TITLE: Force of Nature

In our Milkyway galaxy clouds of gases and dust are bombarded by energy from stars causing the gases to become ionized and emit light. This series explores three deep space nebulae and the nearby stars that energize them.

The images capture the light emissions of hydrogen gas from these nebula using astrophotography equipment (telescope, filter, camera). Each image is an accumulation of multiple 5-minute exposures for total exposure times ranging from 2 to 8 hours.

AUTHOR: Peter Hergesheimer (United States)

Peter Hergesheimer is a San Diego based nature photographer whose work spans an extraordinary range of subjects—from deep-space astrophotography and underwater imagery to wildlife, landscapes, and global travel. Peter’s photographs have earned awards in multiple international competitions. In 2025 he was recognized as Amateur Photographer of the Year by The Monochrome Photography Awards.

Peter’s photographic journey began in his youth, teaching himself black-and-white film photography and darkroom techniques before formal study in high school. His passion for diving naturally led him into underwater photography, first working with film and later transitioning to digital. Today, he works exclusively in the digital medium, capturing and processing both monochrome and color images. In his image creations, he balances artistic expression and realism, focusing solely on what the camera captures, deliberately avoiding image-generation technologies.

With academic degrees in electrical engineering, Peter spent his professional career in wireless product development where his creativity resulted in several patents. Since retiring from engineering, he has devoted himself fully to photography. His journey into the technically challenging deep-space astrophotography genre draws on his engineering background while his artistic interpretations of the cosmos are shaped by years of experience in composition and image-processing techniques developed across other photographic disciplines.

Alongside his wife Beth, Peter has traveled to some of the most remote regions on Earth, including Antarctica, Patagonia, New Zealand, eastern Greenland, and Svalbard. These journeys fuel his work, allowing him to experience and document nature in its most raw and awe-inspiring forms.

At the heart of Peter’s photography is a deep passion for capturing and sharing the beauty of the natural world. Through his lens, he invites viewers into moments of wonder—encouraging a deeper appreciation of nature, both terrestrial and celestial.

https://www.peterhergesheimer.com