From Hillcrest to Hollywood - astrophotographer goes global
Rod Prazeres never thought his photos taken from Logan would end up rolling across cinema screens around the world … then again, his work is not bound by the usual Earthly limitations for other people.
That’s because Rod’s passion is astrophotography, and when he stands in his backyard at Hillcrest and points his lens upwards, his photography portfolio is literally out of this world.
When Hollywood called though, Rod was ready to embrace the opportunity of having his space photos licensed to appear in the new science-fiction movie Project Hail Mary starring Ryan Gosling, in cinemas around Australia and the world right now.
The spectacular photos of galaxies and stars feature in the end credits of the new hit film but, for Rod, it’s not just about a Hollywood credit.
‘I’ve been waiting months to share the biggest news of my astro journey – and I can finally say it out loud,’ Rod says, explaining how it all started with an unexpected Instagram message from a production company in Los Angeles.
‘They were working on a sci‑fi film and asked if I’d be open to licensing some of my work for a sequence. It felt unreal.’
In a new world where the film industry is tempted by CGI and AI, Rod was thrilled that the studio was genuinely excited to use real astronomical data – actual nebulae, gas clouds and cosmic structures he has captured in his stunning photographs.
‘One of the coolest parts of this entire experience is that they wanted the real thing,’ he says. ‘It felt like a win not just for me, but for the astrophotography community too.’
Rod is recognised in that community as an award‑winning astrophotographer known for his breath-taking deep‑sky images of nebulae, star clusters and supernova remnants. One of his photos recently featured in the Your View photography exhibition at Logan Art Gallery.
Despite his expertise, Rod feels ‘humbled’.
‘I’m grateful that a big production still values real artistry from an independent astrophotographer on the other side of the world, and grateful to know my kids will get to see it and remember it as one of those “Dad did something crazy” proud moments.’
For those curious as to how Rod captures the data of the universe in a single photo frame, he explains in the shortest way he can …
‘A motorised mount tracks the sky as Earth rotates, moving in sync with Earth’s rotation so the target stays perfectly framed and steady. Hundreds of long exposures are captured – often 5 to 10 minutes each – across multiple nights.
‘I will usually shoot through special narrowband filters which isolate specific wavelengths of light emitted by the gas in nebulae and help reveal structure that is otherwise far too faint to record cleanly.
‘Frames are calibrated – sensor noise, dust shadows and optical artefacts are corrected. Everything is aligned and stacked to improve signal to noise. Processing reveals faint structures while staying faithful to the data and final delivery is prepared in high resolution formats suitable for film workflows.’
It sounds complicated, and it is, with the results creating a spectacular image that blurs the line between science and art which is particularly spellbinding on a giant cinema screen.
‘The response has been far more positive than I expected,’ Rod says.
‘Some of the messages I’ve received have genuinely stayed with me. Hearing that the images sparked curiosity or emotion has been incredibly rewarding.’
Rod swipes away any notion of him now being ‘famous’.
‘I still see myself as just someone who enjoys capturing the night sky. But it’s been a reminder that we all connect to things differently, and that even small moments of work can mean something bigger to someone else.
‘I know the excitement around the film will settle over time, so I’m just trying to enjoy the moment for what it is and take it all in while it lasts.’
To find out more about Rod’s photography visit: www.rpastro.com.au
PHOTOS: All photos courtesy of Rod Prazeres Astrophotography.