Queensland nurse captures majesty of the southern lights

A Queensland mental health nurse who says photography is her ‘sanity’ away from a stressful job has captured the majesty of the southern lights while driving down dirt roads. SEE HER AMAZING PHOTOS

Deb Ford is a nurse by day and photographer by night and loves to capture photographic subjects of all kind.

A Queensland mental health nurse who says photography is her ‘sanity’ away from a stressful job has captured the majesty of the southern lights while driving down dirt roads.

On May 11 and 12 the Southern Lights, in a once in a lifetime event, were visible across Australia and even North Queensland, but not everyone was lucky to see them.

Deb Ford, from Mackay, was able to capture the lights while driving down the dirt roads near Sarina.

Deb spent one hour walking down the backroads near homebush with her camera. Photo: Deb Ford

Ms Ford – a clinical nurse specialising in mental health care – had hardly touched a camera before picking up the hobby in 2019, now she refers to photography as “her sanity”.

Not limited to the skies, Deb also likes to photograph wildlife, insects and events. Photo: Deb Ford

“I love my job but it’s very stressful,” Ms Ford said.

“With photography, I get to get out of my work headspace and notice all the beauty around.”

The southern lights are also known as the aurora australis and are caused by geomagnetic storms. Photo: Deb Ford

On May 11 Ms Ford was returning home from a Sony Australia street photography workshop when she saw on Facebook that the Southern Lights were visible.

Wasting no time she drove away from the city and onto the backroads near Homebush.

The southern lights are typically most common in Tasmania and it’s unlikely they will be visible from Mackay for years to come. Photo: Deb Ford

“I was jumping for joy that I could capture it,” she said.

“I never thought in my life we’d see the southern lights.

“Everything came together perfectly.”

Deb typically shoots on a canon camera. Photo: Deb Ford

Deb Ford runs a photography page where she displays her work and is the vice-president of the Mackay Camera Group.

“Mackay’s quite blessed photographically,” she said.

“It’s not difficult to learn … do it.”

Originally published as Queensland nurse captures majesty of the southern lights