One word... EPIC

Last night's Aurora Borealis made it's way well into Washington state and it was epic!  The lights were dancing and pulsing with pillars reaching so high I felt I was in nature's cathedral.  It was breathtaking to witness with the naked eye. 

Aurora Borealis | August 21, 2017

Not exactly what I was hoping to get last night given the numbers and contending with the light pollution from a neighboring town, but I'll take it. It's close to home and it was a long day yesterday starting with the eclipse. If you blinked last night from my location, you missed it.  There's nothing like sitting underneath a blanket of stars on a warm summer evening.  It's my little slice of heaven when I'm not photographing portraits.

Northern Lights | Night Photography

Got a little color from Monday morning aurora taken at 12:39 am. I enjoyed the new people I met that night, it's always fun to meet others while we're waiting for the lights to make a showing. I stayed local, since I had worked the weekend photographing a fun family and my bones were feeling it, I wanted to make sure if it ended up being a bust that I could drive 20 minutes back home and slide right into bed. It wasn't the storm I expected to see and I was at my location from 9:45pm Sunday night until 3am Monday morning. This is one night where it would have been worth the long drive away from light pollution and higher elevations, but always happy to see the lights wherever I am.

Perfect night to photograph the Northern Lights | Night Photography

Last night was a welcome reprieve from a warm house to sitting outdoors in the cool air waiting for the show to begin.  It didn't take long after setting up that I saw this beautiful arc running across the sky.  Cow dung aroma dominating the air, a pack of coyotes howling into the night and sheep baaing, in the background (which I presume explains the coyotes were so close.)  A beautiful night and beautiful display of the Aurora.

A hint of color from Friday night's Aurora

Just a hint of color from Friday night's Aurora.  It was a gorgeous day, but the clouds crept in front blocking the beautiful color.  Aurora chasing is a hit and miss, but I still enjoy trying.  The train runs along the waterfront and a tall unavoidable street light camera right, but I made the most of this image despite the inconveniences.

August 2014 | Photo of the Month

Last night I took on a personal project I've wanted to do for some time.

Safety precautions were taken and in place before I started, including a fire extinguisher, bucket with water, safety glasses, no hair products used (which are often flammable) and flame retardant outerwear.  This was done in an open area with nothing but concrete all around.

I'll post some more images from this project later this week.