LHS graduate releases first book

10 Sept. 2025

Jeff Pfaller, of Chicago, formerly of Lowell, is soon to release his first book, “Dark Skies: Rare Phenomena in America’s Public Lands.” Pfaller is the son of Bob and Gay Pfaller of Lowell and a 1999 graduate of Lowell High School.

Pfaller received a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Michigan State University and worked in the field for two decades. “It taught me the importance of storytelling and connected me with some incredibly talented and creative people. All of them had passion projects/hobbies outside of work, and I drew inspiration from a lot of the people I met,” recalls Pfaller.

In 2020, he lost his job; he then turned toward the one thing that had always grounded him: the wilderness. Over the next five years, camera in hand, he embarked on a personal quest to uncover the national parks’ secrets. Not during crowd-filled days, but during the early morning hours, when these sacred, iconic places are empty.

The result is “Dark Skies: Rare Phenomena in America’s Public Lands,” a photographic and narrative work that explores what most visitors never witness: waterfalls that appear to catch fire, fireflies that blink in perfect unison, and comets that pass once every 60,000 years.

“‘Dark Skies’ focuses on the night time events that you can’t see everyday in public lands, like Firefall, the Northern Lights, synchronous fireflies, comets, and many more. The book includes shots from all over America’s park system, from the iconic places like Yosemite and Great Smoky Mountains, to the hidden gems like Sleeping Bear Dunes and Apostle Islands.” Pfaller said of this book.

Pfaller was always interested in photography and taught himself. “I was always interested in it, but whenever I would take photos on vacation or of other subjects, I was disappointed because they didn’t feel like how it felt to be there in person.”

It wasn’t until 2019, when he was taking a trip to Antarctica, that he decided to get serious about photography. “I knew that might be the only time I visited. So, I sold my “budget” photo gear and bought a nicer lens. I watched online tutorials and read articles about how to photograph snow, ice, and winter conditions. I remember being on the boat, on the way back, and being ecstatic that I’d captured some incredible memories accurately.”

After the trip to Antarctica he was hooked and decided to learn more. “After that, I taught myself specific things, one at a time: how to photograph the milky way, star trails, northern lights, fireflies, etc. Over time, I gradually built up a library of knowledge and could see the common themes across all those situations. I know enough to know what I don’t know about photography, though, which is a lot! I would encourage anyone, overwhelmed by all there is to learn and all the gear, to start small and learn one thing at a time.”

Part photo collection, part travel memoir, and part scientific wonderland, “Dark Skies” blends over 190 pages of full color photography, with meditative essays that trace Pfaller’s travels across 40 national parks and public lands. Locations include the icons: Yosemite, Denali, Great Smoky Mountains. It also travels to lesser-known state parks like Governor Dodge in Wisconsin and Eagle Point Recreation Area in Missouri.

“I didn’t want to make another book of golden-hour vistas,” Pfaller says. “I wanted to document the bucket-list moments that require lots of planning and a little luck. These events occur in darkness. Many times, they go unnoticed.”

Through a mix of stubbornness (driving 20 hours to see a four minute event), curiosity, and an obsession with planning, Pfaller’s work explores a rarely seen side of America’s “best idea.” This is not the national park system as tourist destination. It’s a spiritual landscape. A canvas for chance.

Pfaller wanted to make sure his home state of Michigan and the Midwest was represented in his book, as well as bringing attention to the National Parks. “This book is my love letter to the national park system.” states Pfaller. “I hope it will both inspire people to visit these parks, to see the events for themselves, or give them a way to remember a visit they’ve already had. The book has several locations that will feel familiar to Lowell residents: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Covert Township Park. There’s also some Wisconsin locations. I’m a lifelong Great Lakes resident, and I tried to make sure the Midwest is well-represented in this book.”

Now, more than ever, the fight to conserve our National Parks needs everyone. By reminding people of how special our parks are, this book reinforces and inspires the connections people have to these places.

By purchasing this book, they should feel like they are contributing to this cause. Pfaller is donating 20% of the profits, from the first month’s sales of the book, to charities that benefit public lands.

“Dark Skies” will be released on October 21 and is available at Amazon or from Pfaller’s website, jeffpfaller.com.