As a Dutch Landscape photographer, I have captured our beautiful windmills from every possible angle. I thought I’d done it all: Shooting them with tulips every year, countless of mornings with morning fog, the milky way rising above them, and even capturing them with comet neowise reflecting in water.

But with the solar maximum here, my ultimate shot was always photographing them with super strong northern lights. Although this would be very difficult, it was something that was always in the back of my mind. And last weekend that time finally came! With forecasted KP values of 8+ and a G4 magnetic storm, AND not so much clouds (they mostly ruin it in The Netherlands), the conditions were optimal.

But I never thought things would get so crazy as they did. In the end KP9 levels were reached and even a G5 geomagnetic storm. This is something that I had never experienced in my life. I never even knew it was possible!

When I reached my location, the sky was somewhat green but not spectacular yet. But after waiting about an hour (after midnight), things started to change rapidly. Pinks became visible and suddenly we started to see spikes and aurora curtains moving. Within a matter of 10 minutes the whole sky was full of aurora. Complete overhead.

Now I have seen my fair share of aurora in Iceland, Norway and Greenland, but I had absolutely no idea I could see something like this in The Netherlands. It was absolutely magical. Upon writing this, I still can’t believe I experienced this extreme event.

This photo was the only thing that was still missing in my windmill portfolio. Mission accomplished!

Technical info:

Sony A7RV – Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM – f/1.8 – 1 second – ISO 1600

More info: albertdros.com

Aurora Windmills

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