There’s something about nighttime photography that steps into another time and space. When talented photographers like the ones showcased here use tools like time lapse and long exposures, they are able to capture and hold moments that would have, otherwise, been over in a flash. (No pun intended, I promise.) The following images show familiar scenes and places around the state, but with darkness as a backdrop, we get to see them from a brand new perspective.

  1. Richmond Clock Tower during rush hour.

Will Fisher / flickr

  1. Fourth of July gone mad at Lake Thoreau in Reston.

Rick Collier / flickr These perfectly timed explosions of color and light lend a new level of excitement and wonder to 4th of July fireworks.

  1. A snowstorm of stars.

Jim Surkamp / flickr The stars look more like snowflakes falling in the photo.

  1. Long exposure photography in Bristow.

Stephen Little / flickr An ordinary car ride becomes a tunnel of lights when shooting a 30 second exposure from the highway in Bristow.

  1. A dizzying carousel ride at the Virginia State Fair in Doswell.

U.S. Department of Agriculture / flickr Fortunately, carousels don’t go this fast, but thanks to some clever photography, the resulting image is pretty amazing.

  1. Blood Moon over Crystal City.

Joseph Gruber / flickr This will also be the name of my first rock album – as soon as I get a band. And learn to play an instrument.

  1. More from the State Fair…

U.S. Department of Agriculture / flickr Another perfectly executed photograph from the State Fair results in this kaleidoscope of color.

  1. Route 1 in Crystal City looks more like Space Mountain in this long exposure shot.

Victoria Pickering / flickr This image looks more like it should be a ride at the State Fair than a main thoroughfare in Northern Virginia.

  1. Richmond at 18th and Main.

Bill Dickinson / flickr I only wish the city was always this magical with twinkling lights and sparkling colors.

  1. Nighttime reflections in Jackson Ward.

Taber Andrew Bain / flickr The world turns upside down in this mirror image.

  1. The East Coast from space

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (Photo credit: NASA) / flickr No, this isn’t ONLY Virginia, but it’s too beautiful of a photo to pass up. Taken from the International Space Station by one of the Expedition 30 crew members, this image shows many recognizable urban areas, including Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

  1. A summer storm near Warrenton.

Scott Horvath / flickr Nature’s fireworks are no less breathtaking than a 4th of July display.

  1. Time-lapse of a NASA rocket launch at Wallop’s Island.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / flickr This time-lapse photograph of the Cosmic Infrared Background Experiment (CIBER) rocket launch was at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, beautifully blending four launches into a single amazing photo.

  1. Patriotic sparklers in Arlington.

Lars Bjorkevoll / flickr This image was perfectly orchestrated.

  1. The Norfolk skyline by night.

Sharon Flowers/ flickr The Norfolk skyline becomes doubly beautiful when reflected in the still water.

  1. Williamsburg by moonlight.

Al E. / flickr The moonlight in this photo creates an ethereal feel to this Williamsburg scene.

I hope you have enjoyed these images as much as I have. Do you have a favorite? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below?

Will Fisher / flickr

Rick Collier / flickr

These perfectly timed explosions of color and light lend a new level of excitement and wonder to 4th of July fireworks.

Jim Surkamp / flickr

The stars look more like snowflakes falling in the photo.

Stephen Little / flickr

An ordinary car ride becomes a tunnel of lights when shooting a 30 second exposure from the highway in Bristow.

U.S. Department of Agriculture / flickr

Fortunately, carousels don’t go this fast, but thanks to some clever photography, the resulting image is pretty amazing.

Joseph Gruber / flickr

This will also be the name of my first rock album – as soon as I get a band. And learn to play an instrument.

Another perfectly executed photograph from the State Fair results in this kaleidoscope of color.

Victoria Pickering / flickr

This image looks more like it should be a ride at the State Fair than a main thoroughfare in Northern Virginia.

Bill Dickinson / flickr

I only wish the city was always this magical with twinkling lights and sparkling colors.

Taber Andrew Bain / flickr

The world turns upside down in this mirror image.

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (Photo credit: NASA) / flickr

No, this isn’t ONLY Virginia, but it’s too beautiful of a photo to pass up. Taken from the International Space Station by one of the Expedition 30 crew members, this image shows many recognizable urban areas, including Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Scott Horvath / flickr

Nature’s fireworks are no less breathtaking than a 4th of July display.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / flickr

This time-lapse photograph of the Cosmic Infrared Background Experiment (CIBER) rocket launch was at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, beautifully blending four launches into a single amazing photo.

Lars Bjorkevoll / flickr

This image was perfectly orchestrated.

Sharon Flowers/ flickr

The Norfolk skyline becomes doubly beautiful when reflected in the still water.

Al E. / flickr

The moonlight in this photo creates an ethereal feel to this Williamsburg scene.

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