Green Ribbon

Every time I hear about the possibility of auroras in the PNW (e.g., in the last week or two), I can't help but think that it's nothing but a big tease. Inevitably, there are too many clouds in the way where I live. ;)

Still, it brings back fond memories of a time when I did get to see the northern lights, on a winter trip to northern Sweden. This shot was taken at the town of Abisko, north of the Arctic Circle in February of 2007. After freezing my buns off for several hours out on the frozen lake beneath the town, I finally saw the lights on my final night. I used a flashlight to "light paint" the bath house in the foreground during the long exposure.