Aurora Borealis in Alabama Hills - California
A couple of months ago, a friend asked if I wanted to head back to the Alabama Hills (in California) to take some Milky Way shots like we did a year ago. I was working two of the three days so initially said no, but FOMO was hitting that sweet spot of loving to have fun pretty hard. Against my better judgement, I pulled some “you owe me for all the times I’ve switched shifts for you” cards and got the weekend off.
And holy wow did it pay off.
Even though we found out later it had been on some news sources, we had no idea that the Aurora Borealis (AKA Northern Lights) would be making an appearance the same weekend. For those of you not from California, this is HIGHLY irregular. Like I’ve never heard of or seen the Northern Lights in California my entire 40 years living here. Snow in the Central Valley? Maybe a day or two in a 5 year span and it doesn’t stick. Northern Lights? Never. Nothern Lights showing over a desert landscape? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?
So there we were at the campsite after scouting all afternoon for the perfect place to take Milky Way shots, and getting some phenomenal cloudy day and sunset photos due to a storm that had rolled through. Everyone was trying to decide if we should stay up that night to take photos, or wait til the next night. I suggested getting some sleep since we had driven all day, already taken some amazing photos, AND the weather was a bit unpredictable that evening but the next night would be completely clear. Everyone was in agreement, and we hunkered down to eat dinner, chill, and go to bed. One of our party was staying in a hotel in the town nearby. She left but called us about 20 minutes later: “Guys! I just got a call from Ryan and apparently the Northern Lights are showing in Fresno and should be showing here!”
We got out our cameras to take some tests shots to see if anything was happening. I was in complete denial. I was positive that we weren’t going to see anything and that I was going to lose some sleep over someone’s story about them being out. I set up my camera and took a shot. Weird purple sky and green clouds. Did another shot. More purple sky that didn’t look like any kind of night shoot I’ve done before. But I was positive it wasn’t happening! My friend Josh was going crazy on his side of the campsite and talking to the other photographers in our group about what to do and where to meet. I was looking at my tent sadly.
Our friend Jan who told us the news to begin with got to our campsite and we piled all our gear into Josh’s truck and took off towards the parking area for Mobius Arch. The whole way over Josh and Jan were talking excitedly and I was just along for the ride. Still thinking there is absolutely no way the Northern Lights are going to show in California.
We hike and meet up with a couple other photographer friends who had just arrived in Alabama Hills. We scan the area for a good composition with a little light and set up our tripods. click click click
Wait…what? I look up into the sky after my eyes adjusted to the dark and BAM!! Columns of magenta light shooting up into a dark sky full of stars. It. Was. MAGICAL! I’m still reeling with the overwhelming awe of seeing it in person, and getting to capture it on camera. Even editing the photos in Light Room has been another unbelievable experience as I get to shape what I saw into art I am sharing with you today.
It was quite the weekend, and definitely worth calling in some IOUs. I didn’t experience anything remotely like good sleep, but as the saying goes, I can sleep when I’m dead.
On to the next adventure!
Northern Lights - Solar Storm, Alabama Hills, CA
Milky Way Over Mobius Arch and Cyclops Skull Arch, Alabama Hills, CA
May 10th and 11th, 2024
