How can I say this nicely? The night sky in New York City leaves a lot to be desired, especially if you have viewed the heavens from the deck of a container ship in the middle of the ocean. The stars, the handful that you can see over the city, don’t shine very brightly. Several hundred years ago, Venus appeared so brilliantly in the night sky that you could squeeze in a few rounds of shadow boxing with a friend before it slipped below the horizon. The sky was so dark that astronomers surveyed the night skies, unlocking the secrets of the universe, from open windows in their homes and from the gardens in their backyards.
As a photographer who enjoys photographing at night, I am often drawn to the interplay between artificial light and the man-made surfaces that it illuminates. However, I also know that it is this very light that keeps me from capturing star trails or seeing the beautiful expanse of the Milky Way galaxy stretch across the night sky. How many of my fellow New Yorkers have never had the pleasure of seeing the night sky in complete darkness?
For eons, the only light on Earth was from the heavens, fire, and bioluminescence. The modern electric light bulb started a war on darkness that humans have been consistently winning since 1879. Animals and humans evolved in a world where the planet got dark after the sun went down. Our eyes are designed to see best during the day, but we see fairly well in the dark — given the chance to adapt. Animals (including homo sapiens) developed eating, mating, working, sleeping, and migration habits over tens of thousands of years of naturally regulated light and darkness. The electric light changed all that.
Astronomers were some of the first to notice that the night skies were not so dark anymore. Large observatories in and around urban areas became crippled by light pollution from ever-expanding cities. Shutterbugs and stargazers noticed changes, as well. But, it turns out that light pollution is not just a problem for astronomers and night photographers; it has negative effects on all of us humans and the animals with whom we share the planet.
I strolled down to the shore of the Buttermilk Channel, on the East River, to photograph the September 11th Tribute in Lights. Two giant beams of light illuminated the night sky from near where the twin towers of the World Trade Center used to stand. In the beams were hundreds of circling birds — illuminated so brightly they were picked up by my camera lens miles from the site. At the time, I did not think much of it, and I was honestly annoyed that the light display was shut off several times as I was photographing. I assumed it was a technical glitch. What I did not realize was that bright lights like this, and even normal city lights, have a harmful and sometimes fatal effect on birds. The Tribute operators, working with the local Audubon chapter, regulated the display out of concern for the birds. Like many animals, including us, birds are attracted to bright lights and, like deer caught in headlights, lights can be disorienting and blinding and effect migration patterns, safe flight, and a host of other things.
We have bathed so many beaches with the warm glow of electric lights that sea turtles are forced to search long and hard for dark shores where they can lay their eggs, or risk the increased presence of predators that are more than happy to find a late-night meal conveniently illuminated in artificial light.
Research into night lighting has found a direct correlation to health risks for humans. Studies find that women who work night shifts immersed in man-made light instead of darkness have a 60% higher chance of contracting breast cancer than non-night-shift workers. The body produces melatonin while it sleeps in darkness at night. Interrupting the body’s natural circadian rhythm with light seems to have the potential to cause significant health issues.*
Like all types of pollution, light pollution is expensive. Any light transmitted where it is not desired or beneficial is wasted light. Controlling the direction of the light allows light to be emitted at lower intensities, thereby providing cost savings. In December of 2014, the New York legislature passed a light pollution bill that requires state-funded outdoor lighting be fully shielded to reduce the dispersal of unwanted light. Other states and communities have similar regulations in place. Smarter light design means lower energy consumption, more effective lighting, and darker skies.
Light often gives a feeling of security. We install motion-activated flood lights over our driveways, leave the porch light on 24/7, and feel uncomfortable walking down dimly lit streets or the proverbial “dark alley.” However, it is the large divide between illuminated areas and the dark shadows that allow those wishing us harm to best hide from our watchful eyes. Smart lighting, or less lighting, actually increases security. Several towns that have significantly reduced or eliminated lighting have seen reductions in theft and vandalism.
Mom always told me to turn out the lights when leaving a room. Turning off un-needed lights saves money. Granted, I have not gotten wealthy with this conservation effort, but there are estimates that the United States could save billions annually by better controlling outdoor light pollution.
The International Dark-Sky Association (darksky.org) has been at the forefront of the effort to dim the planet for the benefit of all. Those communities that rally behind the cause can apply for certification as an International Dark-Sky Community. It is unlikely that New York City will ever join that list, but it is nice to see a steady increase in locations since Flagstaff, Arizona, became the first to be designated, in 2001. At the IDA website, one glance at Dan and Cindy Durisoe’s photo of Flagstaff will likely have you extinguishing light bulbs in all of the sodium-vapor street lamps for a 20-block radius — or traveling to Flagstaff.
We live in a world besieged by towering challenges. Some of them feel insurmountable. Climate change, energy, war, and security issues lead the nightly newscasts. I will admit that the selfish desire to see more stars over Brooklyn is hardly a reason why the world should stop in its tracks and dim the lights for the benefit of my photos. The magical thing about smart, friendly, non-polluting lighting is that — especially when compared to Earth’s other man-made challenges — this one is relatively easy to fix, it benefits all of us, and it benefits the overall environment of the planet on which we live.
Better yet, a more beautiful night sky shouldn’t be a hard sell for anyone.
For information on how you can make positive changes to your community’s lighting, visit the International Dark-Sky Association’s website and the Dark Skies Awareness Cornerstone Project.
*Schernhammer ES, Laden F, Speizer FE, et al. Rotating night shifts and risk of breast cancer in women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 93(20):1563–8, 2001. Journal of National Cancer Institute
