My First Aurora
Like most photographers I’ve always wanted to shoot the Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, it’s on the list.
Many years ago I saw images of our own phenomena here in Australia called the Southern Lights, Aurora Australis.
They are often spotted in Tasmania and New Zealand.
Recently the solar activity has been on fire, all the local and national chaser groups a hive of activity with the apps going off. We could see something big was going to happen.
I contacted a lil chase chat with, Kane, Joey and Nathan, we are all landscape photographers and they’re crew I’m comfortable meeting up with in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. My message simply said “So…….”
Poor Joey was in Melbourne and unable to get out!
We arranged to meet at Mt Dale in the Darling Scarpe, 77kms from Scarborough to the South/East of Perth, the “mount” has an elevation of 546m and an unobstructed view of the horizon, there are a few glowing sites on the horizon from the Alcoa mine and a few other towns.
I’d not been there before and wasn’t too sure about driving to the spot at night, lucky Kane was able to nab some time away and drive.
It was a mad rush after work to research settings and pack gear, my headlamp was dead so I stopped at two servos to grab one, they had none!
On the way we had a message from Hamish saying he was heading to Inji, we knew if Hamish, who’d just returned from shooting the Northern Lights, was heading out then it was going to be good!
We turned up after following the Google Maps very long way in on a bumpy gravel track, we arrived to the carpark chokers full with photography enthusiasts. We scrambled down a track following the pin Nathan had dropped us, we realised we took a wrong turn as we were heading east and downhill, I am so glad I didn’t go alone! We backtracked and found our way to the viewpoint.
We found Nath and John and were chatting about what was to come, I was so excited I forgot to set up, someone up on the hill called out “its started” I was in a panic! Kane fired off a shot and I was so excited to see his capture I had still not set up, in my hurry, nerves and panic I could not even get a setting dialled in, it was like my fingers became all toes that did not work, and no surprises, I couldn’t find my glasses. I am truly grateful for Kane for dialling me in while I clicked away on his set up, this is what it should be about.
After I saw my first shot I squealed I had captured the aurora! I found the comp I wanted and adjusted the settings just a touch (yes Trent you were in my head from the astro trip).
I am lost in the awe of what we witnessed, and at a place called Dale. This night will be a memory that I will have forever.
As a photographer we generally want to find an exclusive comp that no-one else will have, with astronomical events you have to be at peace that you will be sharing the scene with others, I actually love these nights, when every photographer is out sharing in capturing the joy of what we are witnessing, this night was extra special as photographers world-wide were all sharing this phenomenal experience together.
Fingers crossed we have more as it appears I am a little hooked.
The image ended up being my most viral image being shared on all the TV News Stations in Western Australia and major WA social media accounts.
The reach from my accounts has been staggering (for me).
Facebook: 47K
Reddit: 1.2M and 20K upvotes
If you are a photographer add this to your shoot list, you won't regret it one bit!