When Lia Ditton set out from San Francisco to row alone across the Pacific Ocean she was confident that she would make it to Hawaii. But when you leave land, all you really know is that you’re going on an adventure.
Perimeter
I’ve been thinking about fear, and movement, and exploration, and safety. I’ve been thinking about barriers, and perimeters – those we create and those that are imposed. Pushing yourself into fear on purpose gives some comfort that maybe you’ll be able to navigate life when you really have no control, when your thrown into a darkness bigger and deeper than you would ever choose.
Rest for Them
The night represents a slowing, quiet contemplation, autonomy, dreams … the dominion of rest. But Grind Culture tells us that our worth is in our productivity. The Nap Bishop is here to tell us, “No”. Rest is not a privilege, it’s a human right. Sleep deprivation is a social and racial justice issue. And, “Resting is actually going to allow you to wake up.”
One Road Out
Alec had spent countless summer days near Mammoth Pool Reservoir, in the Sierra National Forest. His memories were filled with fun and relaxation. As Alec and a friend arrived at the lake the first night of the Labor Day Weekend, there was little to indicate that this weekend would be any different than the trove of happy memories he had of this place.
Home
The challenges of being unhoused are almost too many to count. They take on a distinct flavor at night.
The Drop
A walk through a park, an urban rooftop, a forest trail – all of these are one experience in broad daylight, and entirely another after nightfall. The river, Aare, in Switzerland transforms into another creature in the darkness.
The Last Dream
When Sally lost her brother to suicide, a friend advised her to be open to the possibility that he would try to visit her from beyond. Despite her initial skepticism, what she experienced in the ensuing months changed her mind completely.
Can You Hear That?
What if, out of nowhere, you started hearing a low-frequency rumble, like a truck idling right outside your home, in the middle of the night, every night for weeks and months on end — and no one else could hear it?
Two Owls
To connect with an owl, even in a small way, is a rare gift. There is no animal more emblematic of the night. Elusive, mysterious and powerful: owls inspire both fear and awe.
Zebra
While graffiti is seen by some as blight, and by others as art, the act of hiding in the shadows and stealthily scrawling your name on a wall is ultimately about being seen, rather than doing damage. This was definitely the case for a boy who went by the tag, “Zebra” in Philadelphia back in 1975.
Filling in the Blanks
In this high tech world, you’re never without a camera, and can take a picture anywhere you go. But do these images convey the feelings of awe, excitement, wonder and fear you had while you were in those places? Adam Katseff discovered a way to do this by taking landscape photographs in the dark of night, revealing more by showing less.
Newt Brigade
If you look closely enough at this seemingly idyllic stretch of road, nestled between a lake and a steep hillside in Northern California, you’ll notice it’s not so idyllic — at least not for the newts and salamanders determined to cross to the other side.
Do the Thing
The black belt test at Studio Naga is a 48-hour ordeal with no sleep. By the second night, students are running on pure adrenaline when they arrive to an unknown location blindfolded in the dark. Then, it’s time to fight.
Speak San Pedro
The night is a perfect canvas for the ancient magic of Peruvian shamanism. In the darkness, your mind opens, allowing spirits to find a place to land
You Are a Candle
Candles were a lifeline until they became merely ornamental. So, how do the candles feel about this?
As a Weapon
Comfort turns to horror when the night becomes weaponized – used to terrorize and control. This is the most ominous embodiment of the night. Its most salient symbols are those of burning crosses, and the nightriders delivering their messages of terror.
I’m a Monster
Getting into character and scaring people silly is one of Campbell Harmon’s favorite things in life. But his relationship to being a monster goes deeper than playing one in a haunted attraction.
Like a Light Bulb
Kristin’s daughter was just 16 years old when she began to struggle with drug addiction – methamphetamine, heroin, and more. It brought Kristin to her knees. Of all the painful challenges, the worst was not knowing where her daughter was in the middle of the night.
In Magdalenian Footsteps
There is a cave in southern France that contains some of the world’s most deeply hidden secrets. To get there you must crawl on your belly through a long tomb-like passage, with your only light held between your teeth.
The Sound of Moonlight
There are over 3500 species of crickets and each has a different song. One man fills his apartment in Brooklyn with their music, and then takes them out in public to perform alongside them. And then he eats them.