The latter part of the year afforded me only one chance for astrophotography, but what an incredible trip it turned out to be! Venturing into North Devon, I was treated to moonless skies, a spectacular moonrise, and even a display of the Northern Lights, alongside a wonderful catch-up with a photography friend.
My initial composition of the night captured this viewpoint overlooking Broardsand Bay, which I had scouted weeks earlier during a day trip to this coastal area. The moon was expected to rise, giving me a brief window of moonless, dark skies. I aimed to photograph this scene with Orion ascending to the top right. Although the alignment wasn't perfect, I'm still pleased with the outcome of this image.
Moments later, a bank of cloud began to roll over the scene. Just on cue, the moon rose, creating this beautiful moonlit scene.
I then wandered to the car and took the short drive to Sandy Cove. By the time I arrived, the moon was climbing high and casting beautiful light over the scene. I decided to attempt a star trail capture while waiting to see if any Northern Lights activity would occur.
The clouds ebbed and flowed throughout the night, adding intriguing and varied conditions. This image is actually a still from a timelapse I was running simultaneously.
At last, the clouds parted, and the Aurora graced us with its presence! The moon's intensity subdued some of the sky's details, yet I find the subtlety of the aurora and the beautiful sidelight on the scene rather captivating.
The concluding image of the night captured in my lens showcased a delicate blend of a faint Aurora alongside Ursa Major, creating a starry background. It served as a fitting farewell to 2023!