This museum grade fine art photograph is available in a fine art limited edition of 200, signed and numbered with a signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance.
Last Dance with Aurora - Purple Sunrise Aurora Borealis over Crater Lake, Oregon
Rim Village, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Sunrise Purple Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) over Crater Lake, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
The light from the rising sun still far below the horizon can be seen just above the caldera rim as astronomical twilight, often referred to by photographers and meteorologists as astronomical sunrise and astronomical dawn, sets in. The stars in the night sky above hang on while the purples of Aurora Borealis reflect off the waters of Crater Lake as night begins to transition to day. The bottom of the Spiral Arm of the Milky Way can be seen above the purple Auroras to the right of the sunrise glow.
Taken during the legendary June 2015 G4 geomagnetic storm, as night transitioned towards nautical sunrise (traditionally known as nautical dawn), the magenta and green colors transitioned to a rare purple aurora borealis.
Green aurora is caused by solar particles during a geomagnetic storm exciting oxygen atoms up to 150 miles in the atmosphere, and excited nitrogen creates blue aurora (up to 60 miles in the atmosphere) while purple (violet) aurora colors are caused by excited nitrogen molecules above 60 miles in the atmosphere. Red aurora is caused by solar particles colliding with oxygen at extremely high altitudes, typically above 150 miles (240 km).
The magenta earlier in the night is actually caused by a mix of aurora colors, by oxygen and nitrogen aurora colors blending with each other. When the red aurora colors combine with the blue or violet colors, it creates a magenta and pink aurora. On this night, once the excited oxygen atoms faded away as astronomical twilight set in, the excited nitrogen molecules above 60 miles in the atmosphere were all that was left, which created the beautiful, rare, pure purple aurora blanket which covers the sky.
Fine art landscape photograph of a rare purple Aurora Borealis, the Milky Way Spiral Arm and the colors of sunrise far below the horizon during astronomical twilight over Crater Lake, Wizard Island, Llao Rock and Mount Thielsen from the rim trail near Rim Village in Crater Lake National Park. This image captures the stunning glow of a rare purple aurora set against light from the rising sun below the horizon in Oregon's only National Park, and is available as a luxury museum-grade limited edition print by James Mead.
Aurora to Sunrise: The Brief Transition from Night to Day over Crater Lake
This was taken during a huge geomagnetic storm which produced Auroras over Crater Lake. This was the last dance with Aurora before night faded and the light of dawn began to creep in. The light from the rising sun can be seen on the horizon as night fades and twilight gets closer. The stars and the Milky Way Spiral Arm in the night sky hold on for a brief few moments, while the rare purples of the Aurora Borealis reflect off the waters of Crater Lake as the wonders of night slowly begin to transition towards dawn.
This is one single, unblended exposure. No compositing, no blending, this exact scene existed for a few brief seconds at astronomical twilight.
I've always loved capturing "transition photos" in nature, that brief period of time when the conditions are just right to capture the sky as it transitions from day to night or night to day. It's tricky to catch. There's a very brief window when the conditions are right, and that's what I aim for with these photos. In this photo, you can see the purples of the Aurora Borealis in the sky and reflecting off the lake. The stars in the sky are still visible, as the light from the rising sun below the horizon can be seen as it slowly begins to rise. Daytime begins to creep up on the horizon while night hangs on for a brief few moments in the sky above. It's a brief moment of transition, as the dark of night begins to fade and give way to the light of day. For that brief moment, Aurora decided to give one last dance before slowly fading into the light of day.
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
- Settings: 24mm | f/2.8 | 25 Seconds | ISO 6400
- Process: Single Exposure | In-Camera Long Exposure (The Mead Method) | Bespoke Multi-Layer Noise Management (Manual Masking to preserve fine detail and raw data integrity)
Note on Provenance
This image is a certified Single Exposure. Captured using the "Mead Method" developed over 15 years of nightscape experience. No trackers, no sky-swaps, and no generative AI. Just a single moment in time, preserved.
Photo © copyright by James Mead.
Chromaluxe® Metal Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Vibrant. Modern. Impactful.
My Chromaluxe® Metal Fine Art Prints offer a sleek, modern presentation that’s both bold and beautiful. Using a high-heat dye sublimation process, each image is infused directly into a specially coated aluminum panel resulting in vibrant colors, ultra-sharp detail, and a striking glossy finish. The dye sublimation process infuses the image directly into the metal, creating a scratch resistant surface while helping provide permanent protection.
These prints feature:
• Vivid, color-rich surfaces ideal for modern spaces
• High contrast and incredible sharpness: perfect for clean compositions and bold landscapes
• Durable and lightweight aluminum construction
• Float mount backing for a frameless, floating display. Ready to hang out of the box
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
These metal prints are ideal for collectors seeking a contemporary look with museum-quality output. Resistant to scratch, moisture and UV fading, they work beautifully in both home and office settings.
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Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Museum-Grade Brilliance. Gallery-Worthy Depth.
Bring home the brilliance of nature with the industry’s finest print medium. My Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints are crafted using a state-of-the-art process that infuses archival pigments into a transparency layer, backed by a clear acrylic backer and mounted under crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic. This creates a luminous, almost 3D effect. Colors appear to glow from within.
These gallery-grade prints feature:
• Incredible depth and clarity, fine details leap off the wall
• Exceptional color fidelity with deep saturation and smooth tonal gradations
• Anti-reflective, scratch-resistant museum grade 1/8” TruLife® acrylic offering unmatched viewing clarity under all lighting
• UV Resistant: TruLife® acrylic blocks up to 99% of UV rays
• 1/8" clear acrylic backer mounted using an archival adhesive layer
• 1.25” Roma wooden rear float mount frame inset 2” from the edge for a clean, frameless display that is ready to hang
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether you're designing a luxury interior or curating a personal gallery, these prints are built to impress and designed to last a lifetime.
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Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Museum-Quality Ready to Hang
Timeless elegance. Unrivaled depth. A true centerpiece.
My Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints represent the pinnacle of archival display. These statement pieces combine the award-winning brilliance of Lumachrome HD with the craftsmanship of custom Roma wood mouldings, transforming your chosen image into an heirloom-worthy work of art.
Each piece is handcrafted by master printmakers and framers in the USA using museum-grade materials. The print itself is infused with archival pigments into a transparency layer, mounted to an archival acrylic backer and face-mounted and sealed under a 1/8" layer of crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic: a premium optically-coated surface that eliminates reflections and enhances depth, vibrance, and clarity.
Surrounding this luminous presentation is your choice of genuine Roma Moulding, hand-built with a choice of 3.5" or 4" Italian made wooden Roma frame with a 3" black linen liner for a refined, framed, museum grade appearance. This adds approximately 13 to 14 inches to both the height and width of the final piece. This level of finish is rarely seen outside of luxury interiors and gallery exhibitions.
After placing your order, I’ll reach out personally to confirm your ideal frame and liner pairing from my curated Roma collection. If you’d prefer to finalize your framing choice in advance, feel free to reach out any time for a custom recommendation.
These museum grade works of art feature:
• Gallery-grade presentation with luminous depth and 3D effect
• TruLife® acrylic: anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and blocks 99% of UV
• Archival quality construction with pH-neutral adhesive and backer
• Available in your choice of 3.5" or 4" Roma wood mouldings with a black linen liner for a framed, museum-grade appearance
• Museum-grade 3" black linen liner for added depth and visual separation
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 4-5 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether displayed in a luxury residence, corporate lobby, or fine art collection, these framed prints command attention and offer a sense of permanence few art mediums can match.
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These are investment-grade art pieces designed to last generations. If you have any questions, need any mock-ups or if you need anything else before purchase, please reach out and I will be in contact shortly.