The Night of the Aurora I think these happen a lot down here in New Zealand! I’m hardly an expert though… I’m very last-minute about all these things and only know about them once they start happening. Some people are real aurora experts and track them like storms. There are websites, apps, and all sorts of things. I gotta get my act together so I can plan for these events better. I was having so much fun with the landscape orientation… but then I decided to go vertical for a few shots, and I am glad I did! When I show people these photos without any explanation, they never ever ask me what that yellow-green light is in the lower part. I don’t know if they just assume it is the aurora, or maybe they think it is light from a city, or maybe they think I added it in post. I just don’t know… but I do like to see people’s reactions, especially when they are confused. I don’t know why I enjoy confusing people with these sorts of photos, but it is just kinda fun. I think it is fun because I am also confused by how this kind of light can even be possible!  - Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Milky Way over the Burning Bush I took this photo in Death Valley one evening. The bush is red and mysterious because of a bit or light-painting with my headlamp. My neck got a bit tired from multiple tries. That glow around it? I don’t really know… maybe a bit of the dust from the desert caught the red light. Either way, I like how everything looks all funky and zen.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Church of the Good Shepherd under the Stars This is one of The Darkest Skies in the World. You may find this snippet interesting: “A delegation from the country has successfully petitioned UNESCO for the protection of ‘sky-scapes’ as well as landscapes under their World Heritage system, in order to see the status granted to the air above Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook.”If you ever get to this place, you’ll be so shocked that you can see this with the naked eye! It’s certainly worth a visit…- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Milky Way over Queenstown Tom and I went up to the top of the gondola a few days ago to get some shots of the stars. The sky was clear and we were lucky!I made this with the fisheye lens and then did the lens correction on it. A bunch of stuff ended up getting cut off, but only I know that… It bothers me because there was some other awesome stuff! But since you don’t know what you’re missing… well I hope it is just good enough. :)- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Milky Way over Queenstown Tom and I went up to the top of the gondola a few days ago to get some shots of the stars. The sky was clear and we were lucky!I made this with the fisheye lens and then did the lens correction on it. A bunch of stuff ended up getting cut off, but only I know that… It bothers me because there was some other awesome stuff! But since you don’t know what you’re missing… well I hope it is just good enough. :)- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Stars Above Grand Central Station I took this photo a few moments before getting kicked out for using a tripod. They said I could go sign up for a permit, but I told them I could not be bothered. I wasn’t mean about it, just sort of matter-of-fact. I asked if women with strollers needed to get a permit or men with canes, and they said of course not.I would like to make a tripod that attached to a baby stroller. In fact, instead of the baby, I could put all my camera gear down there. So it could be a rolling camera-bag-stroller with tripod attachment. It would look crazy, but it would be kind of awesome too.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Solar Storm Hits Queenstown I’ve been awake for two days.It all started yesterday after I put the kids to bed. I got a Facebook message from Stefan Haworth. It turns out that he and Eden Brackstone were headed out for a little viewing of the big solar storm that was hitting the atmosphere. Down thisaway, it’s called the Aurora Australis. Since I’ve never before seen one (despite countless attempts in Iceland), I was ready to suit up!And it turns out that one of the best places we saw them was right here in Queenstown! I had a decent view from the place I am staying here at The Commonage, but the clouds were pretty heavy. So, we drove down along Lake Wakatipu until we were just past Wye creek. I got out of the car, let my eyes adjust, then saw colored shafts of light shooting up through the edge of our snow-globe. It wasn’t like I expected! It’s…. hard to explain.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

The Night of the Aurora


I think these happen a lot down here in New Zealand! I’m hardly an expert though… I’m very last-minute about all these things and only know about them once they start happening. Some people are real aurora experts and track them like storms. There are websites, apps, and all sorts of things. I gotta get my act together so I can plan for these events better.

I was having so much fun with the landscape orientation… but then I decided to go vertical for a few shots, and I am glad I did!

When I show people these photos without any explanation, they never ever ask me what that yellow-green light is in the lower part. I don’t know if they just assume it is the aurora, or maybe they think it is light from a city, or maybe they think I added it in post. I just don’t know… but I do like to see people’s reactions, especially when they are confused. I don’t know why I enjoy confusing people with these sorts of photos, but it is just kinda fun. I think it is fun because I am also confused by how this kind of light can even be possible!

- Trey Ratcliff

Click here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Click here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog." href="javascript:openLB(2495530362,'',XLarge,'',513,768);">The Night of the Aurora I think these happen a lot down here in New Zealand! I’m hardly an expert though… I’m very last-minute about all these things and only know about them once they start happening. Some people are real aurora experts and track them like storms. There are websites, apps, and all sorts of things. I gotta get my act together so I can plan for these events better. I was having so much fun with the landscape orientation… but then I decided to go vertical for a few shots, and I am glad I did! When I show people these photos without any explanation, they never ever ask me what that yellow-green light is in the lower part. I don’t know if they just assume it is the aurora, or maybe they think it is light from a city, or maybe they think I added it in post. I just don’t know… but I do like to see people’s reactions, especially when they are confused. I don’t know why I enjoy confusing people with these sorts of photos, but it is just kinda fun. I think it is fun because I am also confused by how this kind of light can even be possible!  - Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

The Night of the Aurora


I think these happen a lot down here in New Zealand! I’m hardly an expert though… I’m very last-minute about all these things and only know about them once they start happening. Some people are real aurora experts and track them like storms. There are websites, apps, and all sorts of things. I gotta get my act together so I can plan for these events better.

I was having so much fun with the landscape orientation… but then I decided to go vertical for a few shots, and I am glad I did!

When I show people these photos without any explanation, they never ever ask me what that yellow-green light is in the lower part. I don’t know if they just assume it is the aurora, or maybe they think it is light from a city, or maybe they think I added it in post. I just don’t know… but I do like to see people’s reactions, especially when they are confused. I don’t know why I enjoy confusing people with these sorts of photos, but it is just kinda fun. I think it is fun because I am also confused by how this kind of light can even be possible!

- Trey Ratcliff

Click here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
See photo in original gallery.