Hale-Bopp Comet above Gastineau Channel with northern lights – Image 2031

April 1997 was a month of cloudless skies. Comet Hale-Bopp was our constant companion from mid-March through April. As the end of April approached, I had not taken a photo of the comet. It seemed like I was the only photographer in the world without some shot of this phenomenonal celestrial event. Towards the end of April with only a few days left of the comet in our evening skies, I decided to spent a evening shooting the comet. I set up, and to my surprise and delight the northern lights filled the sky above Mount Juneau. Three hours and three rolls of film later, I had this photo. The photo was shot on Velvia film pushed one stop to ASA 100, with a Nikon F4 camera body and a 35-70mm F2.8 lens. No digital touch-up or manipulation was done to this photo.-Mark Kelley