The Amazing Northern Lights of May 2024

One reason to return to Instagram is the alerts about the Northern Lights (or aurora borealis).

I know there are apps and websites to help. But, you need to remember to check the sources about the natural phenomenon. I prefer it when someone gives me the nudge.

Unfortunately, I can think of many reasons to keep Instagram deactivated.

In any event, thanks to Paul Martin @tyrone_skies. May 2024 was unforgettable.

Paul posted a high alert on his Instagram feed. This, in some way, made me feel disappointed.

I assumed we would only see the Northern Lights from our northern coast. For example, near the Giant's Causeway.

As a hobbyist photographer, it can be pointless to drive over eighty miles for a shot. So, while nothing stopped me, I didn't want to waste time on a shot that might remain unseen and most definitely unsold.

I could say that for much of my photography, except there is no two-hour drive involved.

Yet, there was no need to fret. My darling cats, Jasper and Jules, ensured I captured the Northern Lights.

Dinnertime Lights

Our cats eat their dinner after 9:00 pm. Before you ring the RSPCA, know that they need a gap between their last snack and dinner.

It is a habit picked up from their staff.

On 10 May, it must have been after 10 o'clock when we realised it was time for “proper suppers". Rita and I went out to call the cats in and, as usual, I gazed up at the sky. Thinking I saw a spotlight beam from a plane, I began to realise it was the trumpeted Northern Lights.

Other priorities took over.

Sorry, Jasper and Jules.

I left my wife to feed the cats. I ran to the house, grabbed my camera gear, and headed on foot to a dark area. My local derelict church.

I had no clue about the best settings, but I did have a composition in mind. One I had intended for a moonlit long exposure.

I felt relaxed about the chance. If I failed to get a good shot, the Northern Lights were so intense that I could watch the show and relax.

The First Images

This photo is my third attempt. The first two were disasters. They were black nothing because I used too small an aperture.

The bright sky fooled the naked eye, causing me to try f/11 and f/9. These aimed to make the foreground and background sharp. But I had blocked the light from the camera.

That is how bright the Aurora Borealis appeared when my eyes had become accustomed to the dark. The sky was awash with colour and light.

F/1.2 worked. The lens, an M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.2 Pro, was open as wide as it could go. When focused to infinity, the foreground and background were sufficiently in focus.

An 11-second exposure kept the stars pin-sharp. It also let the incredible colours dazzle and soak into the sensor.

A similar shot at 6.9 seconds kept the foreground and horizon dark. I exaggerated that in post-editing to create a bold silhouette.

The sight overwhelmed me, and I felt tempted to lie in the field and gaze toward the heavens. I was however, standing in a field of barley, walking along the tractor tracks to avoid causing damage.

Looking up, I saw the 'time vortex'!

That’s what I call it. The OM System OM-1's Live Time feature lets me watch the long exposure develop through the viewfinder. The time vortex is just over eight seconds.

Location Location Location

I took pictures from several locations. Some worked. Some didn't.

This shot is looking towards the Mourne Mountains. Some light trails are visible, and I like the barley in the foreground. While the stars begin to trail at 21 seconds, the aurora loses some impact at an exposure of this length. Not helped by the clouds rolling in.

No matter how the images turn out, I was in my element. In the peaceful night, under amazing colour, I thought about how wonderful it is to be alive. How much I appreciate and value everything. My wife, our home, our darling cats.

I am privileged to have the freedom to go and take photographs on a whim. To live in an area where I can feel at ease in the dead of night. I do not take any of it for granted.

Notes to Self

• Combining star trails and Northern Lights can overwhelm an image.
• Try to keep stars pin-sharp especially if there is a colour-saturated sky.
• Move locations and vary the compositions.
• Be satisfied with a few good shots and spend more time observing - just being present.
• Have an interesting foreground or subject.

I'll always remember that night. Apart from the experience, it also provides an indication of a style of photography I enjoy - late nights, long exposures, and a little spookiness.

At 3.00 am the clouds rolled in and it was time for bed.

Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a coffee. It would mean so much. 😊