Northern lights above Northern Michigan, 2015
I want to start these image diaries chronologically, documenting my evolving visual style as an artist. In the beginning, much of what I write may seem nonsensical, but my goal is to develop my own style and voice through this process. So, let’s start:
This shot was one of the first I took when I began thinking about photography seriously. I was thrilled by the idea of capturing the northern lights. That chilly night by the lake, I took hundreds of photos, but only one turned out well.
The auroras were very dim—barely visible to the naked eye—so I relied on the camera’s long exposure to reveal them. What made this shot stand out was the shape of the lights. I love how the swirl is distinct and neatly centered over the low spot on the treed horizon. If you look closely, you can also see the Big Dipper nicely framed. The low clouds on the horizon are less distracting than in my other shots, and the streaks of scattered clouds high in the frame add texture to the sky.
With years of technical growth since taking this photo, I now realize I could have improved it by paying more attention to the reflection on the lake and adjusting my camera settings. Back then, I thought shooting wide open was necessary and was afraid to increase the ISO. Adjusting those settings would have likely resulted in a better image.
Solar activity occurs in cycles of approximately 11 years, and we are rapidly approaching the newest solar maximum. Recently, an extremely powerful solar storm painted the skies with stunning auroras, much to the delight of social media photographers. Here’s hoping we get more opportunities to witness these breathtaking displays as we approach the peak in 2026.
