Caelestis: The Milky Way & Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle has been on my astrophotography bucket list for years. This magnificent 14th-century fortress in East Sussex, surrounded by its wide moat and sitting in the heart of the Rother Valley, is one of England's most iconic medieval castles. Built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, it's remained remarkably preserved—a perfect silhouette for night sky photography. I'd been planning this shot for months, waiting for the right combination: clear June skies, new moon darkness, and the Milky Way's galactic core aligned perfectly above the castle's towers.

When the forecast finally cooperated on this warm summer night, I drove out to Bodiam in complete darkness. The castle looked almost mystical—its imposing stone walls reflected perfectly in the still waters of the moat, while a thin veil of mist hung low across the surrounding meadows, adding this ethereal quality to the scene. As I set up my equipment, I could feel the weight of history around me—this fortress has stood here for over 600 years, watching the same stars I was about to photograph.

The Milky Way didn't disappoint. As darkness deepened, the galactic core emerged in stunning detail above Bodiam Castle, burning with subtle hues of gold, magenta, and deep blue. I shot this as a careful composite: multiple foreground exposures to capture the castle, its reflection, and that atmospheric mist, then a 120-second tracked sky exposure stacked across 15 frames to reveal every star cluster and dust lane in our galaxy. The delicate glow from within the castle's towers—ambient light painting from my planning visits—adds warmth to this cosmic scene.

When you look at this photograph, I want you to feel that harmony between medieval history and cosmic vastness—standing at Bodiam Castle in the Rother Valley, where 640 years of English heritage meets the infinite expanse of the Milky Way above East Sussex.