Interesting Photo of the Day: 20 Second Aurora

Interesting Photos

Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights has to be one of the most fascinating natural phenomena that one can witness. This is why countless photographers have the desire to witness and photograph it on their wishlist. However, while the Aurora in itself is a magical wonder, simply having it in the composition doesn’t cut it. As a photographer, it becomes your responsibility to take creative decisions and add value to the already magnificent lights. And this is exactly what photographer Anton Shvain has done in the following image:

“The Northern Lights Against an Abandoned Ship” by Anton Shvain (Via Reddit. Click image to see full size.)

The image is a 20 seconds exposure that Shvain shot using a Canon EOS R camera and Irix 15mm f/2.4 lens. He shot it at Teriberka in the Murmansk region of Russia.

Needless to say, this is an incredible capture and what makes it special is how he framed the image. With the ship superimposed right against the aurora, Shvain has really added some next-level character to the image.

The aurora looks like the ship’s halo and also gives an eerie feeling to the photograph. It’s fascinating how the combination of the lights and the ship simultaneously appear so beautiful and haunting.

Besides the composition, even the colors have worked out really well. How the greens of the Northern Lights contrast so well with the dark and starry night sky is truly beautiful. Moreover, it’s also fascinating to see how the rustic colors on the ship complement the overall look and feel of the photograph.

If you ever get an opportunity to photograph the Northern Lights, be sure to take some cues from this photograph. There’s a strong and interesting focal element with another powerful element in the background. And how these two elements work together to elevate each other is the secret to the success of this image. Such a good balance.