Despite popular beliefs, northern do occasionally appear south of Canada. They also are not dependent upon seasonal activity. They can, and have, appeared in every month of the year in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Depending on solar activity, some displays are more impressive than others.
In April of 2023, I saw one of the most impressive displays of northern lights I’ve ever seen. The entire northern half of the sky was completely filled with dazzling lights so bright and colorful, that I could even make out the difference in color with my naked eye.
In anticipation of such a show, I like to find a unique and ideal spot somewhere within Jackson Hole to find a new perspective on what’s become for me, a familiar subject. On this particular night though, I was looking after my daughter, and she was already asleep. Even if I woke her up, it wouldn’t be right for her sleep schedule at barely three years old to drive her somewhere. To that end, should I even wake her up at all? Certainly I wanted her to see such an event, but she had also only just turned three. Maybe she’d remember it, maybe she wouldn’t. This was what I struggled with most that night: whether or not I should share it with my daughter. In the end, due to her young age, I reluctantly opted to let her sleep.
My decision was based on the fact that we were still approaching a solar maximum. There would be more storms, and she’d likely have another year of growth to better appreciate it when she does see it.
Next was my challenge. How do I photograph them with wild, undisturbed landscapes without leaving home? Fortunately, my home is within earshot of the boundary of Kelly, Wyoming, a tiny town located within Grand Teton National Park. To the north are only a few structures. A short and easy walk to the west is the wild and expansive Antelope Flats of the park. Thankfully, I was able to stay very close to home in the event that she suddenly woke up from a bad dream, for example, and still capture the impressive wonder of that night filling the night sky.