Focus Program Meeting – Presentation by Nate Luebbe on Light Side Up – Launching a Camera into the Stratosphere to Capture Northern Lights

Filmmaker and photographer, Nate Luebbe, had always been fascinated by the night sky and in particular, the Aurora Borealis. But he always felt disconnected – what if you could change your perspective and witness the spectacle from a vantage point other than the ground? How close could you get?

But he was limited by the equipment. Lowlight-optimized cameras were heavy and expensive, and given the high chance of failure, this problem was prohibitive.

About Nate

“I started with photography as a way to catalog my experiences outdoors. For me it was a way to live in the moment. Standing on a summit watching the sun fade beyond the horizon, and the stars slowly emerge from the inky blackness consumes you on a level that’s nearly indescribable. Taking those feelings and attempting to freeze them into a single still frame is an incredible challenge, and a way that I’ve found truly motivates me to get out and experience the world.”