With every part else occurring over the previous few days, I did not even know there was an opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Earlier this yr, there was a possibility to this pure phenomenon, however I merely missed out. This time, I did not miss out, and I used to be extraordinarily fortunate.
Final night time, as nightfall turned darkish, I used to be scrolling by way of social media and noticed just a few posts explaining an ongoing photo voltaic storm. After the solar was down for the day, I went exterior, hoping that I would be capable to see it, however I got here up brief. Then, I remembered that it was attainable to “see” the Aurora Borealis with the assistance of a digicam, even when it was not seen to the bare eye.
So I grabbed my Pixel 9 Professional Fold, opened the digicam, converted to Evening Sight, and pointed it on the sky. What I ended up with was an image of the sky with what kinda appears like a paintbrush stroke of magenta. Evidently, I acquired extraordinarily excited, so I went to try to discover a tripod to arrange the Professional Fold.
Astrophotography Mode takes about 4 minutes, and whereas it is attainable to only stand and maintain the telephone in your hand, the outcomes won’t be what you had hoped.
Plus, it is virtually inconceivable to face utterly nonetheless for 4 minutes, at the very least for me. My eight-month-old son was additionally quick asleep, and I did not wish to take an opportunity to wake him up by rummaging by way of drawers looking for one thing that might work.
Then it struck me. I do not want a tripod. The Fold IS the tripod.
Fortunately, my again patio has picket railings, making it the proper place to arrange the 9 Professional Fold. After a few minute or so of making an attempt to line issues as much as keep away from my neighbors’ porch lights, I used to be able to go.
After standing exterior, being as nonetheless as I might, the 9 Professional Fold spit out the next picture:
For the primary time in my 34 years, I can lastly say that I’ve seen the Northern Lights. Certain, I did not see it with my very own eyes, however I took the images, and it is one thing that I will all the time bear in mind.
All of which was made attainable by a foldable telephone, eradicating the necessity to construct a contraption that permits me to angle a telephone on the proper angle. As a substitute, simply let the telephone do the arduous be just right for you, counting on the hinge to allow you to place the digicam to seize as a lot of the sky as you need.
Whereas the Pixel 9 Professional Fold was my instrument of selection, this time, it might technically be carried out with any foldable telephone. This did not do a lot to sway my opinion about how I want Google would’ve used the identical cameras from the Pixel 9 Professional.
What it did do is reaffirm my adoration for foldable telephones and the pliability supplied by the shape issue. I’ve lengthy been a fan of this type issue, carrying one with me virtually day by day for the reason that Galaxy Z Fold 2. After this expertise, that can proceed to be the case for so long as firms hold making them.
That was initially the tip of this piece till I went to obtain and switch the pictures to my laptop. As luck would have it, I captured one thing in addition to simply the Northern Lights.
Fairly darn unbelievable, if I do say so myself.
Final flexibility
Google’s refreshed foldable telephone is kind of an infinite design leap over its predecessor. Whereas it falls a bit wanting its non-foldable counterparts, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold remains to be an extremely helpful and versatile gadget.