About the Photographer

Utah NASA Space Grant Consortium is thrilled to feature the works of one of our longtime trustees, Durand “Duke” Johnson, on multiple pages of our website. Duke has been a UNSGC trustee from affiliate Clark Planetarium for many years. He began working at the planetarium in 2003, becoming Associate Director in 2017, and in March of 2022, he was promoted to Executive Director.

Duke grew up surrounded by the dark skies of North Dakota and became interested in photography after taking several classes at Valley City State University. Over the years his photography work has taken him across the globe, but for the past 20 years he has focused primarily on the southwestern United States, including capturing the beauty of many places here in Utah with his stunning astro-photography.

Through his tireless work at the planetarium, his Masters in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, and his love of nature, Duke has developed a unique skill set that allows him to capture incredible imagery of the night sky.

Of his photography, he says: “My work focuses on nature’s beauty and gives a unique perspective on some of the most visited places in the US. I only accept the best of my work in regards to clarity, vibrant colors, and sharp images. Hours of work in pre-planning shots and using an intimate knowledge of the cycles of the sun & moon enable me to be in just the right place at the right time--day or night. Recent adventures have been to visit our National Parks at night and shoot the Milky Way, Jupiter and prominent constellations over iconic features. These views chronicle the passage of time through the night as the daily motion of our earth makes the stars traverse the sky. Lately I have mastered a technique that allows stars to be kept tack sharp over time while exposing the foreground as well. In total, this is a very time intensive process, but the end result produces pieces that are truly unique in composition and quality.”

Thank you to Duke for allowing us to showcase his beautiful art. For more information about Duke Johnson’s photography, including purchasing prints, visit his website.