Center for Nonprofit Leadership
Helping nonprofit leaders do better at doing good

Henri Mondschein

Librarian, Head of Graduate Instruction and Outreach

Photo: Rick Gonzalez Photography

As a child, Henri was fascinated by the night sky and the “endless sea of stars.” Now, in his spare time, he’s a nightscape photographer. “I never get tired or bored by this subject because there are endless compositions and settings to shoot the night sky,” he said. He’s inspired by expert astrophotographers like Kristine Rose of Nova Scotia, Canada, who have perfected the craft and, through their work, reveal the beauty of the night sky that’s mostly invisible to the naked eye.

Henri joined Astrophotography, a Meetup group for photographing the Milky Way at such places as Joshua Tree National Park, the Alabama Hills near Bishop, the Trona Pinnacles in the desert, Mono Lake, and other locations known for dark skies and unique natural settings. Another favorite subject is the Northern Lights, so he joined 1000 Treks LA, a Meetup travel group that journeyed to Alaska in March 2022 to chase what he calls the “magical green glows and colorful curtains of light.” Henri is planning a trip in spring to photograph the auroras in Iceland.

He’s also joined Facebook groups to get feedback on his images and tips on composition or exposure. He noted that people interested in this style of photography are very accommodating to beginners who want to improve their skills. Group members share ways to optimize their photography gear and demonstrate new image processing techniques and software. In the future, he wants to learn how to capture detailed images of planets and deep sky objects like the Andromeda Galaxy and nebulae. For planning the best time of night to view these wonders, he uses apps like Star Walk and PhotoPills. Sometimes, he contacts Griffith Observatory’s Edge of Space experts. Henri finds it refreshing to be with a group of like-minded people, immersed in the beauty of the night sky and the tranquility of the desert or mountains.

“Capturing the magic of the night sky is the essence of this genre of photography,” he said. “And if I can convey the awe of the Milky Way and Northern Lights, I’ve achieved my goal as a nightscape photographer.”

Visit Henri’s website to see more of his photography.

To nominate any Cal Lutheran employee to be profiled in The Weekly’s Close-up section, email Sharon Nelson at smnelso@CalLutheran.edu. Close-up highlights the passion and service of the people who make up Cal Lutheran and is an important way of fostering community. Submissions are kept confidential; self-nominations are welcome.

More

Become a Member Subscribe to Newsletter Make a Donation
 Contact Us

nonprofit@CalLutheran.edu
805-493-3959


Follow Us
 Related Links
©