Quite a Week

Last night was our final one at Blachford Lake, and it didn’t disappoint. After a slow beginning at 7:30 pm, the lights really got going 3 hours later with a dramatic burst of activity that had everyone outside and gaping skyward.  I tried getting some broader landscapes like this one to balance the many detail shots I’ve gotten this week. This one worked well.

We head home tonight, so this is my last aurora posting for this trip. But in the weeks ahead I will be checking the many useful aurora websites like Spaceweather.com which posts solar activity – the best measure of aurora potential. Keep an eye out for an M-class flare directed towards Earth : a burst of solar energy which almost always  results in active auroras.  If they are strong enough, the lights may come south of the Canadian border in places.

Anyhow, I hope you’ve enjoyed this day-by-day account of this aurora trip. We have been extraordinarily lucky with 5 straight nights of clear weather and active auroras. It doesn’t always work out this way…

By the way, I am considering leading a couple of aurora photography trips next season – probably centered here in Yellowknife. If you think you might be interested, write to me at kevinschafer.com and I’ll provide more details.

Nikon D3 with 28mm f1.4 lens, 8 sec. at ISO 1000