Mount Rainier Aurora and Milky Way

A Notable Photo of the 2016 International Earth & Sky Photo Contest
From the photographer: “Every so often there are experiences as a night photographer that just stand out. This night at Mt. Rainier was one of those experiences, it was the first time I captured a large aurora. I started capturing frames for my panorama down in the meadow only to notice that my northern horizon was slightly pink in the exposures. So knowing that I was in for an incredible show, I grabbed my gear and ran up the hill to begin shooting the aurora. My jaw dropped and I nearly screamed after seeing the first photo! Hope you enjoy this 180 degree view.

Technical details: 9 frame panorama with 30 second frames, ISO 3200, Nikon D800 and 14-24mm at F/2.8”