The night sky has fascinated me since childhood. Countless nights spent gazing into its depths brought forth ideas for exploring the cosmos—starting with a small binocular, then a telescope, and eventually photography. Capturing distant nebulae, galaxies, and stars fulfilled my initial dreams, allowing me to peer into the depths of the galaxy. The light from many photographed objects traverses cosmic space, sometimes for hundreds of thousands of years, and today we can capture it in photos. This is the cosmos! Astrophotography, for me, is a journey through time and space. Each night sky photo is unique and one of a kind. Every night is slightly different, and I strive to find new locations to showcase the sky in diverse and interesting ways.

In my experience, one of the most enjoyable ways to photograph the night sky is using wide-angle optics. A bright lens, combined with a suitably dark and visually appealing location, guarantees great fun. Time spent under the night sky is an engaging adventure, culminating in a photograph.

When the SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art lens reached me, I thought it was a great opportunity to visit Iceland, where extraordinary displays of the Northern Lights are often visible in the sky. This beautiful and dynamic phenomenon is challenging to photograph because it covers practically the entire sky. Simultaneously, the Northern Lights change shape, color, and intensity rapidly. To capture the character of this beautiful phenomenon, short exposure times are needed, and here, a bright lens and the ability to use high ISO come in handy.

I chose Iceland not only for the Northern Lights but also because, beyond the auroras, it offers incredible inspiration for any photographer. Combining the celestial spectacle with Iceland's unique landscape ensures endless possibilities for capturing exceptional shots.

The decision was made, packed in my backpack were the SIGMA fp and the world's first diagonal fisheye lens with an aperture of F1.4. We were ready for the journey.
*As an interchangeable lens for full-frame cameras for consumer use. (As of February 2024 by SIGMA）

The lens has several features that are very helpful for night photography. My favorite, similar to the SIGMA 14mm F1.4 DG DN | Art, is the rotating tripod mount. It allows quick leveling of the landscape and easy switching from horizontal to vertical framing. This is crucial because, when working with tracking, I don't have to disassemble the entire setup; just loosen the retaining screw, rotate, and it's ready. Simple but very useful. Additionally, the tripod foot is in the popular Arca-Swiss standard, making lens mounting on tripods and tracking systems even easier. I used the lens with a compact SIGMA fp body, and the combination was well-balanced, allowing for precise framing.

* The images without photograph data have been created with lenses other than 
SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art

The forecasts didn't disappoint, and in this part of Iceland, we got another clear night. In the incredible location at the foot of the Vestrahorn mountain, one of the most beautiful places in Iceland, I could observe and photograph a delicate but colorful celestial aurora ballet. You must go there sometime; I highly recommend this spectacle.

The slow journey along snowy roads and the very short night gave me the opportunity to test the lens for daytime photos, albeit in challenging atmospheric and lighting conditions. Nevertheless, the fun knew no bounds.

SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art, SIGMA fp, ISO 2500, F9, 1/160s