There are some photographers who you admire from afar for years without ever really engaging or connecting. It’s sort of sad, but such is the age we live in. Alyn Wallace was one such photographer for me, a landscape astrophotographer. He has tragically died overseas, aged I’m guessing around his mid-30s, after a complicated pre-existing condition combined with a kidney stone infection. This was learned from an Instagram post made by his poor parents. Alyn’s most recent post before that is from a couple of weeks ago in the Canary Islands, but I don’t know if that’s where he was based.
I had enormous respect for Alyn and how he developed his craft in landscape astrophotography, originally from his home in Pontypridd, not far north of Cardiff. He originally went by the handle of ‘Wally Wanders’ and his technical mastery of light was outstanding, clearly next level. He eventually reaped the rewards of his hard work, the countless freezing hours spent camping in the Brecon Beacons and around Wales.
As his profile grew, he offered work to my wife’s employer, Wales Air Ambulance, to support their night-flying campaign. He came on the radar of large photography publications, photography equipment manufacturers and vendors, helping him to quit his day-job. He amassed a huge social media following (currently 88.4k on Insta, if you’re into the digits). So I guess he became an influencer of sorts too. He travelled far and wide. In 2022 he published a 570-page book, which he called an encyclopaedic guide to landscape astrophotography.
Did I envy him? Of course! What a life! Paid to travel to amazing places and take photographs: every photographer’s dream. But it was impossible to resent his success for a second. The guy clearly worked exceptionally hard in a challenging area that still largely remains a mystery to me, an art form itself. To all appearances, Alyn’s success seemed entirely earned. He identified his niche and attacked it hard.
Anyone watching more than a few seconds of his YouTube videos could see his energy, enthusiasm, and passion for his work. ‘Passionate’ is a lazily overused word in relation to vocation and occupation, but this man was so transparently passionate about what he did. It was infectious and likeable. I’m sure he was generous with his time and skills to other aspiring astrophotographers, as well as being an inspiration to many.
It’s an incredibly sad loss. Alyn’s life didn’t prove to be a long one, but he filled it meaning, purpose, and countless astonishing images. They showed iconic landscapes, architecture, the moon and stars, the milky way and wider cosmos in a new and beautiful ways. Some legacy.
May his stars shine on.
https://alynwallacephotography.com/