LCANNO1_00005.tif | Art Wolfe Stock Photography 888-973-0011

Aurora borealis, Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories, Canada
I love the unexpected moments in nature photography when elements converge to create magic. Such was the case when I participated in a 10-day raft trip through what is arguably the least-traveled mountain range in North America, northwestern Canada’s Mackenzie Mountains. They were named for Alexander Mackenzie, a Scottish explorer who was the first white man to cross the entire North American continent overland, from Montreal to Bella Coola, British Columbia, in 1793. Yes, that’s right—10 years before Lewis and Clark started their trip. The Mackenzie Mountains are located both in and outside of the spectacular, remote wilderness of Nahanni National Park Reserve, along the Yukon border with the Northwest Territories. During our journey, the weather remained unseasonably wet and cold, with rain showers occurring virtually every day. While the wildlife encounters were good, with sightings of gray wolves and small herds of mountain caribou, the mountainous terrain was largely concealed in the clouds. One evening the clouds parted to reveal a stunning display of northern lights, catching everyone by surprise. Displays such as these usually occur much later in the fall, so no one had anticipated seeing them. When photographing northern lights, I’ve discovered that the most intriguing compositions are the ones that include part of the landscape, because that provides a much clearer context in which to view the displays.
Canon EOS-1N, Canon EF 17–35mm, f/2.8 at 30 seconds, Fujichrome Provia 400 film
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