The Northern Lights
If you have never experienced the northern lights, in person, I highly recommend you find a way to make it happen, at least as a bucket list item. Personally, I never dreamed of having the opportunity to see the northern lights, let alone outside my front door. As you may or may not know, my family and I live in north east Wisconsin and seeing the northern lights is not something that is typically on the menu.
Much to my surprise, when my family moved outside the city into a small semi-rural suburb that all changed. In April of 2023 I had the opportunity to see the northern lights for the first time. The lights danced across the sky, bouncing from left to right and swirling all around - it was truly a spectacular event and something that I will never forget.
Unfortunately, I had not made Photography as a hobby yet, I didn’t have a camera, lens or tripod, but what I did have was an iPad with a stand.
I rushed inside the house, quickly grabbing my iPad and Twelve South stand, propping it on my vehicle to enable height and angle. I stayed outside for what felt like forever, capturing photos and videos, while hoping back inside the house to warm up, it was early Spring in Wisconsin after all.
I was fortunately able to capture a variety pictures that will forever be in my library.
Northern Lights, NE Wisconsin. iPad Pro.
When the northern lights returned in May of 2024, I was ready, despite not actually preparing. You see, I have trip coming up this summer to Glacier National Park and I have been building my camera kit in support of this trip.
To aid with astro photography, I purchased a new lens, Samyang 12mm f/2.0 - I did quite a bit of research and landed on this lens, as it seemed to be the best bang for your buck.
Friday night arrived, an evening rated KP 9 on the aurora scale, enabling folks as far south as Alabama to see the northern lights. Unfortunately, it was raining early in the evening, eventually ceasing but clouds remained. While I did see some lights, it was not nearly as spectacular as April of 2023. I made some mistakes with my camera too, washing out the pictures completely. It’s OK to make mistakes, I would much rather make them here at home rather than when I am in Glacier, as who knows when I will return.
Saturday night promised to be better weather, albeit not quite as intense on the aurora scale. As the evening rolled on, I couldn’t find a single cloud existed in the sky. I kept watch outside my house, waiting and hoping for a show…I could see some of the aurora but nothing too spectacular or special. I decided, it’s time to head north. Not too far, about 15 miles away from my house, but the spot I had in mind was near the shoreline, away from most people, and if the stars aligned (pun intended), I’d be able to get an epic shot or two.
A stary, late spring evening in NE Wisconsin.
Fujifilm X-S20. Samyang 12mm f/2.0
As I waited for the aurora to kick it into high-gear, I sat patiently in my vehicle, watching as others drove up and down the road looking for the lights. I decided to take a few shots of the stars, testing my new lens and learning along the way. I was fortunate to capture the photo you see above. A few shooting stars and the aurora just starting in the bottom half of the frame.
I continued to wait for the right time, watching the horizon, knowing that I have the perfect shot lined up. You see, I selected this particular location as I could frame a giant, many decade-old cottonwood tree right in the center.
The aurora began to show vividly on the horizon. Unlike previous experiences, this time was different, the lights were taking up nearly the entire sky, no dancing, no twirling, just a beautiful light that stretched the entire sky.
I was able to capture plenty of photos, framing that gorgeous cottonwood tree right in the middle, almost as if its branches were lifting up the lights.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post - find a way to see the northern lights before your time comes to an end. I promise, it will be an experience that you will never forget and always cherish.
As always, thanks for reading.
-Nathan
The aurora over a farmers field, as a lone cottonwood tree lifts the lights for all to see. Fujifilm X-S20. Samyang 12mm f/2.0