Tag Archives: Northern Lights

A Northern Night to Remember! Aurora Borealis Dance!

Year 3, ,

The forecast was perfect last night … a G2 Aurora Borealis Watch, No Moon & Clear Skies. Thus, I made the decision to drive 70 miles north of Duluth to the Isabella area. Not only is this area remote, within a few miles of the Canadian border, but it borders the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) and is DARK! For 90 minutes I sat on a dock on a remote lake, waiting and hoping. The “Green Glow” was present, but I wanted a solar storm with light spikes. Shortly before midnight I was rewarded, and the Northern Lights continued to dance until dawn. I took the opportunity to check out some locations at which I had been wanting to try night photography. Here are the results … (also took some nice Milky Way photographs … will post those tomorrow)

Waiting … Selfie Under the Green Glow – Shallow Lake (12 miles NW of Isabella)
Isabella-Northern-Lights-Shallow-Lake-01-Selfie

The Aurora starts to Dance! (Shallow Lake)
Isabella-Northern-Lights-Shallow-Lake-18 Isabella-Northern-Lights-Shallow-Lake-13 Isabella-Northern-Lights-Shallow-Lake-11-Boat Isabella-Northern-Lights-Shallow-Lake-09 Isabella-Northern-Lights-Shallow-Lake-07-Boat

The Pagami Creek Wildfire Region (BWCA / Tomahawk Road 18 miles from Mn. Hwy #1)

Had been wanting to check out this entry point to the BWCA. A huge forest fire burned through this area in 2011. The forest is experiencing a rebirth. I often bird here, and had wanted to try some night photography. Mist is rolling in.

Isabella-Northern-Lights-Pagami-Creek-Wildfire-8-Bridge Isabella-Northern-Lights-Pagami-Creek-Wildfire-6-Bridge Isabella-Northern-Lights-Pagami-Creek-Wildfire-5-Bridge Isabella-Northern-Lights-Pagami-Creek-Wildfire-2-Bridge

Greenwood Lake Boat Access (Lake Cty #2)

Watch the sunrise, or the Northern Lights? Decisions, Decisions. Why not watch both! Given I desperately needed some sleep, I had actually pulled the car over at this boat launch shortly before 4 am because I desperately need some sleep, but God thought otherwise!

Isabella-Northern-Lights-Greenwood-Lake-Sunrise-4 Isabella-Northern-Lights-Greenwood-Lake-Sunrise-2-Selfie

 

Power Outage Birding

Year 3, ,

After four days w/o power, electricity finally returned yesterday to the Northland … including the heavens! Last night, although not a major dance by the Northern Lights, I captured my first even meteor in combination with the Aurora Borealis! The rest of my images were taken over the past few days. Even though we were without power, a true wildlife photographer finds the ability through strategic coffee shop visits to keep camera batteries charged.  🙂

Boulder Lake Aurora Borealis & Meteor!
Boulder-Lake-2016-07-Green-Glow-Meteor

Meadow Lark Chicks & Wildflowers
Y3-M07-Power-Outage-Cloverland-Meadowlark-1-roadside Y3-M07-Power-Outage-Cloverland-Meadowlark-3-singing-wildflowers Y3-M07-Power-Outage-Cloverland-Meadowlark-5-wetlands-wildflowers

Red-Headed Woodpecker
Y3-M07-Power-Outage-Cloverland-Red-Headed-Woodpecker-08 Y3-M07-Power-Outage-Cloverland-Red-Headed-Woodpecker-02

Shorebirds on Park Point (Least Sandpipers & Lesser Yellowlegs)
Y3-M07-Power-Outage-Shorebird-Least-Sandpiper Y3-M07-Power-Outage-Shorebird-Least-Sandpiper-Lesser-Yellowlegs

Eastern Kingbird
Y3-M07-Power-Outage-Eastern-Kingbird-1

Forest Fire Aurora Borealis

Year 3,

We leave for Scotland tomorrow, and the start of our month long tour. I was debating what camera equipment to bring in my bike panniers, and a phenomenal display of Northern Lights two nights ago decided the issue for me.

The Aurora danced across the sky here in northern Minnesota, and in Scotland. I would have been devastated to have been in Scotland and not have been able to photograph the display. Thus, I will bring both my Canon SX-60 Super Zoom and my small Sony NEX-5T mirrorless cameras. The Sony shines for night and landscape photos. The SX60 lets me get close to birds and wildlife (60x optical zoom). As always I will have a monopod strapped to my panniers.

Many folks might consider this amount of camera equipment excessive on a self-supported bicycle tour, but the world is a beautiful place … and I love to record it! I used to also bring a small tripod, but even I decided that was a bit much!

We start riding on Thursday! An area writer will be enjoying our home as she works on a new book and gets ready for some seminars. Finally, It was great to find a friend who would both enjoy our unique spot here in the Northland, and protect our home by house sitting.

To follow our tour:

Forest Fire Aurora … a remote lake in northern Minnesota. The smoke from both the Canadian fires and our local Skibo fire are evident in the sky.
Mothers-Day-Loaine-Lake-Northern-Lights-1c