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The search for a picture perfect sky in 2024

Joanna Noble A picture of the northern lights. The sky bright pink at the top of the image and green light beams stretch from the bottom to the top of the picture with the outline of evergreen trees all along the bottom. Joanna Noble
Joanna Noble was lucky enough to capture the Northern Lights, a comet and a supermoon all in week

This year sky-watchers across the West Midlands have been treated to several spectacular displays.

The Northern Lights made an appearance on more than one occasion, four supermoons lit up the sky, and a comet that last passed the Earth 80,000 years ago was spotted by some of the most avid night sky enthusiasts.

BBC News spoke to three photographers who were able to catch the events.

Joanna Noble managed to snap all three phenomena during a seven-day window.

Ms Noble, who lives in the Black Country, regularly sets aside an evening to head out with her camera and her "photo buddy" Simon Beckett.

Joanna Noble A lady sitting at a table in front of a window. She is smiling and looking at the camera, wearing a cream jumper and she ahs mousy brown hair to her shoulders. There is an orange lamp in front of her on the table. Joanna Noble
Photography became a form of therapy for Joanna Noble during her cancer diagnosis

In October, the pair headed up Sheepwalks Hill, outside of Stourbridge, in the hope of spotting Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS).

"I'd got my camera set up but I decided to take a quick picture with my phone using the long exposure feature and that gave us an idea of the direction to point the camera".

"It was just a lucky night, there was a break in the clouds and you could see it with the naked eye, you didn't have to look through any equipment, it was amazing."

Joanna Noble An orange sky with a small comet near the centre of the image. There is an dark shadow of a row of trees at the bottom of the image. Joanna Noble
Ms Noble captured this image of the comet on Sheepwalks Hill, outside of Stourbridge

Ms Noble said she had always been into photography, but her hobby also became her coping mechanism for when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2016.

"It was a nice escape being able to look through the lens and not have to worry about what was going on with me."

Ms Noble, who is a teacher, is now in complete remission and enjoys passing on her knowledge onto the next generation.

"They're as curious about it as I am now", she added.

Rik Freeman A selfie of an older man with grey hair and clear-framed glasses. He is wearing a black coat and is standing in front of a house that is decorated with Christmas lights. Rik Freeman
Rik Freeman first started taking pictures of the landscape when he was 16

Rik Freeman, from Dudley, received his first camera as a gift for his 16th birthday in 1981.

He worked as a lorry driver for 20 years, but continued to pursue his passion for photography.

Mr Freeman was made redundant in July, which he said left him with more time on his hands and the chance to capture photos "anywhere I wanted".

One evening in April, he heard rumours that the Northern Lights would be visible in the UK and decided to drive somewhere with an "unobstructed view north".

His spot of choice was a field near Telford, where he captured his first sighting of the aurora borealis.

Rik Freeman The northern lights pictured from a field. The sky is purple and pink at the top of the image and yellow and orange towards the bottom. The outline of a field, with houses in the distance fills the bottom of the image. Stars can also be seen in the sky. Rik Freeman
Mr Freeman saw the lights for the first time while standing in a field near to Telford

"No matter which direction I pointed the camera it was all kicking off", he said.

"I had never seen anything like it in my life and it was purely magical."

At the time Mr Freeman thought he may never get to see the lights again.

However, with more time on his hands and a bumper year of light displays, he said: "For us in the UK, this has been the year of the aurora".

"I had never seen them before, but now, after three amazing periods of them being visible, I feel spoiled for choice."

Sally Shillingford A black and white headshot of a lady, who is wearing glasses and smiling into the camera. She is holding a camera that reads "Canon". Her hair frames her face and is a light colour. Sally Shillingford
Sally Shillingford's passion for photography started in 2017

Sally Shillingford captured an unusual shot of the Harvest supermoon from her back garden in Kinver.

Supermoons, which appear brighter and bigger than the average Moon, happen when it is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit.

She popped her camera into night mode and positioned her tripod where she could capture both the rare moon and a stray tree branch.

"It took me a couple of goes to get it right, but as soon as I saw this shot, I knew it was perfect", she said.

Sally Shillingford A glowing yellow supermoon, pictured behind a small branch with leaves. The background of the image is dark, the moon's light is making the branch glow. Sally Shillingford
Ms Shillingford captured the Harvest Moon from her back garden in Kinver

Ms Shillingford started taking pictures in 2017 using her phone before deciding to invest in a camera a year later.

"I have been known to cancel everything and say right I have got to take this photo."

"I do feel a little bit of pressure when there is only a short window to take the shot, but most of time you just need stroke of luck", she added.

In 2025 she is hoping to finally capture the Northern Lights after the trees in her garden hindered this year's attempts.

"I'm going to travel to somewhere high, but it will still be in the Midlands of course."

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