23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Northern Lights in my Backyard

I live in Wisconsin and never thought I'd have a chance to see the Northern Lights. Last year when the lights were supposedly visible in our area of the country, I went outside to see what I could see. With my own eyes, they were barely visible, but through the camera on my phone, I was able to capture this. I love the way the lights illuminate the aged snag, its branches bathed in a backdrop of red and green, giving it new life.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Lake Mills, Wisconsin, United States of America
Copyright: © Michelle Folk