Astro-landscapes give you the chance to stretch your visual imagination and get creative after the sun drops below the horizon. From composites to long-exposures to light painting,  the possibilities are virtually limitless. We’ve compiled a list of not-to-be-missed astro-landscape photographers to follow on Instagram for inspiration, ideas and tips so that as night falls and you head out, you can push your camera's tech and take your own creative steps into the dark. As you experiment and make your own images, be sure to tag photos taken with your Sony camersas and lenses with #BeAlpha for a chance to be featured. And don’t forget to follow @sonyalpha for your daily dose of photography inspiration.

See how these photographers flip the switch on traditional landscapes and stay out after the sun goes down to create otherworldly astro-landscape images.

Colby Brown – @colbybrownphotography

Sony Artisan of Imagery Colby Brown is well-known for his wildlife and travel photography. The image below was taken in Norway and shows the true splendor of the aurora. We particularly love the reflection off the water and the bright red of the houses. It offers an interesting composition and keeps the eye moving throughout the frame. Give Brown a follow on Instagram and read about what gear he uses HERE. 

Jess Santos – @missjessbess

Alpha Collective member Jess Santos specializes in astrophotography and describes herself as a “wanderer / adventurer / stargazer.” Her photography is driven by a desire to share the stories of wild places and her experiences through her imagery. Her Instagram account is filled with images with stunning colors, making them feel other-wordly. Be sure to give her a follow and check out her go-to gear HERE. 

Stevin Tuchiwsky – @stevint

Want to feel like you’re in a winter wonderland? Then we recommend following outdoor lifestyle photographer and Alpha Collective member Stevin Tuchiwsky. His Instagram feed has photos from his outdoor adventures that make you feel as though you’re along with him on the journey. The image below sparks the image of a snowglobe in our minds eye. It was taken on the Sony Alpha 7 II with the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master lens. We particularly love the snow in the foreground and how it, along with the night sky and the trees frame the house so well. The lights in the house give it a cozy feel! 

Stan Moniz – @stanmoniz

Alpha Collective member Stan Moniz is known for his oceanscapes and starscapes. This particular post caught our eye because of the motion! We love seeing the stars streak through this timelapse. It takes the storytelling one step further. For this, Moniz used the Sony Alpha 1 and Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. Moniz breaks down his camera setup tips for stacked star trail images HERE. 

Stefan Liebermann – @stefanliebermannphoto

Stefan Liebermann is a physicist as well as a professional astro and landscape photographer based in Germany. Scrolling through his Instagram is like looking at thumbnails of paintings - it’s hard to believe they are real! Which makes sense because he describes asatro photography as, “a very special kind of photography: Not visible to the human eye, but real." We love the composition in this image; how the Milky Way forms a perfect arc above the tree. This photo is in fact a panorama of thirteen individual frames. Read about the gear Liebermann uses to make these images HERE. 

Michael Castaneda – @_mcastaneda_

Michael Castaneda has a passion for photographing unique landscapes that showcase and highlight the beauty of the planet we call home. He describes his work as trying to capture emotion in every frame. As you scroll through his Instagram, you’ll see sweeping landscapes that do indeed evoke a great deal of emotion. We love this composite image and how Castaneda was able to capture such fantastic details in the tree in addition to the night sky.  

Vikas Chander – @vikaschanderastrophotography

Vikas Chander is a talented astrophotographer. This image is a composite of three individual frames. In the caption he describes his process: “I went down to the river level before sunset and shot from the base in the blue hour. To get more of the rocks in the foreground the focal length was kept at 12mm, while the falls were shot at 24mm. I later went up to the top of the falls in order to get an unobstructed horizon in order to shoot the Milky Way.” He used the Sony Alpha 7R IV to capture the foreground and the Sony Alpha 7 III for the sky. We admire his well-executed vision! 

Julio Castro Pardo – @juliocastropardo

Landscape photographer Julio Castro Pardo is another must-follow on Instagram. He uses his camera to depict epic astro-landscapes. In the image below, we love how he included a person to really show the scale of the scene. He captured this image with the Sony Alpha 7R II. Make sure you click that follow button! 

Marcus Westberg – @marcuswestbergphotography

Conservation photographer Marcus Westberg travels the world telling stories of wildlife and the environment. In addition to stunning photos of animals, his feed includes some great landscape shots, including the image below. We love the unique angle of this photograph. In the caption, Westberg describes coming to this location during the day, and not finding it particularly photogenic. He returned at night and enjoyed this perspective. However, he didn’t have a powerful enough light to illuminate the rocks. He utilized cars driving along the road to make this image. We love his determination and ingenuity! 

Debbie Dill – @debbie.dill.photo

Debbie Dill is a landscape photographer based in Switzerland. She is a master of landscape photography and we love seeing what she’s up to through her Instagram! This image is a composite, and when photographing the sky portion of the image, she was able to capture the Geminid meteor shower. We love the juxtaposition of the light streaks from the meteor and the streaks from the cars on the road. It truly tells a story. The astro image was shot on the Sony Alpha 7 III with the Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master lens and foreground was shot with the Sony Alpha 7 III and the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens. Give Dill a follow to add more breathtaking imagery to your feed.