NATURESCAPES.NET 2005 LANDSCAPES GALLERY
IMAGE OF THE YEAR

Northern Lights
Image copyright Joe McCabe

The image was made at Mendenhall Lake in Juneau, Alaska in October, 2004 during a period of both unusually high aurora activity and unusually cold, clear weather. For a period of about ten days the weather remained clear and auroras danced in the night sky. At the outset of the ten day aurora show, there were three days of particularly intense auroras. During the numerous flares and colorful aurora bursts, the lights were so intense they provided enough light to see the surrounding landscape and made it possible for Joe McCabe to use his camera without the use of a headlamp.

During this time, at about 10pm each night, he would bundle up in all of his retired mountaineering gear (big, puffy jacket and pants over layers and layers nylon and fleece, clumsy Nordic boots, mittens over thin gloves, balaclava, warm hat) and head out to the Mendenhall Lake where he stood for hours and hours, in wonder, trying his best to capture the essence of his experience under the lights. Standing alone at 3am, under the lights and stars, next to a salmon stream in which late season salmon were splashing their way to their ultimate purpose and doom was quite something, especially since a brown bear sow and her cub were frequenting the area, taking advantage of the availability of the fresh fish. At one point, a great blue heron, looking for a midnight snack and oblivious to his quiet, near frozen presence, landed 20 feet from where Joe stood. He was able to observe the handsome, surprisingly large bird quite well under the bright auroras. The two shared the same stretch of beach for a number of minutes until Joe had to move or risk losing toes to frost bite. The bemused, surprised, somehow insulted look the heron gave him just before it flew off was priceless. The look seemed to say “What are you doing here human and how could I have possibly missed seeing you standing so close to me under these dancing lights, observing my private midnight snack?” Disappointed that his companion had left, but thrilled with the experience, Joe smiled to himself, stamped his feet and turned his attention back to the lights.

Image captured with Canon 10D, Canon 17-35mm f/2.8 L at 17mm, 30 second exposure at f/3.5 at ISO 200. Photo processed with Photoshop CS2 and Neat Image.

Joe McCabe, his wife Evelyn and their two horses Jenny and Benny live in Juneau, Alaska where Joe pursues an interest in nature photography. Through his photographs, Joe hopes to inspire others with the wonder and joy he feels for the natural world. He is currently developing a website through which to display and market his photographs. Prior to completion of his website, Joe’s available prints can be viewed here at his pbase gallery.

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