Rare Scarlet Electrical Discharge Photographed in the Atmosphere
Three photographers in New Zealand have successfully captured images of red lightning, among the most elusive light phenomena globally, where bright red bursts appear in the heavens.
A Remarkable Night of Discovery
The imaging specialists began their evening to capture the galactic core over the Ōmārama Clay cliffs in the southern region of the country on a night in October, when they chanced upon the extraordinary event.
They thought they would be fortunate to get optimal conditions that after-dark period, but their shooting session transformed into “a night to remember,” a team member remarked.
While reviewing his images for a stellar landscape and discovered he had photographed red sprites,” he said. “It was unbelievable – it resulted in excited exclamations and all sorts going on in the darkness.”
Defining Red Sprites
The scarlet phenomena are bursts of electrical energy in the upper atmosphere, generated by storm systems. Unlike traditional lightning that shoots towards the earth, these events shoot upwards towards the higher altitudes, producing shapes that resemble vertical forms, root vegetables or even jellyfish. The earliest recorded picture of a this phenomenon was recorded – accidentally – in the late eighties, by a research unit at the a academic organization.
Brief and Dreamlike Sightings
The phenomena last for such a short time – enduring only a thousandth of a second – that they are seldom seen to the human sight, but a team member was fortunate. “I happened to be looking directly at one when it happened – an ideal happenstance observing the right part of the firmament and I witnessed a brief red flash,” he said.
Observing the occurrences was a aspiration for the photographer, an acclaimed dark sky artist. “It appears as if you are observing an unreal vision, it feels otherworldly … it’s this very deep red colour that is there for a split second, so it is fascinating to observe.”
Advanced and Innovative Mastery
Photographing a red sprite requires a mastery of technical photography, as well as an familiarity with scientific principles and artistic vision, the photographer said. “It is a deeply engaging type of photography that’s very rewarding as well.”
A different team member remarked it was counted as the “most extraordinary nights” of his existence. “I witnessed the Milky Way glowing above the skyline while these enormous red tendrils of illumination danced above a electrical event at a great distance,” he explained.
A One-of-a-Kind Photographic Achievement
To his knowledge, there are no further recordings showing red sprites and the night sky of the south in the same photograph.
“It was one of those moments when you understand you are observing an event you are unlikely to ever witness again.”
