71. With no fireworks allowed on the space station, Dominick improvised with camera flashes to celebrate Independence Day. He experimented with “light painting,” a technique that uses long exposure in a dark room to illuminate a subject with a light source.
Dominick, who has been practicing image time-lapses on the ISS, captured stunning pictures of Earth and the space station in motion. For the U.S. holiday, he mounted the Stars and Stripes to the back of the Japanese Kibo module and played around with interior exposures. He shared the results on social media, showcasing his creativity in space photography.
In one photo, Dominick is seen zooming through Kibo like a superhero, while another captures him in a space tumble, with a contagious grin on his face. He described how the time-lapses were staged, using manual flashes and ambient light from computers and experiment LEDs. For aspiring space photographers, he provided photography stats: 15-second exposures, f22, 24mm, ISO 500.
During the photoshoot, Dominick gathered much of the Expedition 71 crew and two Boeing Starliner astronauts in Kibo to join him. Each astronaut used their own light source to illuminate themselves in the semi-darkness of the research facility. They were instructed to “fire your own flash at will” inside the 15-second exposure.
While Dominick’s playful photography session was a fun way to celebrate the holiday, all astronauts are trained in orbital photography to assist with vital Earth observations during their time in space. They capture images of natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions and wildfires, in addition to capturing beautiful shots of the aurora borealis, city lights at night, and the horizon.
Astronaut photography plays a crucial role in helping scientists and decision-makers monitor hazards in near real-time. While traditional satellites take photos looking straight down at the Earth, astronauts can capture images from various perspectives, providing valuable insights for research and monitoring purposes.
Overall, Dominick’s creative approach to photography on the ISS not only showcases his skills but also highlights the important role astronauts play in capturing images for scientific purposes. Their unique perspective from space offers a valuable contribution to understanding and monitoring Earth’s natural phenomena.
In conclusion, the innovative use of “light painting” by astronauts like Matthew Dominick adds a creative touch to space photography while serving a practical purpose in scientific research and observation. As technology advances, we can expect more stunning images and insights from astronauts aboard the ISS, contributing to our understanding of Earth and beyond.
