Magician above
I vividly remember reading an article about aurora borealis in a borrowed science magazine as a teenager. I hoped against the hope that someday I will be able to witness the spectacle. Of course, this rarely happens in India, even in the northern parts where I went for my studies. So that dream remained distant. For a few more years. When we moved to Munich-Germany in Spring 2000, in one of the chat forums there was a discussion about high magnetic activity and a chance of spotting northern lights even down south. I was patiently waiting till 11pm in front of our home knowing fully well the chances of seeing it were slim. Although we were living in a small village, I knew light pollution is always a problem. However, I was lucky to see the spectacle for the first time and even capture a decent image of the same. This isn't the greatest image of this phenomenon but my joy knew no bounds. Given that this was done on a very old film SLR from before I was born and using a slide film with dynamic range less than digits on the hand this wasn't so bad.
Canon F1 + 24mm/2.8 FD lens with Fujichrome Velvia on a tripod. Weßling, Germany. A home like that. :)
Canon F1 + 24mm/2.8 FD lens with Fujichrome Velvia on a tripod. French Alps.
I then saw it again during a winter hiking week in the Alps. This was a spectacular sighting with pink glow all over the sky and reflecting from the snow on the trail. Alas, I was still using Fuji Velvia Classic film with a very narrow dynamic range. And that was the only stock I used to carry. This time though the sheer joy of watching the dancing lights in the sky trumped everything.
Fast forward a decade and digital SLRs were now quite good and even affordable. It was still limited but offered better dynamic range and possibility of a review in the field. Although the aurora remained elusive for a few more years or to faint to make a decent exposure, other magical sightings were now easy to capture.
Canon EOS 500D + 18-55 Kit Lens. ISO 1200. Dolomites National Park 2007
Canon EOS 500D + 18-55 Kit Lens. ISO 1200. Dolomites National Park 2009
These days absolutely any digital camera has got the capability to create decent images. Even the latest smartphones can be great. So some unforgettable moments were possible with a tiny Olympus OM EM Mark 2. Of course, the full frame sensors offer a better noise performance as to be seen in the images below.
Cadair Idris Wild Camp. Sony A7ii + 21mm Zeiss Loxia.
Sony A7ii + 21mm Zeiss Loxia. Arjeplog. During a week long sign of for Off-Road targets for the new Range Rover. Click to view larger.
And now coming to the sighting this week. When I first saw the pink glow after sunset from my home-office window I thought this is a Belt of Venus. However, when it slowly started to dance around and few astro-enthusiasts, normally hibernating, started to ping on a forum, I thought of making a photograph during a comfort break of a long meeting. Although, the activity led to some rays later I was stuck in front of my laptop for the reminder of the meeting. With all the light pollution in Coventry-UK, this must have been a sight to remember for many in South Wales, Highlands or Dartmoor national park. Life. You play with the cards dealt. Still not a bad view while attending a 3 hour long meeting.
A home-office window view to cherish. Coventry. Fuji GFX 100S Medium Format Digital Camera with Fujinon 30mm. Click to view larger.