Description
Strabane Cemetery, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
I’ve always had a goal of capturing the Northern Lights over my hometown. Some photographers/friends laughed at my plan, as we are too far south and light pollution etc always makes it impossible to see the northern lights in this area. However unknowingly to me, the largest solar flare in over a decade was about to strike this very night!
All I knew was that the solar winds were a little active so I took the chance and traveled to my local cemetery as it is on high ground. Standing about for an hour or so alone in a dark graveyard I felt like giving up. Then suddenly the sky illuminated with dancing waves of greens and purples. So vibrant they even reflected off the grave surfaces & all was clearly visible with my naked eye! The aurora only lasted under 5 minutes before it vanished for good.
I was the only living soul in this graveyard that night but I can honestly say, I felt at ease and relaxed. As my father always told me “The deceased will never harm you, it’s some of the living you need to beware off”. I’ll never forget this moment under the aurora amongst the souls of loved ones, it felt like I witnessed the gates of heaven open for a brief moment in time…
