Photographing The Northern Lights
I have always been so intrigued by the Aurora Borealis, and have developed a passion for photographing them
I have always been fascinated and captivated by the Aurora Borealis. The way they dance across the sky, silently swooping and swaying. They are so mysterious and playful, so powerful and moving. When I moved to northern Alberta and saw them on full display for the first time, I knew it was something I wanted to photograph. I watched the weather and the Aurora forecasts, picked a night when it seemed like it was going to be decent, and got ready. I packed up my camera bag, this night it was my Canon R6 and a 24-105 kit lens. I brewed up a piping hot peppermint tea and walked down to my truck, it was time to go stand out in the bitterly cold February night.
There is something that I honestly love about a frozen winter night. It must be my Canadian blood. They are so peaceful; so quiet and serene. Mostly because when its -30⁰C and the breeze is blowing, nobody, not even the animals, wants to be outside. It feels like you have the world to yourself. This night was no exception. It was intensely cold and a little windy, but the sky was clear and the Aurora Forecast was calling for a banger. I walked out the door at about 11:00PM and drove my truck out to a road north of town to get away from the city lights, and started to get ready. I set up my tripod outside, got my camera settings dialed in, and waited to see if the show would start.
I did not have to wait too long, either. Before long, the sky was starting to light up with a faint green glow. I waited in the truck for a little while, to see if the lights were going to get stronger. I did not have to wait long, the lights started to intensify rapidly. Fairly soon, the whole sky was aglow with green streaks dancing and swaying from the horizon to well overhead. I could not get my camera on the tripod fast enough, and I just started firing exposures as quick as I could. The lights would move, and I would move with them, dancing along. It was not long after I started shooting that the lights started to appear with white and purple streaks along with the greens. And that is when I took one of my favourite photos of my life so far.
This is one of my favourite photos I’ve ever taken. I know this photo isn’t technically perfect, but it will always be special to me because that night was one I’ll remember forever.
I know it might sound strange, but seeing the lights that night was a shockingly visceral experience. I could almost feel them dancing above me, I could feel the energy, it moved me in ways I did not expect. I got full body tingles, and just stood there in awe at the spectacle. I forgot about my camera for a while, and even forgot that it was deathly cold outside. I was totally mesmerized, wholly in the moment, and just stared up in wonder at the beauty of what I was witnessing. Then, as quick as the show kicked off, it started to dissipate. As the lights began to fade more, I snapped out of my trance, and took my camera into the truck, pumped the heat, and drank my piping hot tea to warm up. The single best display of Aurora Borealis I had ever seen was over.
I distinctly remember going home that night absolutely awe-struck by the experience. It gave me an intense appreciation for the natural beauty of the earth. It made me tremendously grateful that I was able to be a part of it, the whole experience was electric. I will always remember that night, it was singly one of the best things I did when I lived in Fort McMurray, if not the best. It is up there on the most moving experiences of my life, I will never forget it. I will be chasing that Aurora dragon for the rest of my life, just hoping I can see a display like that again before I die, feel the power of it. But at the same time, I count myself lucky to have been able to experience at all, that’s more than most people get.
