The volcanic island of La Palma, one of Spain’s Canary Islands, is known for having a night sky that is exceptionally clear. It is so clear, in fact, you can see the Milky Way without the aid of a telescope or binoculars. This was the draw for Penny Ashford, a fine art and documentary photographer, on a recent trip, where she began to explore astrophotography for the very first time. During her nocturnal sessions, Ashford played with long exposures to capture hypnotic star trails. She also photographed moody crashing waves off the coast; water is a long-running theme in her work. The results of her trip will be featured in Ashford’s new show called “La Palma” opening on Saturday September 7 at The Sarah Langley Gallery at Hammett’s Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island. “This exhibition would not be possible without the representation of Jessica Hagan Fine Art + Design and the support of Sarah Eustis of Main Street Hospitality,” said Ashford. “And we are proud to donate 10% of the proceeds of the show to The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport.” La Palma runs through October 15.