Ok. This is a terrible photograph, out of focus and indistinct. All the magic tools of photoshop couldn’t redeem it. It’s dreadful. And yet I share it with the world.
Why? you may ask.
Well, one of the main reasons for our visit to Iceland in November was so that I could cross another event off of my bucket list – namely, to witness the Northern Lights. Of course, I’ve seen them on TV, and in books, and there are many, many photographs, but to see them for real….well, it was a dream.
So when it came to it I made a conscious decision not to take my camera, but, for a change, to just live and experience the moment. At the time, there were hoards of others fiddling with camera settings and peering through lenses and I could have been doing exactly the same. Instead, I was standing with my jaw dropping, watching the most fantastic natural phenomenon you could imagine. The lights danced in the sky in rainbow colours and I don’t believe that anyone could every capture the most wonderous reality of it no matter how skilled or fancy their camera.
Of course, I had to just take one snap with my phone, and this is the result. So sorry an’ all, it’s a duff old picture, but for me it captures an absolute dream of a memory, and certainly one of my favourite moments of the year. 🙂
Rebooting 
I read something – many years ago now – when I had two SLR bodies, multiple lenses, shot film and processed and printed it myself. What a palaver. An article in The Observer said something like “We weren’t having a holiday. We were having photography.”
Nothing wrong with phone pictures!
Thanks Stephen. I think we need to wean ourselves away from the viewfinder sometimes!
Love this post for so many reasons! Especially for your presence in the moment, also for your adventurous spirit and the wonder you bring to what you’re seeing. And in my heart for a distant memory of seeing what I thought were Northern Lights while at summer camp in northern Wisconsin when I was a child. It probably wasn’t the real thing, but the thrill of my childlike enthusiasm for nature is still heartwarming.
We should never forget to appreciate all the wonders of this world scillagrace! Have a lovely Christmas x
Gorgeous, what a wonderful memory.
Thank you. It was indeed an experience I shall never forget!
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