Lighting Up the Night, Chasing the Starry Sky with Fenix

Some keep a light for daily life, others carry one for their passion. For Brendon Wainwright, lighting is far more than just brightening the dark — it is a quiet sense of reliability that runs through his daily life and outdoor pursuits. He first got to know Fenix in 2016, and ever since, his collection of lights has seamlessly blended into every part of his life. Gentle dim light lets him get ready quietly early in the morning without waking his family; powerful lamps light up hiking trails before sunrise; and consistent performance keeps him safe throughout all-night astrophotography trips. There is no exaggerated praise, only genuine recognition built over years of real use. To Brendon, Fenix is no longer just a tool, but simply part of his lifestyle.

I first got to know Fenix through Nikon South Africa, a distributor called Premium Brands. They offered me a headlamp for trial, and I absolutely fell in love with Fenix. Ever since then, I have never used another brand of lights.

I’ve been using Fenix lights since 2016, and over the years I’ve slowly built up a collection of different lights. Every single one gets regular, practical use in my daily life.

I am a full-time professional mountain guide and I use Fenix headlamps every single day at home and on the mountain with my guests. My hobbies are photography, time-lapse, hiking and climbing and anything outdoors!

From the small red light I use in the early mornings at home, quietly packing my bags without waking my wife and daughter, to the powerful headlamp or flashlight that lights up the trail when I’m hiking before sunrise.

Each light has its own purpose. My magnetic lantern has been a lifesaver more than once, like during load shedding when I had to replace my car’s brakes in a dark garage. Then there are the nights out in nature, when I use Fenix lights to get creative, painting with light or capturing long-exposure shots under the stars.

Not once has any of my Fenix gear failed me. Nothing’s broken, nothing’s let me down and even when I forget to charge them, they still manage to light up my life.

After all these years, Fenix has become more than just gear. It’s been a reliable companion through early mornings, late nights, and every adventure in between.

One of my most memorable experiences with my Fenix light was during an all-night photography session where I was shooting long-exposure images, time-lapses and experimenting with light painting. I headed out to a remote location in the Cederberg Mountains to camp wild and to capture the night sky.

From the moment it got dark, my Fenix light became essential. I used it constantly for setting up my gear, adjusting compositions, navigating uneven terrain, and of course, adding controlled light into my shots / painting with light.

What really impressed me was that I never once had to worry about the battery. Even after hours of continuous use throughout the entire night, the light remained consistent and reliable without needing a recharge.

There was a moment around 3 a.m., when everything was completely silent and pitch dark, where I realized how dependent I was on that light. Instead of feeling limited, I felt completely free to focus on creativity and experimenting with different exposures, angles, and lighting effects without interruption.

By the time the first light of sunrise appeared, my Fenix headlamp and all the Fenix gear I used was still going strong. This experience gave me a deep sense of trust in the Fenix products. It wasn’t just about brightness, it was about endurance and reliability. Knowing I could rely on it for an entire night without failure made a huge difference, and it’s something I genuinely value every time I head out again.

This photo was my favourite from the night!