I don’t remember seeing stars at night when I was young. It wasn't until adulthood, working night shifts on the flight line, that I truly experienced the night.

Even amidst the bustle of a military base, nights offered me a unique tranquility that was absent during the day. Why is that? Is it that there are so much fewer people than the day? Is there just a natural quiet as daylight wanes? There’s a different feel to the night. The night, especially away from urban glare, possesses an unmistakable ambiance.

I once dismissed the starry scenes of picture books as exaggerated, until I experienced a truly dark sky, alive with shimmering constellations. The experience was indescribable – a blend of childlike wonder and profound awe, leaving me momentarily speechless.

This nocturnal serenity grounds and rejuvenates me, especially after bustling days of teaching. It is this quiet that slows and soothes me. Amidst the hush, I find the resilience to face each new day.

The images that I create are your invitation to join me in embracing the tranquility of the night, in hopes that it ignites a similar sense of peace and inner strength within you.

Molly Selan is a photographer based in Columbus, Ohio. Having traveled across the globe while in the Air Force, she has developed an appreciation and concern for our natural world. She is particularly drawn to landscapes, wildlife, and, most recently, the night sky.

Molly is primarily self-taught exploring and experimenting through the years. 2020 brought a new focus and opportunity to participate in an online learning community through the Night Photography Academy. This has been critical in sharpening her skills as a photographer in general but specifically as a night photographer. 

Molly’s work has caught the attention of her community and has placed second in a competition at the local camera shop, been featured several times in the  Women in Photography Only group, featured in Best of the Buckeye State,  as well as being included in Shutter Up Magazine.