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Northern Lights effect caught dancing over Penticton

Photographer John Poon caught the Aurora Borealis effect dancing over Penticton on Tuesday morning.
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COLOURFUL CITY — Penticton Western News reader John Poon submitted this amazing shot capturing the Aurora Borealis effect dancing off the mountains above Penticton early Tuesday morning. He used a process involving three photos (one overexposed to bring out shadow detail, one exposed normally and the other one under exposed to bring the highlights under control). The photos are then merged, enhancing the colour a bit but not altering it. Photo courtesy of John C. Poon.

Photographer John Poon caught the Aurora Borealis effect dancing over Penticton on Tuesday morning.

Poon used a process involving three photos (one overexposed to bring out shadow detail, one exposed normally and the other one under exposed to bring the highlights under control). The photos are then merged, enhancing the colour a bit but not altering it.

Poon said this far south the Northern Lights are not as intense as they appear in his images, but the process he used helps bring out details and colours hard to see.

“Most of the time it is quite faint and hard to see with the naked eye. Many people find it hard to believe we have northern lights, they are there. Most photographers drive miles out of the city to avoid light pollution so the aurora show better, but I wanted the shots to include the city,” he said.

Submit your photos and videos to newstips@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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COLOURFUL CITY — Penticton Western News reader John Poon submitted this amazing shot capturing the Aurora Borealis dancing off the mountains above Penticton early Tuesday morning. He used a process involving three photos (one overexposed to bring out shadow detail, one exposed normally and the other one under exposed to bring the highlights under control). The photos are then merged, enhancing the colour a bit but not altering it. Photo courtesy of John C. Poon.