Photographer Captures Amazing Light Pillars In Northern Ontario (25 Pictures)

December 26, 2023

In the stillness of the night, a multitude of entrancing incidents take place, which many people do not notice since they are sleeping deeply and blissfully. At the uncommon hour of 1:30 in the morning, photographer Timothy Joseph Elzinga was roused from his slumber by the beckoning of his son, Gibson, who was only two years old. In the night sky, Little Gibson had noticed a dazzling display of colorful lights that were pirouetting around. His innocent look had led him to this discovery. Following the discovery that occurred throughout the night, Timothy did not waste any time in seizing his camera and capturing the ethereal phenomenon that is commonly referred to as “light pillars.”

Assuming that it was the well-known Northern Lights, which is a typical celestial phenomenon in their home in Canada, Elzinga was awestruck by the clarity of the night sky. The lights, on the other hand, defied expectations by ascending into the heavens, shimmering and undulating as they reached heights of hundreds of feet. The photographer’s lens was left with an unmistakable mark following the presence of these luminous manifestations.

The interaction between light and ice crystals results in the formation of a light pillar, which is a tangible manifestation of atmospheric alchemy. In the process of their descend through the air, these crystals take on a horizontal orientation as temperatures drop, thereby transforming into light conduits. A spectacular exhibition of natural craftsmanship, the outcome is a heavenly dance, with light climbing aloft in a spectacle that is just breathtaking. It is a testimonial to the mesmerizing wonders that emerge when the earth is enveloped in the silence of night that Elzinga has documented this occurrence through his photographic journal.

Elzinga’s mesmerizing photographs and other glimpses of these celestial light pillars are a nightly ballet that displays the poetry written in the language of light and ice. As you examine these photographs, you will embark on a visual journey.

More info: YouTube (petapixel, twistedsifter)