In a surprising twist, the familiar beauty of the Northern Lights takes on a new light under a utility pole in Mount Vernon, Washington. The juxtaposition of nature’s wonder against an urban backdrop creates a striking visual contrast, redefining our perceptions of this celestial display.

Under the night sky, I found myself on the pavement, shooting the Northern Lights with my Leica SL2-S and Leica 24-70 f2.8. The ISO was set to 400, the aperture wide open at f2.8, capturing the spectacle with a 4.0-second handheld exposure.