Night Light of the North Coast: Of Comet Trails and Luminous Waves

The human family was treated during the month of October to comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), a visitor from the outer reaches of the solar system. Many comets have predictable orbits, and it was originally thought that this one would return in around 80,000 years, but it now seems to be on a course that will take it out of the solar system entirely. So much for predictability, but you and I were never going to see it again in any case.

I haven’t gone out much to do my night photography of late, but with the comet’s arrival my little voice started piping up, “If you don’t go out, you won’t bring anything back.” People who fish probably have that voice, too. But on some of the best viewing nights it wasn’t possible for me to go out. On other nights it wasn’t convenient, which is no excuse for not going out, not when I really do want to bring back a great photograph, but it unfortunately was enough to keep me in when according to that little voice I should have gone out. It’s always right.

On probably the best night that I could have gone out and taken a real photo, I only stood in my front yard and took an iPhone photo of it above the neighbor’s house across the street. I mean, really. That’s not me, but that’s what I did. I can’t even look my little voice in the eye on that one (I don’t really hear voices, for those concerned, but I can usually look them in the eye). I can only imagine the photo I might have gotten if I’d gone out that night.

But I have to acknowledge that when I do go out, I am often blessed with a stroke of luck that adds something unexpected to an image which turns out to be crucial to the composition. It’s the photo gods saying, “That guy needs some help down there. I mean, look at him.” This time, they threw in some bioluminescence in the waves. For years I’ve wanted to photograph bioluminescent surf and was not expecting it at all that night. You’ll find its blue glow in the breaking waves. Thank you, Mother Nature, for that unexpected gift. And for the comet.

To read previous entries of “Night Light of the North Coast,” click on David’s name above the article. To keep abreast of his most current photography or purchase a print, visit and contact him at his website mindscapefx.com or follow him on Instagram at @david_wilson_mfx . David teaches Art 35 Digital Photography at College of the Redwoods.