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Aurora Borealis by Ryan Marquis

Captured on a frigid February night in Kenai, Alaska, this photograph documents a sudden, dramatic surge in auroral activity. After enduring sub-zero temperatures, the photographer was rewarded when the Northern Lights intensified, casting a vibrant green glow across the landscape. The composition masterfully captures the aurora as it appears to interact with the frosted trees and the quiet, snow-covered road below. This image is award-worthy for its ability to transform a challenging, cold-weather environment into a serene and ethereal moment, showcasing the raw, dynamic beauty of the Alaskan wilderness under the dance of the night sky.

Aurora Borealis by Ryan Marquis
Canon T1i | Exposure 3sec @ f/1.8 | ISO 800 | Focal Length 50mm
Copyright Β© Ryan Marquis
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Ryan Marquis

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Kenai, Alaska, Ryan Marquis is a dedicated photographer who utilizes his proximity to untamed wilderness to document the natural world. His work primarily focuses on landscapes and wildlife, often serving as an extension of his own perspective on the environment. Through his photography and accompanying photoblog, he provides both visual beauty and educational context, capturing everything from the ethereal aurora borealis of the long Alaskan winters to the vibrant flora and fauna of the midnight sun.

Profile View Full Profile
12.0/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
150/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
15,895 views | 10 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date July 27, 2011
64.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 15.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, The United States

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Night Photography
Ryan Marquis Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.8/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
2,115/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
15,895/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.3/5 points
5/100 Review
Submissions
1.5/5 points
150/500 Submission
Jury Score: 64.0/80
Resonance Score: 11.8/20
Total Award Score: 75.8/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The air in Kenai must have been brittle, biting at his skin while he waited for the sky to wake. It’s a rare thing to see the aurora touch the frosted trees so intimately. I’ve spent enough nights in the cold to know the ache in his fingers, yet he stayed. When that green light finally spilled over the road, he didn't rush. He listened to the silence. It’s hauntingly beautiful; I felt a shiver.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
Three seconds at f/1.8 in a Kenai February. Most would have packed it in once the numbness reached their shins, but Marquis clearly stayed long enough to let the frost settle into his bones. It’s a quiet, shivering sort of frame. I’ve spent enough nights in that particular brand of Alaskan misery to know he didn't just stumble upon this. He earned that green glow. It’s a cold, honest piece of work.
Eleanor Voss Composition & Visual Structure Expert Review
The frame’s geometry relies on the verticality of the frosted pines to anchor the atmospheric turbulence above. It’s a precarious balance. The road provides a necessary horizontal fulcrum, preventing the composition from dissolving into celestial chaos. I’m genuinely struck by the way the negative space between the trees dictates the rhythm of the light. It doesn't collapse under the weight of the aurora. The structure holds, even if the subject matter teeters on the edge of sentiment.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most auroral shots are just neon wallpaper, but this one sticks. By choosing a 50mm lens, Ryan forced a claustrophobic intimacy with those frosted trees that wider angles usually lose. It’s the way the green light bleeds into the snow-covered road that gets me; it feels like the sky is actually touching the earth. I’ve seen thousands of these, yet this quiet, sub-zero stillness is the only one I’d still want to look at in thirty years.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
That electric chartreuse, reminiscent of Turner’s most volatile atmospheric studies, bleeds into the obsidian shadows with a haunting, spectral grace. It’s not merely light; it’s a shivering, verdant pulse against the frozen, muted indigo of the Kenai pines. I’ve found myself breathless, truly, before the way that acidic glow clings to the snow like spilled absinthe. One doesn’t just see this frigid night; one feels the colour vibrating against the skin, cold and impossibly alive.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Margaret Holt

The Silent Language of Light

In the deepest part of winter, the world seems to hold its breath, waiting for a signal that the darkness is not an end, but a veil. We often mistake silence for emptiness, forgetting that the most profound conversations in nature happen without a single spoken word.

Read the reflection →
By Priya Kapoor

The Breath of Winter

The air in mid-winter has a sharp, metallic edge that catches in the back of the throat, tasting faintly of iron and frozen pine needles.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

Share your thoughts about this award-winning photograph. Your reviews contribute to the community engagement score.

10 replies
  1. Joe says:

    Amazing photo!
    Wow I wish I could go up there. The aurora has to be one of the most interesting mysteries in the world…I’d love to see it! I can’t believe you can see it moving with the naked eye.

    Reply
  3. Eileen says:

    I echo what Susan said. I feel like I’m there and have finally witnessed this spectacular display. Very spiritual feel.

    Reply
  5. Susan says:

    Amazing. At least once in my life I want to see these lights in person. As I have not, these pictures are wonderful.

    Reply

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