Mathew Browne had long wanted to photograph the Northern Lights, and finally got his chance on a trip to Iceland with his wife Louise. However, he was disappointed with the results he got and vowed to improve. His mission to become a better photographer bore fruit when he captured an award-winning image of the Northern Lights just 10 minutes from his home in Carmarthenshire, Wales.
The photo, taken at Paxton’s Tower, was named a winner in the 2023 Northern Lights Photographer of the Year awards. It is one of 25 photos from around the world featuring in the collection. Browne said that preparation was key to getting the shot, and advised that patience and perseverance are necessary qualities for capturing the Northern Lights.
He has developed a technique that involves taking one under-exposed image, one over-exposed image, and a third in the middle to create a balance between the two, a technique known as bracketing. He also has apps on his phone that alert him to increased geomagnetic activity.
Browne’s winning photo was a diffused pink rather than the vibrant greens and blues usually associated with the Aurora Borealis. He edited the image to look fainter with little color, which he says is his interpretation of how the lights look to the naked eye. While some have doubted the authenticity of Browne’s images, he insists that they are genuine and that people’s expectations of the Northern Lights may not be accurate.
Browne’s success in the awards was one of two Welsh victories, underscoring the growing number of amateur and professional photographers hoping to capture the elusive lights. Capturing such an image requires not only technical skill, but also persistence, patience, and a large dose of luck
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