Pillars of the Night

For hours, the sky over the Badlands shifted through colors and shapes that seemed almost impossible to be happening above South Dakota.

Pillars of the Night was captured during the powerful G4 Severe geomagnetic storm of March 23, 2023, as bands of green, blue and violet light stretched across the northern sky. The vertical beams visible throughout the photograph are known as auroral pillars. These are formed as charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere, creating columns of light that appear to reach upward from the horizon.

The colors tell their own story. The brilliant green dominating the horizon is primarily produced by energized oxygen lower in the upper atmosphere, while the blues and purples appearing higher in the sky can result from interactions involving nitrogen and a mixture of auroral emissions.

Against the jagged formations of the Badlands, the pillars became even more striking. For a brief moment, it looked as though the landscape continued straight into the sky, stone pillars below and pillars of light above.

• Classic Borderless Frameless Prints – Printed on museum-grade cotton rag paper in a lustre finish, perfect for custom framing. These have an archival life of 100 years in typical display conditions and 200 years in dark storage. This style does NOT come with a frame.

• Metal Print – Satin-finish vibrancy and vibrant color depth and detail; edge-to-edge imagery on aluminum with sleek, modern finish. Mounted on a 3/4" float mount with pre-cut hanging holes. This medium style does NOT come with a frame.

• Float Frame Canvas Pro – Museum-grade artistry and timeless presentation; printed on archival fine art canvas with exceptional color accuracy, depth, and texture. Each piece is hand-stretched and expertly mounted within a refined floating frame that creates the illusion of the image “suspended” inside the frame. Crafted in Italy, these canvases combine traditional craftsmanship with modern precision for unmatched quality and longevity. Ready to hang and built to last, this premium format brings warmth, dimension, and a gallery-level finish to any space.

• Each print is:

  • Ships ready to display (canvas and metal only come ready to hang)

  • Printed using archival-quality materials for 100+ year longevity

📅 Shipping Timeline:
Please allow 2–6 weeks for production and delivery for float frame wall art. Please allow 2 weeks for metals and classic borderless prints for production and delivery. Each piece is made-to-order and carefully inspected for quality before shipping.

📐 Custom Sizing:
Custom sizes or special installation inquiries are welcome. Please contact Ellen directly for bespoke sizing, framing, or large-scale project options either through my contact page or emailing ellenscollection@gmail.com

🕯️ Care & Longevity:
Each piece is crafted using archival materials for 100+ years of display life. To preserve the integrity of your artwork, display it away from direct sunlight and high humidity. Clean gently with a soft, dry cloth as needed.