M_J_Helin
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 p.1 #1 · Nordic summernights dream | |
The preparations for our daughters confirmation party had stretched late into the night on several evenings, and I had built up more sleep debt than I cared to admit. I stepped outside to bring the rugs in and, as is my habit, glanced up at the sky. Cirrus clouds... no, wait... noctilucent clouds!
They had spread across almost the entire sky, and from experience I knew that a night like this was far too special to spend sleeping—even if I certainly could have used the rest. I quickly threw on some outdoor clothes and got behind the wheel.
For a long time, I had wanted to try photographing from a couple of new locations. Unfortunately, the first one wasn't quite what I had hoped for, so I decided to head to an old favorite instead. Over several summers, I had tried to capture a truly memorable noctilucent cloud photo there, but something had always gotten in the way and dashed my hopes. This time, however, everything came together perfectly. The noctilucent clouds were as beautiful as ever, the wind left the flowers perfectly still, and the camera performed flawlessly.
As the Sun sank lower, the clouds followed it—while steadily growing brighter. It was magnificent. In terms of both brightness and extent, this display easily ranks among my top five, perhaps even my top three. It's hard to say for certain, but it was unquestionably one of the most impressive noctilucent cloud displays I've ever witnessed.
The structures consisted mainly of fairly thick bands, while more distinct wave patterns could be seen in the west. Special mention goes to the bright, sweeping arc that stretched across the northwestern sky.
Once I had finally captured the photos I had been dreaming about for so long, I decided to try something new. I placed the camera among a patch of rosebay willowherb and lay down beneath it. As I was shooting a little planet panorama, unsettling thoughts of ticks crawling into my ears began creeping into my mind. Thankfully, not a single one of the little creatures was to be found on me afterward.
Eventually, I returned to the car and checked the time: ten to two. If I was willing to hurry, I could still make it to Turku. I'd often dreamed of seeing noctilucent clouds there.
And Turku did not disappoint. It was beautiful—but also noisy. There were surprisingly many people out and about, and loud music drifted over from the restaurant boats along the river. A very urban atmosphere.
In the end, the alarm waiting just three hours away forced me to head home. Tired, but incredibly happy.
There are many more photos to go through, but I simply don't have the energy—or the time—to look at them right now. Still, I couldn't be more satisfied. So many long-held dreams came true in the course of a single night.
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