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.

It was the year 1999/2000. I had just bought my first “proper” camera, a Canon EOS 500N with a kit lens. I was churning out photo after photo on Kodak negative film. Great memories of being an exchange student in Germany. I even captured the four seasons at the same location near my apartment. However, something was missing. This article is about how a simple project helped me hone my craft.