Aurora with Cosmic Powder

Dear Friends,

I hope you are enjoying the holiday break and doing something you love. As many of you know, photography is a cherished passion of mine, and I’m excited to share some of my pictures with you. This year, I had the incredible opportunity to capture the beauty of the aurora borealis. Each experience was unique and filled with unforgettable moments. I can’t wait for you to click on the link and see the pictures. I hope they bring a smile to your face!

During the week of May 10th, my husband was traveling, and I had no idea the aurora would show up. A friend asked if I would go out to see it, but I said no, as I had tried to photograph it a couple of times before without success. This time, I thought it would be the same, but as excitement grew on social media, I decided to give it a try. Not wanting to leave my kiddo at home alone, I had the great idea to bribe him to come with me and my friend so he could experience it too.

I wanted to capture the aurora from the upper valley, looking north toward Mount Adams. Since I had never seen it before, I didn’t know what to expect. Let me tell you, having an eleven-year-old do night photography in the cold was not easy. You know how quickly their patience can wear out. Around 10:30 PM, the aurora started to appear. Wow! We couldn't believe our eyes as the pillars formed in the sky, changing colors from pink to green. It was breathtaking! In the middle of all my excitement, my son, who only enjoyed the show for about 30 minutes, asked to go home because he was tired and cold. I had to bribe him again to stay longer, but every five minutes, he kept asking if we could leave.

Another great experience was on October 10, when I hiked Lookout Mountain, which offers a 360-degree view. Going to a quiet place is always rewarding. I loved the night hike, the chilly air, and seeing Mount Hood with an aurora pillar glowing above it. These moments are rare, but they are worth the effort.

Overall, these were my first successful experiences with enjoying the aurora. On the technical side, I know how to set up my camera during the day, but at night, especially with the aurora, I was just trying my best. The first time, I took long exposures of about 360 seconds. I got many colors in my images but only managed to take 40 pictures because of the wait between them. The following day, the aurora was brief. I hiked with two friends again, I set my camera facing north toward Mount Adams. I didn't expect the aurora to appear right after sunset, but it did. It faded away within an hour, and then we left. I learned that you never know when it will happen or how strong it will be. This year, I saw the aurora four times, which is more than I’ve ever witnessed in my life. The apps and weather reports have really helped people find out about these events, and I’m glad more people can experience them now.

I changed my approach during my third and fourth attempts at photographing the aurora. I adjusted my camera settings to get a better picture and to take more photos.

Locations of the pictures: Hood River valley, Mosier, Rowena Crest, and Lookout Mountain. 

Future Projects:

In the near future, I want to explore night photography more. The aurora has inspired me. I have great respect for the outdoors, and seeing it up close is something I will never get tired of.

Coming up, I will also participate in the Gorge Artists Open Studios Weekend in early May. I hope to see you there! Stay tuned for more details.