As a Maryland photographer, I have a few things on my bucket list, including Northern Lights photography. Many I can’t acheive right now for a variety of reasons, but there is one I thought I would be waiting a very long time to see. I’ve had dreams of seeing the Northern Lights for as long as I can remember. I figured that a future trip to the beautiful icy lands of Norway or Iceland would cross this dream off of my list! I couldn’t be more grateful to have had the opportunity to photograph this wonder of nature last fall. While I may have dearly paid for the lack of sleep over that was required, I will never forget the swirls of red above me as I drove around the rural Maryland farmlands in early October.

All the Details

It was fascinating to me that my camera was able to pick up far more than the naked eye! The displays were often hidden in plain site, unveiled with the power of a little modern technology. The colors in these photos are completely unedited, I just reduced shadows a hair and increased sharpness. Before heading out, I took a few minutes to research how to best photograph the Northern Lights. Unlike my sister who is a fabulous night sky photographer, my subjects usually pose during the day! I took a look at Mikko Lagerstedt’s very helpful blog post here. These were taken with my Canon EOS R6 using my 35 mm at f1.4 and ISO at 8000.

I absolutely adore photographing your families and mine, which is my true passion behind the camera. However, the occasional dabble outside the ordinary is good for an artist’s soul. I’ll forever remember the night I chased the Northern Lights in my own backyard amongst the sounds of the stirring creatures and crisp fall breeze. I can finally say I have checked this dream off the bucket list… Though I welcome a future trip to the Nordic countries with open arms for more Northern Lights photography!

Alexia Ballantine Photography is an award-winning portrait photographer serving Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. She specializes in maternity, baby, and family photography, including cake smash sessions. Reach out today to inquire about your session!