Welsh Photographer Mathew Browne Honored with Northern Lights Award

Mathew Browne, a photographer from west Wales, won an award for a picture taken near his home that captured the Northern Lights. Browne had been disappointed with his previous attempt to photograph the Aurora Borealis in Iceland and decided to focus on improving his skills. Instead of returning to Iceland, he was able to capture the stunning image just a short distance away in Carmarthenshire. His photo, taken at Paxton's Tower, was selected as one of the 25 best Northern Lights photos from around the world in the 2023 Northern Lights Photographer of the Year awards. Browne first became interested in photography through his love for travel and had always wanted to see the Northern Lights. However, on his trip to Iceland with his wife, he didn't have the proper equipment and was unable to capture the phenomenon. Determined to become a better photographer, Browne made it his mission to learn and eventually return to Iceland. Ironically, he was able to capture the Northern Lights on his home turf before making it back to Iceland. The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in the Earth's atmosphere. They occur around the North Pole and can be seen best at night with clear skies. The most common color is green, which is produced when the particles hit oxygen in the lower atmosphere. Browne, who has been a professional photographer since 2017, emphasized the importance of preparation in capturing such a photo. Although living in Wales doesn't provide the same convenience as the Arctic Circle, Browne uses apps to receive alerts about possible Northern Lights sightings. His winning photo was taken after numerous attempts near his home, and he utilized bracketing, or HDR mode, to balance the exposure. Browne's photograph captured pillars of light rising from the horizon, creating a truly spectacular image. He described the experience as both lonely and magical, recognizing the rarity of such a strong and visible display in his area. Despite his success, Browne has faced skepticism from those who believe that the Northern Lights cannot be seen from Wales and accuse him of using Photoshop. He explains that the naked eye doesn't perceive the colors as vividly as they appear in photographs.