The Story Behind One Epic Photo of the Stars in Saskatchewan, Canada

There was nothing casual about photographer Scott Aspinall’s journey to Nistowiak Falls in northern Saskatchewan. Armed with camera equipment, including a tracker that mimics Earth’s rotation to allow for long exposures, plus a survival kit for a night of camping in the wilds, he set out on a mission to capture the Milky Way.

Aspinall consulted the team at Churchill River Canoe Outfitters to help with his trip — a journey that involved crossing the rugged falls in a canoe to get the best possible photo and battling winds up to 34 miles (54 kilometers) per hour. A certain amount of luck was also required to get the right conditions for the shot, as is the case with all astrophotography adventures. In the end, his trip marked the first time anyone has snapped the Milky Way core from the east side of the falls.

“I have never worked so hard in my life for a photo,” says Aspinall of the experience.

That’s a big claim coming from a photographer who’s been shooting celestial scenes for almost a decade. Aspinall’s foray into night-sky photography started in the summer of 2016 when he says the sub-genre was gaining traction in the photographic community. A Saskatchewan native, he knew he “had access to some of the darkest skies in the world” and had often found himself fascinated by “questions about what was out there.”

“It all pointed to something much bigger than myself,” he tells Matador Network. “The ability of modern camera sensors and processing tools to answer some of those questions was addictive.”

Saskatchewan plays a big role in Aspinall’s photography, through which he not only aims to share the “wonder of the cosmos with viewers” but also challenge the stereotype that the province is “flat and boring.” Until his recent trip, however, Nistowiak Falls was one place that felt beyond his reach. In fact, he’d never ventured into northern Saskatchewan, which he describes as being less accessible than the province’s south.

And the epic shot that resulted from Aspinall’s journey to Nistowiak Falls? Well, that’s just one of many extraordinary scenes awaiting astrophiles — stargazers and shutterbugs alike — in exceedingly photogenic Saskatchewan.

Photo: Scott Aspinall/Tourism Saskatchewan

Northern Saskatchewan

Northern Saskatchewan has almost 100 acres of wilderness for every person in the province. That spells tons of opportunities for nature photographers, including those with a love of the night sky. However, few locations are as picturesque and humbling as Nistowiak Falls.

Nistowiak Falls is one of the highest (and most famous) waterfalls in Saskatchewan. It cascades for 32 feet (10 meters) on the Rapid River, a short river that largely falls within Lac La Ronge Provincial Park. One of the province’s largest parks, Lac La Ronge is a wildlife-rich gateway to northern Saskatchewan, overflowing with natural beauty. The whole area is prime territory for photographers.

Another great place for photographers in northern Saskatchewan is Prince Albert National Park. With landscapes that span boreal forest, lakes, and wetlands, it’s a popular destination for fishing, hiking, and wildlife watching. One big reason to keep your camera handy in the winter months when the nights are longer: the northern lights. Due to their high latitudes, both Prince Albert National Park and Lac La Ronge Provincial Park make excellent backdrops for viewing the aurora borealis.

Southern Saskatchewan

Southern Saskatchewan has two parks that are well-known for astrophotography: Grasslands National Park and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Grasslands is one of the last remaining intact prairies in North America. It has two distinct sides — badlands-esque East and prairie-centric West — which together are characterized by undulating valleys, dramatic canyons, eponymous grasslands, curving rivers, and rolling hills. A variety of wildlife populates the park, including bison, black-tailed prairie dogs, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, mule deer, and nearly 200 species of birds ranging from the threatened burrowing owl to the prairie falcon and eagles.

The sky above Grasslands has a Bortle Scale Class 1 rating for astro-snappers, meaning its night skies are as dark as night skies get. That makes it a breathtaking place to bag a photo of the Milky Way or the northern lights in the right conditions. Numerous hikes and drives crisscross the park, including the Two Trees Trail, the Belza plateau with its flat area for telescopes, the Ecotour Scenic Drive, and the 70-mile Butte hike. You could even catch an astro-oriented event such as Beyond the Big Dipper, a summer skywatching series facilitated by the Royal Astronomical Society.

The second southern Saskatchewan region to head for is Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, which straddles the border of Saskatchewan and Alberta. An official Dark Sky Preserve and the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians, Cypress Hills is a patchwork of deep valleys, pine forests, and rolling hills where elk, deer, moose, pine martens, and cougars all make their homes (as do birds such as the red-tailed hawk and prairie falcon). Visitors can get to know the terrain on trails like the Hidden Valley Trail and Elkwater Lake.

Cypress Hills also has something particularly cool in store for astrophotographers: a Dark Sky Observatory and Dark Sky Campground. Moreover, it hosts an annual Saskatchewan Summer Star Party in August — one attendee even discovered a comet there in 2001.

Photo: Scott Aspinall/Tourism Saskatchewan

Bring the right gear

Aspinall has three main gear tips for aspiring astrophotographers. The first is to make sure you have the right camera — specifically a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a lens that has an aperture of at least f/2.8. You’ll want it in “manual mode so you can adjust your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.”

His second recommendation is to bring a headlamp with a red-light mode that allows you to see at night without damaging your night vision. “This means you’re able to enjoy the nice sky,” he says, “as well as shooting it.”

The third piece of equipment on Aspinall’s list is a tripod, “because your shutter speeds are going to be longer than you could possibly hand hold.” A tripod is invaluable to ensure your camera is steady enough to capture long exposures.

Set yourself up for success

As noted, setting your camera to manual mode gives you maximum control over both the exposure time and aperture. Specifically, you’ll want to set the aperture as wide as possible — f/2.8 or even f/1.4, if available — to allow in the maximum amount of light and capture stars in the distance.

Set your ISO to somewhere between 1600 and 3200 and work higher from there as needed. How much noise you get from the higher ISO will depend on the camera you have, so it’s good to try it out first and see the results. And don’t forget to shoot in RAW format to give yourself more flexibility in post-processing.

Consider bringing a remote shutter release or timer, which can help prevent camera shake when pressing the shutter button. A lens hood will protect the lens from unwanted light and minimize light flaring. And, of course, some extra warm clothes — such as hats, blankets, and gloves — are great for those nocturnal temperatures.

Practice, practice, practice

For newer astrophotographers, it’s a good idea to practice before coming to Saskatchewan. The good news is it’s easy to build your skills outside in your local area or in a dark room. This will help you get used to where your relevant dials and buttons are, learn how to focus manually, and work out what’s involved in taking long exposures.

Ready, set, wait

More than anything, be sure to bring patience on astrophotography trips. So much about the art form is experimenting, and you’re guaranteed to have many failed shots before you bag your National Geographic prize winner. Luckily, in a place as beautiful as Saskatchewan, one of the most rewarding activities is simply sitting back and admiring the view.