Arcing across the autumn night sky here in central California, the California Nebula is a cloud of red and orange colored hydrogen and sulfur gases and dust that has a faint, wispy veil of blue oxygen. To me the swirling structure of the nebula resembles a glowing golden wave, cresting and about to break. This was one of my most challenging images to create utilizing three different telescopes and three years to collect the needed exposures. As the various contributions came together, the Golden Wave emerged on my computer screen.
Gary Lopez is a fine art astrophotographer. His images have received recognition in international fine art photography competition and his work is represented by Gallery Sur, Carmel, CA, USA. Gary is also a filmmaker, entrepreneur, and scientist. He has produced more than 40 documentary films and series, including television programs for Jacques Cousteau and his son, Jean-Michel Cousteau. His programs have been broadcast nationally in the United States, distributed through out Europe and Asia, and have received many awards for excellence.
Awards Nominee, Nature, International Color Awards, 2022
First Place, Nature, International Photography Awards, 2021
Honorable Mention(3), Nature, International Photography Awards, 2021
Honorable Mention, Nature, Black & White Spider Awards, 2021
Nominee, Nature, International Color Awards, 2021
First Place, Nature, International Photography Awards, 2020
Honorable Mention, Nature, International Photography Awards, 2020
Honorable Mention, Abstract, Black & White Spider Awards, 2020
Honorable Mention, Nature, Black & White Spider Awards, 2020
Nominee (2), Nature, International Color Awards, 2019
Honorable Mention (2), Nature, International Color Awards, 2019
