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Gavin launches PARKLIGHT series for U.S. National Parks awareness.

  • Apr 12
  • 2 min read

Parklight National Parks Conservation Timelapse Project Logo by Gavin Heffernan

DIY PHOTOGRAPHY: "When America’s national parks fell quiet during the recent government shutdowns, filmmaker Gavin Heffernan didn’t look away, he looked up instead. With two Canon 6Ds, a collection of fast lenses, and an endless supply of patience, Heffernan began PARKLIGHT. This series captures the raw, untamed beauty of these protected landscapes through breathtaking time-lapse cinematography."





Yosemite Night sky with streaked star trails over a majestic mountainous landscape, illuminated by moonlight. Dark forests line the valley below.

"The National Park Service faces a $22 billion maintenance backlog and nearly a 20% staffing decline since 2010, despite welcoming over 325 million visitors annually.

Through PARKLIGHT, Heffernan intends to transform those sobering facts into a visual statement of resilience. “These parks remain alive, still glowing, still breathing, but they need us to protect them,” he says. “I want the series to remind people that the wild endures only if we care enough to preserve it.” Heffernan is an award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of the SKYGLOW Project, an initiative raising awareness about light pollution.


Gavin Heffernan National Park Night Sky Timelapse Photographer Parklight Skyglow Project

With PARKLIGHT, Heffernan continues to merge art and advocacy, using the quiet motion of the stars to remind us that nature’s brilliance is never out of reach, we just have to look up."












More coming soon...



Tall trees in a Yosemite forest under a clear night sky with star trails. A rocky mountain is visible in the background, creating a serene scene.
Silhouetted Joshua tree under star-streaked night sky, bright light on horizon, creating an awe-inspiring, serene desert scene.
Sunlit desert dunes with golden sand and sparse shrubs under a clear sky, framed by rugged mountains in the background. Quiet and serene.
Star trails over a rocky mountain peak El Capitan surrounded by trees at night. The sky is clear and deep blue, creating a serene, majestic scene.

TIMELAPSE ROBOT: "PARKLIGHT uses timelapse not just as a creative tool, but as a reminder. These places deserve care at all times, not only when they are open, staffed, and visible. Night timelapse photography is not about speed or spectacle. It is about waiting, observing, and allowing places to reveal themselves over time. For anyone interested in creating or watching timelapse work, these are a reminder of why the craft still matters."


Starry night sky over Zion National Park rocky cliffs with orange-hued trees in the foreground, creating a serene and majestic natural scene.
Death Valley Mesquite Dunes desert landscape at sunset, with a mountain range in the background. Sky is pink and orange, creating a serene, warm mood. Sparse bushes dot the sand.
Zion Star trails swirl in the night sky over jagged mountains. Bright trees and a streak of light from a moving vehicle illuminate the scene.
Skull Rock Joshua Tree. Large rock formations under a bright moonlit sky with star trails in the background. The scene has a tranquil, surreal atmosphere.

"Future PARKLIGHT destinations include Saguaro, Glacier, Pinnacles, Yellowstone, Denali, Kenai Fjords, Crater Lake, and White Sands, NM, weather and conditions permitting. Each video will add another chapter to a cinematic love letter for America’s most treasured places."


 
 
 
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