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.
Night Magic - Crater Lake Aurora Borealis, Andromeda Galaxy and Milky Way Arm over Wizard Island
Discovery Point, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
The Aurora Borealis, Andromeda Galaxy and Milky Way Spiral Arm over Crater Lake, Wizard Island and Fumarole Bay, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
The magentas and greens of the Aurora Borealis light up the skies above Discovery Point, Crater Lake and Wizard Island as the spiral arm of the Milky Way rises into the night skies above during the historic June 2015 geomagnetic storm. The entire northern sky erupts into an immersive, multi-colored canopy as a massive low-latitude diffuse aurora wraps completely around the horizon on a tranquil summer night. The green of the Aurora Borealis was strong enough to create a green diffuse glow on the trees and landscape at Discovery Point, as the Andromeda Galaxy shines in the night sky to the left of the Milky Way Spiral Arm. The green mid-latitude auroral blanket with equatorward expansion stretches across the sky, as the colors of the aurora reach far across the sky.
On the Northwest Rim 3.8 miles across the lake, Llao Rock rises up from the Caldera Rim behind Wizard Island as Cloudcap rises up 5.8 miles away on the East Rim. Mount Scott rises above the East Rim next to Cloudcap 7.4 miles away, as the peak of the mountain illuminates with a faint green color from the aurora above. The magenta aurora and green aurora colors reflect off the waters of Crater Lake, splitting the color reflections in the lake in two sections of color. The color split stretches across Crater Lake from just below Palisades Point and Rugged Crest Palisades 5.7 miles across the lake to Discovery Point. At its widest point from Discovery Point, Crater Lake is 6 miles wide, and under a blanket of aurora glow the water resembles a glassy mirror of color stretching 6 miles across. Even as the BZ numbers waned, the diffuse aurora produced by this storm was massive, showing the full scale of the severe G4 rated geomagnetic storm. The BZ is the measurement of the interplanetary magnetic fields direction that drives aurora intensity, with a negative (southward) direction being ideal since it pulls the aurora down closer to the mid latitudes and equator.
The sheer display of color even under a waning negative BZ level shows just how strong this display truly was. The dark Bortle Class 1 skies here allow the dense field of stars to shine through the color in a manner that's much harder under Class 2 or Class 3 skies. Crater Lake remains undesignated as an International Dark Sky Park, yet its environment is undeniably darker than Prineville Reservoir (which borders Bortle Class 2 and 3), directly rivaling protected preserves like Steens Mountain, the Alvord Desert, and the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Still, even without the designation Crater Lake remains one of the best places in the state to view the night sky, and when the aurora make an appearance it's always a recipe for a magical night.
Fine art landscape photograph of the Aurora Borealis over Crater Lake, Wizard Island, Llao Rock and Discovery Point in Crater Lake National Park. This image captures the stunning glow of green and magenta diffuse aurora reflecting off the waters of Crater Lake as they light the night sky above Oregon's only National Park. Now available as a luxury museum-grade limited edition print by James Mead.
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
- Settings: 24mm | f/2.8 | 37 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 - Intense Diffuse Aurora over Crater Lake and Discovery Point
Captured using the single exposure workflow of the "Mead Method," developed over 15 years of fine art landscape experience. This image preserves a genuine, single moment in time executed entirely in the field without the use of composites, sky swaps, or 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.