Chasing the Aurora: A Cinestill 800T Masterpiece from Maine

This past October 10th, 2024, offered a spectacular display of a G4 geomagnetic storm, painting the night sky with vibrant hues. Inspired by the phenomenon, I embarked on a journey to capture this celestial event not with the usual digital sensors, but with the unique character of analog film.

The Medium: Cinestill 800T Pushed to 3200

For this ambitious project, I chose Cinestill 800T, a film known for its cinematic look and exceptional color rendition. Pushing this film to ISO 3200 was key to capturing the faint light of the aurora in a single exposure, especially in the challenging low-light conditions. The process involves shooting at the desired ISO speed and then overdeveloping the film in the chemistry to compensate for the reduced exposure, bringing out detail and grain that adds a unique texture to the final image.

This particular shot was taken in Maine, featuring the iconic green bridge to Deer Isle. The landscape provided a grounding element to the otherworldly display of the aurora.

Capturing the Static:

One of the fascinating aspects of shooting with Cinestill 800T is its tendency to build up static electricity due to the absence of a remjet backing. On the right side of the bottom left frame, a striking, electric-looking light leak is visible. This is a direct result of static discharge occurring just before development, likely caused by the friction of the backing paper on the emulsion as it was being unrolled. On Cinestill, bright white static discharges often render as vibrant reds, creating a beautiful, albeit unintentional, artistic effect that surprisingly complements the ethereal nature of the aurora.

A Journey for the Shot:

This wasn't just a casual evening of stargazing. Friends and I drove nine hours to reach this prime location shortly after reports of the storm surfaced, ensuring optimal viewing conditions. The dedication to reaching the perfect spot and the anticipation of capturing the aurora's colors as rendered by Cinestill made this a truly special night. I am overjoyed with how the film captured the dynamic palette of the aurora, creating an image that feels both real and dreamlike. The presentation of this panoramic collage aims to parallel the very ethereal feeling of witnessing such a powerful natural event.

It's a testament to the enduring magic of film photography and the awe-inspiring power of our cosmos.