It's the middle of summer and I see a purple glow appear in the sky! It's exactly what I was hoping for. It's aurora borealis. That's a thrill! I had been following the data on aurora activity closely for a while but now that lady Aurora is actually appearing, it's amazing to witness. The purple vertical slats of the aurora shift from left to right above the horizon, taking their reflection with them over the water. The stars also reflect in the water.
On the right side above the horizon there is a bright spot with a bluish color around it. This is caused by the presence of luminous night clouds at an altitude of eighty kilometers. The night clouds are thus particularly high and can therefore still be shone on by the sun, which disappeared behind the horizon a few hours ago.
The luminous clouds form over the polar region and are rare. The phenomenon can be sporadically observed in the north on clear nights in summer.
The brownish colored clouds on the right are ordinary clouds. They are much lower in the sky.
It is a night I will never forget. It shows me how small I am as a creature with the stars above me and no less than two beautiful natural phenomena in front of me.
Karla Leeftink prefers to photograph in the peace and quiet of early mornings with a hint of mysterious mist. The Drentsche-Aa region and the Reest valley are ideal for this with their frequently occurring misty landscapes. She also likes the wide open Wadden Sea landscapes and rough Norwegian fjord landscapes... Read more…