Gratitude

Patience paid off. By 9 p.m., the fog cleared, revealing a vibrant rainbow of colors dancing across the sky. Turning our gaze above, we noticed the aurora dancing overhead. At this latitude it's a rare sight, and it’s hard to put into words how incredible it felt.

As I stood in awe of what was happening above me, I almost missed the orange crescent moon rising on the horizon. It turned out to be the bucket-list shot I didn’t know I wanted. With only a sliver of the moon shining, the aurora continued to dance around it as it rose. I couldn’t help but declare out loud how incredibly grateful I was to witness this moment. What a gift that this is my life!

Most auroras are best seen through a camera lens - why is this? The simple answer is that the camera can see much more than our eyes. In order to observe the brilliant colors that are created by the aurora borealis we must rely on our phones or digital cameras. Depending on the strength of the solar storm, the aurora may appear to the naked eye as white streaks in the sky or occasionally as dancing green lights on the horizon. Rarely, one might see the sky glowing pink, as happened on May 10-11, 2024.

Throughout the day, I kept a close eye on the aurora forecast, hoping for ideal conditions to manifest again. Still tired from my earlier excursion a few days ago, I decided to head to bed early and check the forecast if I woke up during the night. At 11:30 pm, I stumbled out of bed and checked the live feed from the Banff Aurora cam. Seeing the colorful sky, I quickly gathered my gear and headed to Piper's Lagoon, committing to stay out for the night since the best views were expected after 2 am.

By 10:30 pm, the show had begun! We laughed with delight as we watched the lights dancing on our phone screens. It was the first time my daughter and her friend had seen them in person, not realizing they are difficult to see with the naked eye. They were strong enough that we saw white streaks and huge pillars above the horizon, which appeared pink and red when photographed.

Chasing auroras is a thrilling pursuit, one that demands a blend of favorable conditions to witness and capture the vivid colors streaking across the sky. For the first time since 2003, a G4 magnitude solar storm was detected, heralding the start of a spectacular celestial display. The show kicked off in Europe, a full nine hours ahead of us. The pink skies above Switzerland and France fueled my anticipation for the night ahead.

April 8, 2024 turned out to be one of the most memorable days of my life. With clouds rolling in, our drive south to Welland was not as busy as expected. The forecast forced many eclipse chasers to forego the Niagara region and head out toward Kingston and Montreal. My husband's family lives in Welland and our plans included attending a special eclipse event at Heartland Forest Nature Experience.

Arriving at the beach, my breath caught when I saw the horizon—an opening in the clouds painted the mountains in deep orange, while those above tinted pink. Using my tripod to steady my phone, I captured the magical transition from dawn to twilight.

Let's venture behind the scenes, and I'll unveil the secrets behind capturing my splash photos with my smartphone. There's a handful of crucial factors to contemplate when setting up these shots.

Years ago, I delved into the concept of multitasking and discovered that it's more of a fallacy than a reality. Unlike computers, our brains can truly focus on only one task at a time. What we often perceive as multitasking is, in fact, a constant switching between various tasks. This realization made it clear how challenging it can be to maintain focus and productivity.

I had been closely monitoring the Aurora app all day, eagerly watching the KP levels. A massive coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun had hinted at the possibility of witnessing the Northern Lights from our location. Around 7 pm, an alert from the app sealed the deal, and I hurriedly made my way to Lantzville Beach. A few fellow enthusiasts joined me on the shore, armed with comfy chairs and cozy blankets, just in case we were in for an extended night. The weather forecast had predicted clouds, but to our delight, the horizon remained clear upon our arrival.

Describing the enchanting scene I witnessed at dawn has proven to be one of the more challenging pieces of writing I've tackled in recent times. As I pulled into the Piper's Lagoon parking lot just past 6 am, a few cars were already scattered about. The morning held an air of something extraordinary, urging me to hasten toward the water's edge, where I stood alone on the beach. A gentle breeze whispered through my hair, prompting me to pull up my hood to ward off the morning chill that nipped at the back of my neck. It was an unusual amalgamation of clouds and forest fire smoke that adorned the horizon, a sight unlike any I had ever beheld.