23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Burning Heart

That day, I was extremely tired and just wanted to sleep. My phone was vibrating with a message: High KP... I grabbed my camera, stepped out, and drove to a nearby location. I knew there was a lake in the area. As it grew darker, suddenly the lights started dancing! Jackpot! I quickly set up, checked my composition, and started capturing shots of the aurora. However, I was a bit disappointed because it darkened again very quickly. I sat in my car and continued driving north to get a better view without all the trees, unaware that I had already captured this stunning heart-shaped shot on my camera.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2024
Date Uploaded: 09.2025
Photo Location: Canada
Camera: ILCE-7CM2
Copyright: © Katharina Geiger