Nikon Steps Up to Sponsor Nightscaper Youth Scholarship
Nikon has provided extra funding to increase the number of Nightscaper scholarships awarded for 2026.
Nikon USA came on board as an early sponsor of the 2026 Nightscaper Photo Conference, and now the brand has stepped in (and stepped up) to help young adults come to Four Corners to grow their passion for night photography.
The Nightscaper Youth Scholarship supports aspiring astrophotographers ages 13 to 20 by providing lodging and registration to attend the conference, to be held this year from May 14 to 17 in Farmington, New Mexico. This opportunity is designed to inspire and empower the next generation of night sky storytellers.
The scholarship is funded by the generosity of the entire Nightscaper community, including conference attendees, non-attendees, speakers, etc. Enough funds were donated over the past year to award one scholarship. When Nikon heard that, they offered to contribute enough funds to award two more scholarships, for a total of three for the 2026 event.
Moreover, Nikon is gifting a a Zfc Mirrorless camera with 24mm f/1.7 lens to each of the three awardees.
Applications were accepted from May through December of 2025, and awardees were selected based on a submitted nightscape photo and a brief written photo story that showcases their passion for capturing the beauty of the night sky and the creativity behind their image.
Awardees will have the chance to learn from industry professionals, engage with and shoot alongside the night photography community, and grow their artistic and technical skills in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Nikon Inc. is a world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and technologies for photo and video capture; globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for an award-winning array of equipment that enables visual storytelling and content creation. Nikon distributes consumer and professional Z Series mirrorless cameras, digital SLR cameras, a vast array of Nikkor and Nikkor Z lenses, Speedlights and system accessories, Nikon Coolpix® compact digital cameras and Nikon software products.
How do you stay involved?
If you haven’t yet, register for the Nightscaper Conference today!
Please share the 2026 Nighscaper Conference with your friends, other astro-landscape photographers and those who want to jump-start their skills. We also encourage you to share it with folks who are just getting into the craft.
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