Crimson Keep

This gorgeous photo came together in the space of about two minutes and that’s no exaggeration, it was a moment that came and went in the blink of an eye. I’d been watching the aurora all day, keeping tabs on the activity. It had been highly charged throughout most of the day but as the evening rolled in, the polarity flipped and the energy just collapsed. What had been a promising forecast suddenly became uncertain.

Hiorne Tower in Arundel was the location that I had chosen during the day. There’s something timeless about it, standing tall on the South Downs. I knew it would be a good fit to contrast with the lights. Having set up and tested a few compositions, there was a bit of a waiting game. As I have said, the forecast was shifting, doing a dramatic 180 degree turn and, what was once a guarantee was quickly becoming an unlikely.

Nevertheless, I waited patiently. I couldn’t see much of the colour in the sky. It definitely had a slight purple tint, but there wasn’t much activity to make it worthwhile. Then as if out of nowhere, and for no more than a couple of minutes, a couple of soft magenta pillars started forming behind the tower. I couldn’t make much out with my eyes, but the camera was picking it up perfectly. Not wanting to waste any time I quickly got to getting the photo, marking it’s place in history.

When you look at this photograph, I want you to feel the same sense of fleeting wonder that I felt in that moment. It’s a reminder of how quickly nature can surprise us, and how sometimes the most magical experiences are the ones that happen when we least expect them.