My addiction to the Northern Lights truly began several years ago once I really started immersing myself in the fascinating world of astrophotography. I would eagerly watch vlogs and documentaries that were entirely based on various individuals’ enchanting trips just to witness this breathtaking phenomena. I was absolutely blown away by the vibrant colors and the pure, magnificent beauty that these lights produce in the night sky. Initially, I thought they were a rare occurrence, to be completely honest with you, only to discover later that some locations experience them almost every single night!

Fast forward to the present day. The Aurora Borealis are one of my favorite things to chase here in New York. I’ve quite literally become obsessed with the thrill of capturing their beauty. I’ve had the honor of capturing three major geomagnetic storms along with several minor storms. Each of them are exciting in their own way and have their own backstory behind them.

Let’s get one thing out of the way before I get too carried away talking about this stuff. Solar flares occur quite frequently, but they are not simply a matter of chance. HOWEVER there are many specific conditions that must be met for their effects to reach our planet. For instance, these solar events need to be directed in just the right way and travel at appropriate speeds. Additionally, they must connect with Earth at a precise moment to have any meaningful impact. The magnitude of the flare also plays a crucial role; it needs to be significant enough to even reach our atmosphere. Furthermore, one must consider the weather conditions, as clear skies are essential for observation and capturing them on your camera. The data must be perfect, and there is also a certain level of unpredictability regarding where you are located when these solar events actually interact with our atmosphere.

As you can see, there are so many different factors to consider when it comes to these remarkable geomagnetic storms. We are currently in a phase that is referred to as the solar maximum. This essentially means, for those who are passionate about experiencing the Northern Lights, that there is an increased opportunity to catch those spectacular Auroras dancing across the night sky. However, this solar maximum has also led to a surge of misleading advertisements from uneducated reporters, which you may have come across, promoting the possibility of witnessing the breathtaking Aurora Borealis. These articles are typically just a bunch of clickbait, and, more often than not, you will come up empty-handed and left feeling disappointed. It’s truly unfortunate and can be quite disheartening for those eagerly seeking this natural wonder.

For the down and dirty basics you need to have little to no moon, clear northern skies, little light pollution, have a geomagnetic storm occurring, AND be as far north as you possibly can be.

For myself personally, I find myself surrounded by a significant and severe light pollution problem in my area, which unfortunately creates some of the WORST possible conditions for capturing any form of astrophotography, let alone the Northern Lights. Therefore, any aurora photos that I have successfully taken have typically required myself to travel a considerable distance away to find a location where I can fully appreciate and photograph these stunning and beautiful lights in all their glory.

So the further I dove into my obsession with the Northern Lights, the more I found myself feeling disappointed because I figured that I would need to travel to places like Canada, Alaska, Iceland, or any other location where conditions are particularly favorable for any chance of ever seeing them.

I distinctly remember coming home from work one early morning in 2022 when my dad showed me an news article about someone in New York who had actually captured the Northern Lights that was relatively close to where I live. It was at that moment that my obsession REALLY began to take root. I started delving into research about how it was even possible for the lights to reach this far south. My curiosity led me to learn how to effectively photograph them, how to analyze data, and what the ideal conditions would be for optimal viewing.

Then, in 2023, for what felt like the majority of the year, I found myself in the firehouse nearly every night that the Northern Lights were viewable in New York State.

All until one night.

On September 25th, 2023 I caught my very first glimpse of these wonderful lights. I clearly remember hearing persistent rumors that the Aurora Borealis would be making an appearance that night, and fortunately, I had the night off from my usual commitments. With excitement building, I made the trek to Schroon Lake, hoping to catch a glimpse of these mesmerizing lights. As I arrived, I noticed it was a partly cloudy night, but the clouds seemed to be concentrated mainly in the northern skies. I felt devastated because I had honestly missed the opportunity to see this natural spectacle at least ten times up to that point, often during much larger storms, and now here I was faced with yet another slim opportunity to witness the Aurora, only to potentially miss it again due to the clouds. After what felt like an eternity of waiting, about three hours into the night, there was finally a break in the cloud cover. Eagerly, I pointed my camera right at the clearing and quickly fired off a couple of shots. To my absolute surprise and delight, I could see beautiful hues of pink and green dancing across my viewfinder. I remember being completely ELATED to have finally captured photos of the Aurora Borealis.

I’m typing this out currently and laughing at this photo. It’s terrible. I had no idea what I was doing. I researched how to capture these photos prior to even leaving my house that night but as soon as I saw them all of that went out of the window. I was so excited. The stars are out of focus, the exposure is way off. They’re terrible. I was so content in that moment and still riding the wave of excitement in the days following. After a while I started noticing the imperfections and grew to really dislike them. I grew to become disappointed because the tiny window of opportunity that I did have, I thought I blew,. I figured I would have to wait months or even years to see them again.

However I had ZERO clue of what photos I would capture in the coming year.

Over the course of the next couple months in 2023 there were some minor G1 storms that made it down to my area. I did make it out to catch a few photos of them.

This photo is much better than my very first attempt at capturing Aurora. The stars are in focus. The only downsides I found in this photo are that the horizon appears to be way too busy for my personal liking, and I was unfortunately too far south to capture the scene as I had envisioned. I had to work the next morning, which meant I didn’t have time to embark on a late-night adventure up north where the sky would have been darker. By the time I even checked the data to plan my trip, it was already far too late to drive north anyway. So, I quickly managed to escape from the city lights as quickly as I could and managed to take a few photos. Once again, the same excitement washed over me when I saw the Northern Lights shine vividly during my shoot. This time, I felt more satisfied with the photo in general. However, it was still missing a lot for me personally. I wanted those truly EYE POPPING PHOTOS that capture the awe of their colors.

This was a complete and utter surprise for me, more than I could have ever anticipated. This particular evening coincided with the spectacular Geminids meteor shower, and to my astonishment, a very weak storm unexpectedly hit the Earth at just the right time. I genuinely like this photo as well. I have a special fondness for the meteor that I successfully captured in the shot. The silos standing in the background also add an interesting touch. While I do recognize that my horizon is still somewhat busy, as you can clearly see, it has improved and is much less cluttered than before. I find great appeal in the bare tree in the foreground, as it adds a little unique character to the overall photo. Nonetheless, I was still somewhat dissatisfied with this experience. It felt as though it was still missing that WOW factor that I had hoped to capture.

I am grateful for these opportunities to have learned and practiced on these minor storms. It allowed me to get the kinks and imperfections out. It’s allowed me to slow down over time (only a little bit because I still get like a kid on Christmas at any opportunity to go find these lights).

After this experience, once AGAIN I found myself thinking that I would not see these lights again. Never did I think I would see these stunning natural phenomena again for the next several years, let alone witness THREE major geomagnetic storms that completely blew these photos above out of the water.

2024 brought several major geomagnetic storms. 3 of which I was able to capture some photos.

The first one I was able to capture was on May 10th, 2024. This particular night, I decided to leave early so I could spend a full night outdoors, fully immersing myself in the experience of capturing beautiful photos. I wanted to make the most of this opportunity to document the night sky. However, it did come with some unexpected challenges along the way. Most of the night, I found myself dodging clouds periodically, which prompted me to switch locations several times in search of clear skies. I vividly remember looking for a location with a view of a low northern horizon, and, after some searching, I finally ended up in a random open field that I couldn’t pinpoint on a map even if I tried.

I then traveled over to Elizabethtown, a picturesque location situated east of where I was, where the clouds were gradually beginning to clear up and reveal glimpses of the sky. I managed to fire off a few photos that I was extremely satisfied with and felt I finally captured the EYE POPPING photos that I was looking to get. Ironically, I’ve been following a separate photographer for years who primarily focuses on shooting stunning photos in New England and in New York, and I actually crossed paths with him on this particular night. I didn’t even realize it until I saw his post the very next morning at the exact same location that I had been at. It was an absolutely incredible night filled with rich colors, numerous photos, and a great deal of fun that I will not soon forget.

My next geomagnetic storm occurred in August, and I was, once again, headed north in eager anticipation of the meteor shower that promised to illuminate the skies. In a surprising turn of events, I ended up taking ZERO shooting star photos during this adventure. In fact, I don’t even recall actively looking for them once I discovered that the data was indicating really promising conditions. That night, I found myself in a constant battle with an array of clouds. However, these conditions did make for some interesting and unique photos. This particular storm lasted relatively short; I would estimate it was only about an hour or two. Nonetheless, it caught me by surprise, and I was genuinely pleased with how these photos ultimately turned out.

This photo was taken back in October of 2024. My ultimate goal is to eventually photograph the Northern Lights in all the major lakes located in the Adirondacks. Once I found out that the data was promising I began to plan. My plan was to begin my journey on the western side of the state in Croghan, NY and gradually make my way east towards Tupper Lake. Along the way, I intended to explore some picturesque backroads and then ultimately concluding my adventure near Schroon Lake. I think there were moments during the night when time slipped away from me because I became completely immersed in the marvel of it all because before I knew it, it was 2 in the morning and I had hardly traveled anywhere from my original location. It is truly not too often that I take a step back from my camera and consciously look up at the expansive sky anymore, given my intense focus on capturing these striking photos. This is especially true as I continually seek ways to enhance my photographic skills. However, on this particular night, I found myself unable to resist the urge to simply gaze upward. It was my very first experience witnessing the Northern Lights with my naked eye. I was captivated by the stunning pillars of light, the vibrant colors, and the mesmerizing movement in the sky with each radiating wave. This awe-inspiring encounter fueled my profound love for the Northern Lights that much more.

My most recent encounter with the breathtaking Northern Lights occurred in March of 2025. It came as an unexpected and delightful surprise to me, as when I arrived at the stunning Great Sacandaga Lake, another photographer kindly informed me that a substorm was taking place at that very moment. With a rush of excitement, I quickly grabbed my tripod and my camera, then set up my gear in anticipation. Once I began firing off photos, I was fortunate enough to capture some relatively good images that evening. Initially, my plan was to get closer to the water, but as I struck up a conversation with this other photographer about previous Aurora shows, we easily got carried away and I decided to remain where I was. This experience marked the second time I had witnessed the Northern Lights with my own naked eye. It was noteworthy that this particular geomagnetic storm spanned across three separate days, allowing the stunning Aurora to be visible over New York.

These are some of my most popular photos and questions that people ask to hear more about. Enough times to where I figured I would include my experiences and my knowledge behind some of these photos. I’m still learning a great deal about the Northern Lights so I apologize if I am missing any details or didn’t provide you with answers that you were seeking.

There is certainly something to be said about these mesmerizing lights that keeps people endlessly interested. Whether it’s the rarity, the breathtaking beauty, or the exhilarating chase of actually getting the chance to see them, it’s captivating. One thing I can promise you is that once you experience these lights for the first time, you’ll find yourself never wanting to stop chasing them. The chases will grow longer, your travels will undoubtedly become crazier, all in the pursuit of finding them. It’s truly addicting.

After all, “It’s all about the fun.” Right?

2025 is still included in the solar maximum. I hope you get your chance to see them.

Feel free to follow along on my social media accounts as I will post when the best opportunities arise to capture their beauty and give you the best chance to see them.

Until then keep looking up!

Northern Lights

Behind the Logo