07/12/2026
WHAT A NIGHT
I was out at Smith Rock Central Oregons high desert ,July 3rd 2026.
Earlier in the day, I was making pictures with the Smith Rock eagle family.Hoping to catch the eaglet flying. Didnt happen so I decided to try again early morning and just car camp for the night. It was about 11:30 pm I was all snug in my sleeping bag starting to drift off to sleep . I wanted to be back with the eagles at daylight.
All of a sudden my aurora alerts were going off .I jumped up and there it was! I could barely see it with my eyes but my camera was picking it up.It was beautiful. I was out until 4 am finding different compositions . Then the moon not quite full it looked huge as it began rising , the moonlight was illuminating the Smith rock cliffs . It was beyond beautiful .
I was exhausted daylight was about an hour away. I did get about a hour sleep and decided I would just come back in couple days to catch the eaglet Phoenix in flight. I needed to get back home to get some sleep, and spend the 4 th with my family.
But what a unexexpected treat.