Aurora I

by Jen Dolen

11x14 framed • photographic inket print $$150

The best time for Alaskan aurora borealis viewing is supposed to be September and March. I may try visiting in September to experience the phenomenon without the cold, but it was still an amazing sight. We spotted the green light streaking across the sky as we drove out of Fairbanks. Arcing high over the car, it slowly danced through the atmosphere, weaving and twisting among the stars. I craned to see it, my nose almost touching the glass. Because the natural light appears brighter as the town lights recede, we drove about 30 miles away from the city one night and even further the next evening. However, while leaving the lit valley of habitation cleared our view, it also exposed us to harsher winds. We drove up a high hill and set up tripods, fumbling in the dark, our gloved fingers numb within moments. Standing on a ridge under the night sky, I boldly tried to ignore the -15 air and bitter wind, but frequently jumped back in the car after--and sometimes during--each long exposure. We became more adept at the art of capturing compositions and timing breaks as time wore on, when the lights waned. Some shots were blurred, others too dark, but the experience left me breathless for reasons other than the temperature.