The Paseo Las Alamedas received part of the photographic collection of documentary filmmaker Sergio Montúfar, an exhibition entitled “Cosmic Nights: Landscapes and Stars in Durango.”
Made up of 56 photographs, this exhibition captures the nocturnal landscapes of different parts of Latin America, focusing particularly on Durango, as it is well known that this state has important areas where surprising sightings have occurred.
Precisely these images correspond to the days prior to one of the most relevant astronomical phenomena, the solar eclipse of April 8.
“The places I visited here in Durango are impressive, like the total solar eclipse, these types of events are historic and leave unrepeatable moments in the places where they happen,” said the astrophotographer at the inauguration.
“And in that sense, we seek to promote astronomy in culture and to see it as something that inspires humanity,” he added.
AGAINST LIGHT POLLUTION
This is because he is currently dedicated to combating light pollution, inspiring young people through talks at universities and continuing with his exhibitions so that audiences of all ages can appreciate the night and its wonders.
“Many people from other places in Mexico come to Durango. I would like to inspire them to observe the night and realize the rich natural heritage they have and that there are certain ways to protect and develop it,” he explained.
“We can observe the moon, sunsets, atmospheric phenomena in the afternoon such as lightning, and people who are in Durango can appreciate stars in places where there is no light pollution, such as the Orion constellations, where there are a large number of stars.”
DEFENDER OF THE DARK SKY
Sergio Montúfar finds the value of astrophotography in his own definition. “For me, it is a technique of capturing light in dark environments, which, through different methods, allows us to obtain high-quality images, inspiring us to understand that the sky can transmit scientific, geological, atmospheric and cultural concepts.”
For this reason, he considers it important to observe it, because it invites us to be aware of what we are in this world.
“When we look at the sky, the perception of our life changes, we understand the privilege of having a conscience to understand the environment and that generates environmental awareness of how we behave with nature,” he concluded.
This is how “Cosmic Nights: Landscapes and Stars in Durango” is a journey through his research work, which, together with his commitment to the conservation of the dark sky, has earned him the title of “Dark Sky Defender”, in addition to being awarded as Artist of the Year in Artistic Photography.
Source: elsiglodedurango
