Astronomical Photographs by Marcello Romano

This month we will have the inky, nebulous night sky images of Ashland High School student, Marcello Romano in conjunction with the Ashland Gallery Association Annual Student Art Exhibition.

I moved to Ashland from Los Angeles when I was 7 and initially hated the sudden change of surroundings. I had been used to heavy traffic, plenty of concrete, and miles of sub-par beaches for most of my life so suddenly being dropped into the middle of a lush, deer infested forest was a huge shock. It would take a few years after the move before I came to love nature and eventually, astronomy. The night sky gives me immense perspective and appreciation for our tiny lives here on earth, while simultaneously serving as the subject of my photography. Taking photos of the universe is a demanding task that often takes me (and my brave friends) out into the middle of nowhere in the pitch dark, inky blackness of night. I’ve had to get over my fear of wild animals and darkness to say the least. I hope people take away a deeper curiosity of the universe and our place in it after seeing my photos as well as a sense of wonder and awe, similar to what I feel after a night under our galaxy. - Marcello Romano