Interesting Photo of the Day: Arctic Aurora Borealis

Interesting Photos

Whenever we come across an image of the aurora borealis, the magical light is obviously the focal point. Rarely do we come across an image where the foreground is equally engaging. But the following image by photographer Andrei Baskevich seems to be the exception. Have a look for yourself:

“Northern Lights from the Arctic” by Andrei Baskevich (Via Reddit. Click image to see full size.)

The image is a 10-second exposure that Baskevich shot with a Sigma 20mm f/1.4 lens on a Nikon D750 body at ISO 1000 and f/7.1. He shot it in the city of Murmansk, Russia, which lies north of the Arctic Circle.

“Night, frost, gusts of wind, waist-high snow… and real magic happens in the sky. This aurora was more dynamic than ever.”

The clear dark sky contrasts beautifully with the white snowy landscape, and the glow of the northern lights only adds to the beauty. While the overall look of the image is ethereal, things get more interesting as we dig deeper and observe the intricacies.

The Arctic conditions combined with the direction of the moonlight give an unreal look to the snow. If you look closely, it almost appears like it’s rendered: you might guess it’s foam or silver.

Then, the curves of the aurora are balanced by the curves in the foreground. It’s as if they represent the ying and yang of the sky and Earth. Absolutely magnificent!

Would you dare go out in the Arctic at night to enjoy moments like these? Let us know in the comments.