Tito and I went north again last night – in hopes of aurora hunting after sunspot AR 1520 delivered a massive X-class flare directly to earth.
We’re getting quite adept at finding these things ;) We got our best shots not 1.5 hours from downtown Toronto – just outside of Barrie, south of Mt. St. Louis Moonstone.
We cursed every time a car or truck passed us on the highway, but to our delight when processing these turned out to be the best shots!
I apologize for the image-heavy post – there were so many winners it was very hard to pare it down to a few favourites.
We call this the ‘light saber’ shot ;)
This was one of Tito’s favourites. Incidentally we’re blogging together this morning!
We couldn’t believe how bright they were. Waving and flickering were visible to the naked eye, even from a busy highway.
After leaving that spot we pulled off on Mt. St. Louis Moonstone road for a few more shots, this time off the highway. We had some very nice and perplexed ATV riders stop to ask if we were ok. They’re unlikely to be reading this, but if they are, thank you, that was very kind.
Here is the real gem of the night: The northern lights, the Milky Way and a shooting star. All in one shot. Score. It reminds me of one of our favourite sayings – great shots come when the photographers are willing to put themselves out there over and over again – when everyone else has gone home because it’s late, cold, wet etc. I was so tired last night that I considered turning back, Tito was the one to remind me of why we keep going out :)
This was a 2 photo stitch where we got the entire milky way galaxy into the shot. For those interested I am shooting tonight with my Canon 7D, and a lens that I didn’t really expect much from: the Rokinon 8mm fisheye. It was only $300, so I was skeptical about its performance, but thought it might be fun to have a fisheye. For $300 I am totally impressed and absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable novelty lens.
After we left that spot we ended up meandering towards Midland ON, up near Penetanguishene. We passed a very strange little cemetery, with little lights on every grave. Reminded me of Noma Moonrays, remember them? We took a long exposure while painting the cross with a little flashlight.
By this time it was 3:30 in the morning. A trip out to the edge of Georgian Bay left us in the middle of a residential area, so we turned back for the night, arriving home at 5:30 am, satisfied and humbled by the light show we witnessed. Despite my being in the middle of a massive project (which is why I haven’t blogged in a week, sorry about that) I think we might actually go out again tonight. How can I resist?
Amazing. The cemetery intrigues me also, I don’t recognize it. Which street was it on? Yonge?
Phenomenal! My husband says, “Lucky duck!” 8-) Right place, right time. 8-)
Beautiful shots as always! I think that favourite of Tito’s is mine too :-) How amazing to actually be able to see those lights…..one day I will!
Wow – incredible photos. I really hope to see the lights myself one day.
really fantastic clicks as exploring heaven………..lights color perfect
Reblogged this on Online Haven and commented:
I have been longing to learn the trick of camera long exposure. I wish to experience this somewhere up the mountains :-)
Congratulations on even witnessing, much less photographing it well! And on being Freshly Pressed.
I know that there was supposed to be viewing in Vancouver area. But probably far from the city!
Incredible! I am currently reading a book on astrophysics, sights like these are the reason why I want to find out so much more about the universe that we live in!
Wow, I love the shooting star. When I go to Maine in August, I love to sit up and watch the showers of shooting stars! Truly magnificent photography! God made the Universe for us to see how “Gi-Normous He is” and you certainly captured some of that!
:) This view is on my bucket list, though a photographer I am not. I enjoyed every one of your photos. Thank you for sharing.
Those are some amazing pictures! Really like the one with the Northen Lights & a Shooting Star.
OMG I can’t believe you weren’t far from downtown Toronto! I’ve been way “norther” than that, to Baie-Comeau, and have never seen the Aurora…(well, ok, so I went to Canada only 6 times, but still…in one of them, I stayed there for 3 full months :P). The one with the shooting star is my fave…although I love the cemetary pic and the second one with the cars on the highway :D
Reblogged this on Fiore Rougee comentado:
Essas fotos foram tiradas a uma hora e meia de Toronto (Ontario – Canadá) – eu já estive muito mais ao norte do que isso e nunca consegui ver a aurora boreal :( Minhas fotos favoritas são a terceira (com carro passando na rodovia), a da estrela cadente e a do cemitério :D
Outstanding photos! I used to live in Rochester NY USA and Toronto was the cosmopolitan city to visit.
Nice shots
We find your photography fantastic and very creative.
brilliant shot, that one with the shooting star
That’s cool. I had a chance to see the aurora once, but I blew it and went back to bed. Always regretted it.
The ones with passing traffic are really cool!
Incredible photos! I’ve only seen the aurora a handful of times but each time is a treat.
Thanks for sharing these incredible shots. As soon as I saw the news there was the possibility of northern lights in our part of the world, I realized it would be raining. And it did, along with thunderstorms. Much needed rain, but still …
Well cool photos
You are in the best place for the Aurora Borealis; although, they say with these new solar flares, that they can be seen as far south as Alabama! I live in Florida, so no chance of seeing these except through your photography! Snap on!
Gorgeous photos -excellent job :P
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MontrealDSL
Thanks for sharing! Wow… this is spectacular! :D
Wonderful pictures! Love to see the Northern Lights sometime. :)
Stunning! Thanks for sharing these photos!
Reblogged this on Heaven's gate is open… and commented:
This is so beautiful…I’m at loss for words…
OMG!! those pictures are magnificent!!! SO very beautiful!! wooww!! :-)
Amazing photographs! Feels almost like I’m there. Thanks for sharing the beauty.
The heavens declare His glory. :) Wonderful pics. Thank you for posting. :)
Stunning … simply stunning as I appreciate this type of images.
Wow, those photos are beautiful, great work. :)
Wow. These photos are magnificent and the sky is simply stunning. Thanks so much for sharing – it’s really amazing! And congrats on being freshly pressed!
Inspired photography! Haunting and chilling in a way, like halloween.
I felt the solar flare ejections during the day, but for you guys to be able to capture this at night, simply breath-taking! The glory and splendor of our Lord God never ceases to amaze me, even what some people may consider to be common signs and wonders in the heavens!
This pictures are absolutely amazing! The sky and stars are so cool looking.
Incredible pictures!
Reblogged this on newsintelligent.
You did a spectacular job!!! I would stay up all night too. It never ceases to amaze me when I see the sky at night away from city lights. Congrats!
These are PHENOMENAL! Absolutely beautiful photos.
Wow! Your shots are Amazing! My son just moved out there – I see a road trip from Montreal – VERY SOON :)
Absolutely stunning shots! Great work.
Very cool. Great celestial shots.
Incredible shots. Thanks for staying with it and staying out all night.
Awesome colors and great pics. Thanks for posting them.
Thanks to share tose pieces of art. That looks really wonderfull, i want to ask you if i can use one of your pictures to use like a background of one poem that i wrote today that is juslly called light. If you said yes of course that i will put your credits. Kr. Joedlovanovic
I’ve never seen such good pictures of the Northern Lights. They are spectacular. Thank you for putting yourselves out to get these so we might relish the wonder.
I’m incredibly envious of your pictures! We had alerts all day (I live in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan, US), but we were blanketed in clouds by the time night arrived. Thanks for sharing – your images are MUCH nicer than the horribly processed ones I posted ;)
Your photos we’re extremely amazing! I love seeing photos like these. :)) Hope to see more sharing from you! :)
Stunning photos! Congrats on being FP’d.
Excellent photos! This made my day :-D I wonder what’s my chance to see Northern Lights when I visit Norway this August :-)
Good job, great photos.
Seeing the Northern Lights is at the top of my Bucket List.
Allan
Wow these photographs are absoloutley amazing! Thank you so much for sharing! We had one here were we live just the other day too, but we were unable to see it because it was raining :(
Cheers,
Renee.
Reblogged this on claratheginger.
top…
Wow!!! Stunning pictures! I love them :DD
Great set of photos.
Breathtaking and amazing shots. Mind if I add these on pinterest? So captivating that it’s hard not to share. :D
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Excellent photos! Amazing beyond words! thx for sharing
Beautiful, phenomenal shots!!
Very beautiful. I feel so small! Great job.
Beautiful collection!
number one on my bucket list is to see the aurora borealis. gorgeous photos!
Very nice pics :)
Beautiful pictures :D
Wowww these are phenomenal!
It would be incredible to view a video of this lightshow! Have you thought about doing a TimeLapse Video?
We agree! The shots with the car lights are the best :)
beeeauuuuuutiful! and yes, the lights from the cars/trucks would have pissed me off, but they turned out very nice! certainly something different..!!
Awesome!
Great nighttime photography – now I want to get a fisheye lens. How long was the exposure on those photographs, and what settings did you use? I have a 7D as well and love it.
So Beautiful! Wow!!
So incredibly beautiful and magical. I can see why you didn’t want to leave!
Nice pictures..
Oh my stars! I didn’t know you could get these kinds of shots/view so close to Toronto! Great pictures; thanks for sharing!
Amazing! Very nice pictures! I love the pic with the shooting star! Congrats!
wow i would love to see more pictures but without the fisheye look :)
Gorgeous shots!!
I have a Samyang fisheye like yours (the Samyangs were sold under a variety of brand names). Aren’t they great? No bells or whistles but they do work really well, eh?
What exposure technique (ISO, f-stop, shutter speed) did you use for these shots? Hope you don’t mind me asking.
Great photos! I think it’s a pretty good time for both Northern and Southern lights this year!
Woow… beautifull!
keren sekali.
Beautiful views shared. Thank you much.
Also wanted to let you know, I’ve nominated you for the ‘One Lovely Blog Award.’
What brilliant luck to have captured a shooting star…these photos are dreamy and poetic (especially the graveyard with it’s unusual lighting). Early hours of the morning are the best time to capture a moment, a word, or a great spot of inspiration.
Reblogged this on The Realm of Wonder and commented:
Awesome!
Wow!! Amazing photos! Loved them.
They already take all the words, I just only can repeat: amazing…
Awesome images! May I ask what you were shooting with? I love doing night photography, I am afraid I don’t have the equipment to pull shots like these off. It appears the exposure is not long enough to catch movement in the stars but long enough to get light trails from traffic. Perfect!
Hi there – I’m shooting with a Canon 7D and a Rokinon fisheye lens. 30 Second exposures and f3.5 Hope that helps!
always wanted to see those
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Reblogged this on skinnyisatrap and commented:
Tomorrow is Yoga day and I want to meditate on these images! Gorgeous! Thank you for sharing The Blue Brick Photography and Handcrafts!
GORGEOUS photos! Thanks for sharing!