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Gordon Lake/Norbert falls 3 day Youth Retreat Louis Iron is a 16-year-old Pinehouse Photography Club member. "I grew melancholy after my stepfather committed suicide," Louis explains. "I felt sad a lot of the time, didn't want to go outside...we were all miserable." Louis discovered the Pinehouse Photography Club soon after the catastrophe. Pinehouse Photographic Organization (PPC) is a local photography club that encourages children and teenagers to utilize photography as a therapeutic tool. "Learning photography has helped me a lot with my sentiments," Louis adds. "I've met a lot of new people that encourage me and make me happy. Taking photographs allowed me to see things I had never seen before, and I began to feel less depressed." The PPC sponsored a spring/summer event at Gordon Lake and Norbert Falls, thanks to funding from the Youth-led Community Health Grant programme. Vice Present Jon Durocher says, "We only wanted a select youth with whom we could spend some quality time." "Instead, we had a flood of youth who wanted to engage!" The group ended up hosting almost 30 youngsters for the three-day outing, exceeding its initial aim of 15 youth. "We concentrated on photography, teaching the students how to take images and then discussing them afterward," Durocher says. "And we've noticed that once these kids start shooting pictures, they start to open up to one another and to the rest of the group." They begin to converse. Durocher goes on to say, "It was a great time. They camped, swam, fished, went tubing, hiked, and played hide & seek in addition to photography. They watched movies on a projection screen outside. It was a fantastic experience for all of us!" The photography club received a $2000 grant from the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute's Youth-led Community Health Grant program for this event. "We wouldn't have been able to put on this event for the kids without those monies," says Mallory Lariviere, program director. "We couldn't believe how many kids were interested in photography and this event," Lariviere says. "Using photography to initiate a conversation about mental health and feelings helps the youngsters start the conversation." The event was hosted by a non-profit group with a focus on healthy living. "We wanted to have a combination of enjoyment for the kids while also taking the chance to conduct some educating," says Dre Erwin, President. The youth were given a list of activities as well as discussions about addictions and mental health. "Photography is frequently used to assist young people in communicating. It provides them with a means of expressing themselves, which in turn allows for more dialogue ", Erwin says. Morgan Tinker, youth and volunteer at the event says the experience was just a lot of fun. "Everyone was happy and laughing and we did so many activities. No one wanted to leave", says Tinker. The Pinehouse Photography Club focuses on using photography as a means for young people to express themselves without having to say anything. Youth who are at high risk for mental health issues and/or addictions frequently start talking about their feelings and thoughts. For more information, visit their website or join their Facebook page to witness some of the incredible work that the youth are doing.

Photography is more than just a kind of art; it's also a way of expressing oneself and communicating one's sentiments and views. A single snapshot has the ability to communicate a thousand different stories. This is one of the reasons why it has become a hobby for some and a form of therapy for others. The Pinehouse Photography Club's story is told here. Our hopes and mission are to propagate this simple notion and concept to young people all over the world. It's 100% worth it to see how snapping a picture with just a phone may help a child open up about suicidal thoughts.

Keara Tinker is a 17 year old from Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan. Keara joined the Pinehouse Photography Club late last year and has found the club and photography very useful. "Photography changed my life!" says Tinker, "before I didn’t know how to look at life because I was at a that point of depression. I was cutting my arms thinking about suicide often and I was always putting my self down". "Therapeutic photography increases self esteem and self worth" Now an active youth and member in the club, Keara utilizes therapeutic photography techniques to help prevent mental health issues, such as depression and thoughts of suicide. Tinker says that she was scared at first to try something new. "I was to scared to go there until they opened the studio near by my house". "I dont think of my depression anymore. I don’t cut my arms anymore. I don’t think of suicide anymore," Tinker. Therapeutic photography changes the way youth see their lives. Instead of looking down, and focusing on negativity, they begin to see the beauty all around themselves. "I am starting to take pictures of my beautiful home town and now everyone (I see) is beautiful and pretty," Tinker. "I love taking pictures now!" Tinker encourages all youth to be brave and try something new. Photography helps "you see life differently and it's a lot of fun!" Tinker. The Pinehouse Photography Club is a division of the Canadian PhotoHealth Authority, which utilizes therapeutic photography to help prevent and deal with youth mental health problems and/or addiction. Statistically, the non-profit organization engages over 300 youth a month in Pinehouse and is focused on spreading more awareness to other communities and government officials that there is more options that can be explored to even prevent mental health problems before they occur. More more information, you can like Keara's photogoraphy page In the Moment" on Facebook.

The story chronicles a young man's journey through loss and despair, and how companionship, counsel, support, and creativity help him find happiness and optimism. Based on a true story, Dre Erwin's inspiring photography and illustration book in both English and Cree, is for readers of all ages offers a touching heartening journey. With photos from the youth in Pinehouse, illustrations, editing and reviews by hundreds of youth Dre and his team help in northern Canada, The little Boy who Found Happiness, in the most Unusual Place, is a must for every bookshelf. As a primary care RN (AAP) in northern Canada, Dre uses photography and preventative health care through the use of therapeutic photography and primary health care. Dre Erwin's incomparable career as a Primary Care Nurse and now children's book author and illustrator focuses on the work he does with his team, with youth and preventative youth mental health. Dre and his work, along with the Pinehouse Photography Club(PPC) has been featured on Global National News, CBC: The National, and is the focus of conversation in the CBC award winning documentary "A New Lens on Life". Please consider purchasing your own copy on paperback or as an ebook. Most proceeds will go directly to programming for youth and looking broadly, expanding therapeutic photography clubs across Saskatchewan, Canada, and abroad. Thank You. "See the world through a new lens and see beauty! Guarantee! So many things we take for granted, but pictures help us see".

In the world today, many youth are left with fear, anxiety and isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus is also a serious mental health problem. The stress of the pandemic can exacerbate the symptoms of people who are already suffering from mental illness, as well as trigger mental illnesses such as anxiety in others. While we must maintain physical isolation, we do not need to maintain social distance as a community in modern times because we can safely communicate online. There are still a variety of ways to communicate with one another, including calling, texting, and Facetime. While maintaining social isolation and distancing, there are many other things youth can do to keep occupied. Such as: take pictures, go for a walk, write, read, bake, cook, spend time with family, play games, exercise at home, watch movies, and so on. In northern, rural and remote communities, such as Pinehouse, finding solitude is often fairly easy to do. We recommend youth and people to get outside at least once a day on their own, and go for a walk on the track or out onto the lake while keeping your distance. Try connecting with nature, even taking pictures. Share your pictures with others. Get some exercise and vitamin D as long as you can do it safely, distancing yourself from others, and remembering to wash your hands as directed. Pinehouse Photography Club situated in Pinehouse Lake, uses therapeutic photography. With a studio and a director running the club, youth can use cameras and equipment to have a lot of fun. "Yesterday we started a challenge for Canadians to build their bubble of protection & #StayInsideYourBubble. We need to maintain this zone of protection around us to keep COVID-19 out. Ideally, each of us builds our own 2-metre radius bubble. But couples, families, & other cohabitants can create a bubble with 2, 4 or more people all keeping to one bubble." -Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Medical Health Officer We'd love to see your physical distancing bubbles Saskatchewan! If you are ever feeling sad, confused, anxious, alone, or have any concerns or questions, we encourage you to contact: KIDS HELP PHONE FREE! Call a counsellor: 1-800-668-6868 Text CONNECT to 686868

So, I'm hoping you're not simply thinking about seeing the northern lights. While you're at it, I hope you do some photography. And if you're not sure where to begin, visit our forum; I'd be happy to assist! Saskatchewan residents and those in northern areas of the world should expect increased sightings of the famous aurora borealis starting of the end of December this year. The northern lights, like they do every year, are more visible throughout the long winter nights. The aurora borealis is caused by the interaction of solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field. The responses of charged particles from the sun interacting with other components in the atmosphere are what we see as vibrant colors dancing in the sky. Green and red lights are usually caused by oxygen reactions, while purple lights are caused by the presence of nitrogen. The rise is also tied to the sun's solar cycle, in which changes in the sun's magnetic field cause increased activity on its surface (while also switching its magnetic poles). The appearance of sunspots as well as an increase in solar wind activity are examples of these processes. The current solar cycle is already four years away from solar maximum (when the sun is more or less covered with sunspots). However, it has been speculated that this solar cycle may even be moving ahead of schedule. Best places to see them in Saskatchewan skies As is customary for the arch, the far north east will be the best. Those who have always desired to see the aurora borealis have already had opportunity to observe them all throughout the province, as we were hit with a few geomagnetic storms in October and November. The latest sightings of the northern lights have been confirmed by reports and photographer's testimonies in just about every location outside of cities. Still, for people who are new to town, the following are some of the best types of getaway spots: All dark sky preserves: protected places dedicated to preserving and protecting the night by limiting or eliminating all forms of light pollution. Especially if you're doing photography, in front of lakes and renowned structures. And, to be honest, if you're going to view the northern lights, you'll need to invest in the necessary equipment to catch them - but that's a matter for another discussion. Saskatchewan has a lot of open fields. According to solar forecasts, more solar activity will mean more of these sights, so Saskatchewan Aurora hunters should have a lot of opportunities in the coming years :) I for one, am a little skeptical there will be any significant different on average from year to year - but fingers crossed. Tags aurora borealis, Saskatchewan © 2021 Dreerwinphoto.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

You don't have to look much further if you're a photographer. Here you'll find the most up-to-date northern lights photography techniques for 2022. Many travelers' bucket lists include seeing the Northern Lights. Stargazers from all over the world go to the region to catch a sight of the phenomena — and to take a few photos. So keep reading to learn how to photograph the Aurora Borealis with a DSLR camera or even your smartphone! Camera Equipment Planning Your Shoot Focusing Your Lens at Night Camera Setup & Settings: F-Stop Settings Shutter Speed & ISO Settings Final Words of Advice This guide covers everything you’ll need including camera settings, equipment recommendations, and tips for planning your shoot. Scroll down & start learning! 1. Camera Equipment It is not necessary to spend a lot of money to shoot the northern lights. Most modern phones can now take decent-looking aurora shots without any additional equipment. If you're anything like me, however, a DSLR will give you far crisper and more detailed photographs, which you can often expand and print. As for a DSLR camera, any camera with manual mode is required for northern lights photography. You must be able to control f-stop, shutter speed, and ISO, each manually to get decent looking pictures. Full-frame cameras, such as the Nikon D850, are what I use and suggest (but in all honesty, the lens might even be more important then the body itself). In comparison to a crop sensor camera, a full-frame camera will provide significantly higher quality images with less noise. If you wish to make huge prints, you can still use a crop sensor camera, but the image quality will be substantially worse. When I initially started, I utilized the Nikon d5500, and the results were actually rather nice. It's also a good idea to have a portable battery charger with you; keep it in your vehicle, and I recommend having at least 3-4 fully charged batteries ready to go for your shoot! The Best Lens for Photographing the Northern Lights: With a wide-angle lens, you may snap enormous landscapes when the northern lights are visible overhead. For northern lights photography, I recommend using minimum f-stop values of f/1.8 to f/2.8. Full frame focal lengths between 14mm and 30mm are recommended. Crop sensor focal lengths between 10mm and 25mm are recommended. Shooting at f/2.8 produces a very wide aperture opening, in turn, allowing more light to hit the image sensor over a standard exposure time. This is taught below. You’ll learn why this is so important, below. Currently, I shoot with the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 for all my night sky images. Best Tripod for Northern Lights Photography: A carbon fiber tripod, with sturdy legs and adjustable ball head is great for northern lights photography. Cheaper tripods will also work but usually nowhere near as well - often most photographers will say that the best piece of equipment they have is their tripod - so dont cheap out. Carbon fiber tripods reduce vibration in the legs providing sharper images. It’s also essential to use a tripod head that does not move at all over the long exposures required for northern lights photography. To reduce camera shake and create sharper images I use the Exposure Delay Mode on my camera. Set a 5-10 second timer to wait 5 seconds before taking each shot - that way there is no shake or blur. This will remove any camera shake from pushing the shutter button. 2. Planning Your Shoot Step 1: Go to areas you plan to shoot from during the day. Find the ideal locations first! Step 2: Find Dark Skies The easiest way to find an area with dark skies is to check the Dark Sky preserve: in Canada you can check it out here. Map which is a Google / NASA collaboration. The black areas are free of light pollution, while white and grey areas have high light pollution. Shooting in dark areas will provide the best results, most vivid colors & detail. Step 3: Find Clear Skies You don’t need perfectly clear skies to get some great shots. I usually aim for sky cover percentages between 0%-30%, which you can see on the blue line in the graphic below. We recommend downloading the Windy App from Google play store. Some websites call this cloud cover percentage. You can use your local weather website to find the cloud cover percentages. Step 4: Check the Aurora Activity Download a few different aurora forecast apps from the Play store and watch them all Most countries in the Far North have their own Northern Lights activity service. The northern lights activity index ( Kp-index ) ranges from 0-9 with 0 being the lowest amount of activity and 9 being the greatest. Kp-index ratings of 5 or great are considered a storm. I prefer to shoot on nights with a KP index of 4 or greater. You can get some great shots even with a KP index of 2. Here is a list of the forecasting websites I have used in the past. Space Weather Live OVATION Auroral Forecast: A really nice visual website that provides the current aurora forecast as well as other interesting facts which will help you to capture a photo of the Northern Lights. Space Weather Aurora Forecast: Another great website with a broad overview of the aurora forecast for a multi-day time frame. Space Weather’s website is worth spending some time visiting! Just remember, it sometimes doesn't mean anything to just look at an app - often you just need to get outside and wait. 3. Focusing Your Lens at Night Because the sky and northern lights are so far away from where we are on the planet, concentrating at or near infinity will produce sharp photographs. I've tried a variety of methods and watched numerous videos on how to do it the simplest way. The "" symbol on most lenses is used to indicate the near infinity focus position. Focusing on this symbol doesn’t always produce the sharpest images. It’s better to test first using the method below to ensure sharp focus for your shoot. Experimentation and practice are key to finding out what works and what doesn’t! There are many different options for focusing your lens at night. But when it comes down to it, I use the simple technique of using live view and focusing on a star until it is the smallest and sharpest it can be - that's it. Other options include: setting your focus during the day If it’s your first time out shooting at night, this method works really well to cut down on the confusion that can happen when it gets dark. Step 1: Get your camera & lens set up during the day. You will want to use the same lens, focal length, and f-stop that you will use to shoot at night. You can do this at your house, outside a hotel, or anywhere that’s easy. Open the f-stop to f/2.8 or f/4. Use the widest focal length possible. I recommend 14-25mm. Step 2: Focus on something in the distance, approximately 50 feet out in front of your camera. Pick any object in this area and focus on it. Step 3: Verify you have sharp focus by taking a couple of practice shots and zooming in to make sure the focus point is sharp. Next, verify that the horizon in the image is also sharp, or whatever the furthest object in your composition happens to be. Step 4: Use a piece of tape to mark this spot on your lens, or tape it down so the focal ring does not move. White tape is easy to see in the dark. This is the focal point and focal length you will use to shoot the northern lights. I always shoot at my widest focal length for all night sky shots and crop down if required. B as I mentioned earlier, I only use live view at night to focus and I often refocus every 30 mins or just - just in case I might of bumped it or something. Last thing you want is to go home to edit your pictures to find out they are all out of focus - it has happened to me before! 4. Camera Setup & Settings: Shooting Mode Preferences: Manual Mode allows you to manually adjust the ISO, Aperture, and shutter speed by hand. Image Settings RAW Format will produce the best results for northern lights photography. Metering Mode The metering mode does not matter since at night your camera meter is not accurate. I use center-weighted average for landscape photography, so leaving it on that works well. Color Balance / White Balance Kelvin Values of 3000-5000 work well for northern lights photography. Use the Kelvin white balance setting on your camera to control this function. My White Balance Shooting Technique Video has detailed info on this topic. The goal is to “neutralize” the color on the camera so it matches exactly what you see with your eyes. The colors of a successful image should be very close to what you see in front of you, in the sky. Lens Focal Length Full Frame Focal Lengths: 14-50mm work great for northern lights photography. Crop Focal Lengths: 10-40mm will work well for northern lights photography. F-Stop / Aperture Settings I recommend f-stop settings of f/2.8 for northern lights photography. Shutter Speed / Exposure Time I recommend shutter speeds of 1 second to 15 seconds for northern lights photography. This will really depend on how quickly the aurora is moving through the sky. ISO Settings ISO settings of 500-2000 work well for northern lights photography. Sometimes you can go higher depending on the camera. This will all depend on how bright the lights are in the sky. In-Camera Noise Reduction Settings Some cameras have settings to apply noise reduction, in the camera. If you have these settings, turn them OFF. ​5. F-Stop Settings In my opinion, f/2.8 is the best aperture setting for aurora photography. The wide lens opening allows your camera’s sensor to collect a lot of light from the scene while keeping your ISO and image noise, low. You can still keep the foreground acceptably sharp while shooting at f/2.8, but can also experiment with f/3.5 or f/4. I don’t recommend opening your aperture any wider than f/2.8. With very wide apertures it becomes hard to focus at night, over the entire depth of field. The key is allowing the most amount of light to hit your camera’s sensor in the least amount of time, in turn maintaining a lower ISO, inducing less image noise. 6. Shutter Speed & ISO Settings I grouped shutter speed & ISO together due to the fact that you’ll need to change them both at the same time since they directly reflect on one another. After a few hours of photographing the Northern Lights, using the skill sets provided below, you will easily be able to adjust both of these settings simultaneously, obtaining great results. Ask yourself the following questions to determine the camera shutter speed and ISO settings for northern lights photography. Question 1: How Quickly is the Aurora Moving Through the Sky? With high-level aurora activity, the Northern lights can move through the sky very quickly. To capture all of the nice color and detail in this scene, without your photo looking like a “blob of color”, you’ll need to shoot at a much shorter exposure time than if the aurora was moving slowly through the sky. Think about it this way… If the aurora is moving very quickly through the sky, and you take a photo at a 30-second exposure, instead of seeing the instantaneous view that your eyes see, your camera will actually pick up the entire movement of the aurora through the sky over that 30-second time frame. The details and colors will become the average of the 30-second exposure for each pixel. As seen with long exposures of water or cloud scenes, all of the color and movement mixes together. This is not the goal for photographing the Northern Lights, we want, vivid color and nice detail. Keeping your shutter speed between 3-25 seconds will work very well for shooting the northern lights. When the aurora is moving quickly, try 3-7 second exposures. When it’s moving slower, or it’s not as bright, try 10-25 seconds. You can increase or decrease these times as you see fit, they are just rules of thumb! Experimenting and taking as many shots as possible, at different shutters speeds will help you to learn what works best! Question 2: How Bright is the Aurora in the Sky? All of the other settings have now be adjusted. It’s time to select an ISO value. Since the northern lights changes color, speed, and brightness all throughout the night, you’ll also need to constantly adjust your camera settings to match this dynamic situation. The goal is to keep your ISO low as possible, while still shooting at the correct f-stop and shutter speed to correctly expose the scene. Here are the steps to adjust ISO: Steps 1: Start out shooting with an ISO of 400-800 and take a practice shot. Step 2: If your practice shot wasn’t bright enough, increase your ISO to approximately 1200 and take a practice shot. Step 3: If the photo still isn’t bright enough, continue to increase your ISO until it is. I usually shoot in the ISO range of 800-4000. Always keep in mind that your image should not be (in terms of the histogram ) correctly exposed, you are shooting at night, so the image can also be dark. You can bring out nearly all of this dark detail in photo editing. Always watch your histogram to make sure you’re not losing any dark detail off of the left-hand side. You will also want to make sure that you’re not “blowing out” any highlights, meaning the histogram isn’t dropping off the right-hand side. After a few nights practicing the provided skills under the night sky you will easily grasp all of the concepts. Always remember you should never increase the ISO to obtain a brighter image prior to opening your aperture to the widest possible value ( f/2.8 works great ), and dialing in the maximum exposure time while still maintaining nice detail in the Northern Lights. To summarise, anyone can take pictures of the northern lights, and it can often be done without spending a lot of money. Don't believe the sceptics who insist on solely utilizing digital cameras. Your smartphone can also be used, and you can edit and share your aurora photographs in a matter of seconds. Refocus frequently! After you've taken your pictures, you shouldn't need to do much editing, so practice with trial and error to get your settings right. This guide should have answered some of your questions. Go out and have a good time!

The Allure of Northern Lights Photography "If you can get beyond some of the dread, heading out on gravel roads or strolling down unbeaten pathways late at night in the middle of nowhere can be such a joy," says Dre Erwin of Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan. "Who can say no when the opportunity to watch 'Lady Aurora' make such a spectacular appearance presents itself?" It's never as scary when you have a companion!" 1. Dancing Northern Lights "There's nothing quite like being beneath an aurora storm, especially when it comes on so quickly," Erwin adds. "It can change from pitch dark to light as day in a matter of seconds - but they don't last long, so you have to be looking and ready at all times!" " 2. No 2 Aurora Geomagnetic Storms are alike “Every night is different so don't be fooled to think seen one you seen them all" Erwin. 3. Eerie Image “It is amazing what you can see when you spend your nights looking at the stars! I've seen everything from angels; strange movements of light; meteors; STEVE; and images of my dog that passed away" - says Erwin 4. Stunning Light Show “I captured this spectacular display of the aurora borealis above Pinehouse Lake a few years ago while we sat back, ate popcorn and drank Tim Hortons. Seems pretty Canadian if you ask me!" - Erwin 5.

The Northern Lights are one of nature's most spectacular displays of true majesty. These emotive and spectacular streams of coloring, also known as Aurora Borealis, dance in the cool night sky in colors of blue, purple, yellow, red, green, or pink. The irregularity is caused by the sun's energetic particles interacting with the atoms and molecules in the planet's air. The different shades are related to the different types of gas particles that smash, with the most well-known being a yellowish green. During the colder months, the Aurora Borealis is more grounded and visible, and timing is critical. Auroras happen on planet earth as well as on different universes in the planetary group like Jupiter and Neptune. Be that as it may, for the present gives center around top survey areas access Canada. So wrap up in your hottest parka, get your Tim Horton's espresso and be keeping watch for wild moose, Eh? Where to see the lights in Canada There are five key provinces and territories in Canada where catching sight of the elusive phenomena is almost guaranteed. Manitoba Churchill, in the far north of Manitoba, boasts ideal Northern Lights viewing conditions on almost 300 nights a year thanks to its location directly beneath the Aurora oval itself. Relax at Churchill Wild's Seal River Heritage Lodge or Dymond Lake Eco Lodge, where the friendly staff will make sure you don't miss a chance to enjoy the lights. The Churchill Hotel will arrange a night in an Aurora vault - a warmed plexiglass bubble located away from the town's light pollution to provide free views of the incredible show - for an experience you'll never forget. Saskatchewan and Alberta Some of the best northern lights in Canada can be seen in these 2 provinces, mainly because of how the aurora arch hits these two provinces. In Saskatchewan, you'll find a lot of Northern Lights action north of Saskatoon. In this region of the province, there are 11 provincial parks open all year. Pinehouse Lake and La Ronge, as well as the Paws'n'Paddles Wilderness Tours, are two wonderful sites to start your Northern Lights journey. Saskatchewan's license plate slogan, "Land of the Living Skies," is certainly true. The Yukon The most north westerly of Canada’s territories is sparsely populated and has minimal light pollution – stellar conditions for Aurora Borealis sightings. The show is at its best here in the beginning of winter, under the pitch-black sky and better still when you’re watching from an outdoor hot tub. At the Northern Lights Resort & Spa you can observe the northern lights from that hot tub, a teepee, or a cozy cabin with expansive glass walls. Alternatively, keep warm by a wood-fired barrel stove while you wait for the show to begin on a tour organized with Northern Tales Travel Service. For the best photo opportunities, head to the Midnight Dome in Dawson City – a scenic spot that overlooks the Yukon River and epic Klondike Valley, Aurora blazing overhead. Northwest Territories/Nunavut A 2-hour departure from Vancouver on the northern shores of Great Slave Lake, the capital of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, lies inland so it's typically liberated from murkiness and cloud ­-fundamental for the most clear view. As a matter of fact, the view is obvious to the point that the Northwest Territories normal 240 evenings every extended period of ideal aurora seeing circumstances. Aurora searchers as a rule stay in inns like The Explorer or Chateau Nova prior to branching away to a survey area. Floor covering up well - or enjoy Aurora Village's fire-warmed Teepee experience. Further off-framework, the eco-grant winning Blachford Lake Lodge and Wilderness Resort is available just through a 25-minute bushplane departure from Yellowknife and offers hotel or log-lodge convenience with in-house gourmet experts.

April 2, 2022 Many folks in Canada and the upper United States have been fortunate enough to witness heightened northern light activity during the previous few days. Auroras have been seen as far south as Nevada, and they look to be a bright red. Because of a massive coronal mass ejection from the sun, a strong geomagnetic storm watch was in effect from March 31 to April 2, 2022. An aurora surged across the northern United States and Canada on Wednesday night. Many others remarked on the aurora's intense red, which could be seen with the naked eye, while the dancing lights showed in greens, purples, and pinks. Hundreds, if not thousands, of amateur photographers have been out exploring dark dirt roads throughout the continent in search of the ideal snap as the aurora borealis was anticipated to explode in the night sky during the last several days. If you didn't know, the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are a stunning, colorful show of light that can be seen in the northern hemisphere's night sky, but not as frequently as they have been in recent days. The bright dancing lights of the aurora are actually collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere. Northern lights have been seen as far south as New Orleans in the western hemisphere, but equivalent regions in the east have never witnessed the enigmatic lights. The finest spots to see the Northern Lights (in North America) are in Canada's northwestern provinces, including Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Alaska. Dre Erwin, a photographer from Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada, shot the light show at 1030 p.m. "Having lived in Regina and Moose Jaw for much of my life, these were some of the greatest reds I've ever seen." "Normally, only a camera can see red, but these colours were apparent with the naked eye," Erwin explains. Auroral displays come in a variety of colours, although the most prevalent are mild green and pink. There have been reports of red, yellow, green, blue, and violet hues. The lights come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from patches or scattered clouds of light to streamers, arcs, rippling curtains, or shooting beams that cast an eerie glow across the sky. Auroral displays can also be visible over Greenland's southern tip, Iceland, Norway's northern shore, and the coastal waters north of Siberia. Because auroras in the southern hemisphere are concentrated in a ring around Antarctica and the southern Indian Ocean, they are rarely seen. Areas that are not subject to 'light pollution' are the best places to watch for the lights. Areas in the north, in smaller communities, tend to be best. Photographers frequently have to travel outside of the city to locate these dark skies. "It's ideal to go out throughout the day and scope out a site before it gets too dark," Erwin advises. Persistence is often required. Fun Fact: Some people claim to hear noises associated with the northern lights, but documenting this phenomenon has been difficult. Did you get some pictures of the northern lights in Canada or the United States over the last few days? We would love to see them...

I love this quote: "Set your life on fire. Seek those that fan your flame"! My translation to that is this: dont be hanging out with people always wanting to pull you down or make you look bad. The prerequisite to hangout out with any person is that they nourish and inspire you. They feed your flame! Look around you..who are the people you call friends? Who are the ones you text most often and talk to? Do they believe in you and support you? For me, I have always removed those who try to bring me down. When I was in high school, all some of my closet friends did was smoke up...they sat around, did nothing but get high, joke around, play video games, and get nowhere in life! I remember a kid, 14 years old dropped out of school just to hang out with them more often...and what did any of them do? Well put it this way, they didn't discourage him from dropping out that's fore-sure. So for me, leaving this group of friends was very tuff at the time...these were my buddies and at the time I couldn't see myself not hanging out with them! But, if it wasn't for my bravely and courage at the time to walk away, I wouldn't be where I am and who I am today! Always have a person beside you fanning your flames! Drop your phone for a second and look around you...are the ones you talk to and keep close throwing logs on your flame or pissing on it?! Thanks Will Smith for the encouragement :)

Imagine growing up and not knowing there was something this amazing and magical in the sky at night! Well that's me: and it's the story for so many people, even those in the far north believe it or not. Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, I never knew we could see the northern lights frequently in southern Saskatchewan until just recently. One can always "enhance" a picture to make the northern lights look brighter then they were, but these pictures are basically straight out of the camera! We decided to take a drive a few minutes north of the Regina after noticing on Facebook that Iceland got a good show a few hours ago. Hint: this is usually more predicable and a better indication of aurora display, then any app might be ;) It wasn't until I moved back home from northern Saskatchewan was I able to witness them here for myself in southern Saskatchewan, and wow, I wasn't disappointed! We almost left Condie Nature preserve before the northern lights got really good - another reminder that perseverance always pays off. I felt bad for all the people who left before us. Perseverance" something I learned doing aurora borealis photography up north. Sometimes it might suck having to stand around and wait for something that might never happen - maybe it's a bit of faith as well. Maybe it's that we often are looking down in life or maybe too busy living in city life, we fail or forget to look up from time to time. Regardless, it was pretty exciting to see them here and I am glad to have got some footage for everyone to enjoy. I'd love to see your pictures - please share anytime!