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Two Nights of Exceptional Northern Lights

On the nights of February 18th and 19th, 2014, the Aurora Borealis put on a spectacular display above my location in the southern Yukon. I was at a meeting in town without my camera when it began and by the time I got home and headed out for some photos I had missed the best part of that first evening's show. But the following night I was treated to what was probably the most awe inspiring auroral performance I have ever experienced and I spent a couple of hours photographing it. The sky was suitably cloudless, though with that the temperature was below -20°C. No matter, my senses were so overwhelmed by the spectacle I was witnessing I scarcely noticed the cold. Colour and pattern filled almost the entire celestial dome, while occasional bright eruptions formed curtains and arcs that sometimes spanned the sky from horizon to horizon. Sometimes these would race across the sky at startling speed or they would suddenly altogether disappear. Other features would pulsate or shimmer. All that motion was captivating to watch but frustratingly impossible to photograph; indeed, the blurring effect during exposures of several seconds was problematic at those times. But in other cases, the light gathering capability of the digital sensor filled in what my eyes could not detect and fully revealed magnificent and surreal painted skies.

My new Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye lens proved invaluable for capturing the expansive skyscapes painted by these aurora. Most of the other images were made with a Bower 14mm f/2.8, which is earning its place as my primary goto lens for Northern Lights photography.

I have included a lot of images in this gallery. Many similar consecutive shots are all there to provide sequences that show the movement of the light patterns. The image titles include the time of each exposure in hour/minute/second (hh;mm;ss) format to provide a timeline context for this. However, I did not photograph with any intent to create time lapse video sequences, so do not expect a lot of convincing motion effects in slideshow mode. But please do click play after you have selected the first photo and enjoy the trip through some extraordinary skyscapes.
Aurora - February 18, 2014 23;57;25
Aurora - February 18, 2014 23;57;25
Aurora - February 18, 2014 23;57;25
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;02;27
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;02;27
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;02;27
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;08;39
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;08;39
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;08;39
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;11;40
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;11;40
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;11;40
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;15;28
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;15;28
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;15;28
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;19;07
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;19;07
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;19;07
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;20;01
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;20;01
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;20;01
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;26;54
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;26;54
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;26;54
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;28;15
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;28;15
Aurora - February 19, 2014 00;28;15
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;54;55
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;54;55
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;54;55
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;55;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;55;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;55;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;56;38
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;56;38
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;56;38
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;57;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;57;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;57;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;58;00
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;58;00
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;58;00
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;58;25
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;58;25
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;58;25
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;58;59
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;58;59
Aurora - February 19, 2014 21;58;59
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;11;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;11;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;11;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;20;28
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;20;28
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;20;28
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;20;52
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;20;52
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;20;52
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;22;06
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;22;06
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;22;06
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;28;34
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;28;34
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;28;34
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;30;22
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;30;22
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;30;22
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;31;27
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;31;27
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;31;27
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;33;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;33;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;33;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;34;31
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;34;31
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;34;31
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;36;04
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;36;04
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;36;04
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;37;38
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;37;38
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;37;38
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;38;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;38;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;38;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;39;23
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;39;23
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;39;23
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;40;14
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;40;14
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;40;14
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;40;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;40;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;40;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;42;13
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;42;13
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;42;13
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;42;44
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;42;44
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;42;44
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;43;25
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;43;25
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;43;25
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;43;48
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;43;48
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;43;48
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;44;57
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;44;57
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;44;57
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;45;22
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;45;22
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;45;22
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;46;43
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;46;43
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;46;43
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;47;20
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;47;20
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;47;20
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;47;58
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;47;58
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;47;58
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;48;35
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;48;35
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;48;35
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;48;57
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;48;57
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;48;57
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;49;37
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;49;37
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;49;37
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;50;44
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;50;44
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;50;44
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;55;51
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;55;51
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;55;51
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;58;49
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;58;49
Aurora - February 19, 2014 22;58;49
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;03;42
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;03;42
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;03;42
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;06;12
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;06;12
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;06;12
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;09;37
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;09;37
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;09;37
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;10;34
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;10;34
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;10;34
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;11;11
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;11;11
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;11;11
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;12;01
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;12;01
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;12;01
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;12;35
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;12;35
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;12;35
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;13;13
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;13;13
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;13;13
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;16;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;16;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;16;09
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;17;18
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;17;18
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;17;18
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;17;46
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;17;46
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;17;46
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;18;42
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;18;42
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;18;42
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;22;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;22;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;22;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;24;50
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;24;50
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;24;50
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;26;55
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;26;55
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;26;55
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;27;42
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;27;42
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;27;42
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;31;53
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;31;53
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;31;53
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;32;59
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;32;59
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;32;59
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;33;33
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;33;33
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;33;33
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;34;51
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;34;51
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;34;51
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;36;59
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;36;59
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;36;59
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;53;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;53;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;53;47
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;55;51
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;55;51
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;55;51
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;57;38
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;57;38
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;57;38
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;58;11
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;58;11
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;58;11
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;58;56
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;58;56
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;58;56
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;59;54
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;59;54
Aurora - February 19, 2014 23;59;54
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;02;20
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;02;20
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;02;20
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;03;11
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;03;11
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;03;11
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;04;06
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;04;06
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;04;06
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;05;34
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;05;34
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;05;34
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;06;22
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;06;22
Aurora - February 20, 2014 00;06;22