Two photographers have captured what they describe as a "once-in-a-lifetime" shot of an extremely rare atmospheric phenomenon known as red sprites at New Zealand's Omarama Clay Cliffs near Twizel. The spectacular red lightning display, which occurs high above thunderstorms, has only been photographed a handful of times in New Zealand due to the specific conditions required for its formation.
Local award-winning photographer Tom Rae and visiting photographer Dan Zafra were part of a group conducting nighttime photography when they witnessed the extraordinary light show. Red sprites are an exceptionally rare and fascinating form of lightning that appear high above powerful thunderstorms, often reaching 50 to 90 kilometers into the upper atmosphere, explained the 20-year-old Rae. The phenomenon forms when an intense lightning strike below a storm disturbs the electric field above it, sending a burst of energy upward instead of downward.
As this energy travels through the thin upper atmosphere, it excites nitrogen molecules, which create a brief red flash that can appear as pillars or jellyfish-like shapes. The sprites last only a few milliseconds, making them incredibly difficult to observe with the naked eye. Because they are so faint, high in the atmosphere, and unpredictable, red sprites remain one of the most elusive natural phenomena on Earth. They are particularly rare in New Zealand because the right combination of atmospheric conditions seldom occurs in the region.
Rae described the moment of discovery with excitement, recalling how the phenomenon was initially captured by accident. "We had noticed lightning on the horizon, and one of our group, José Cantabrana, mentioned the possibility of capturing sprites and the difficulty behind that," he said. "After reviewing his images for a Milky Way panorama, he realized he had accidentally captured them, and the dark silence instantly turned into shouting and excitement." Knowing it was possible to photograph the sprites, Rae captured his own image soon after and was beyond thrilled with the results.
The photographer vividly remembered the moment when he witnessed the sprites with his own eyes: "Just seconds after saying, 'imagine seeing one with your own eyes,' a huge red flash appeared right where I was looking, and I couldn't believe it!" Capturing red sprites demands perfect timing, a clear horizon, and considerable luck, added Rae, who recently won a prize at the Royal Observatory Greenwich's ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition for the second consecutive year.
Otago Museum astronomer Ian Griffin provided historical context, noting that sprites were only caught on camera for the first time in 1989. "Sprites are so brief and ethereal that even most seasoned skywatchers never see them," he explained. "They dance where the air is too thin to breathe, too high for clouds, and too low for space." This rarity makes the New Zealand captures particularly significant for both the scientific and photography communities.
For Dan Zafra, who runs the photography blog Capture the Atlas, the evening provided an unforgettable combination of atmospheric phenomena. "A distant thunderstorm over the Southern Alps, a perfectly clear sky, and the Galactic Core setting right beside it. We even got to capture a little bit of aurora glow, so it's definitely a special reminder of how magical New Zealand skies can be!" he said. The convergence of these multiple rare atmospheric events made the night exceptionally special for astrophotography.
Rae described his initial reaction upon reviewing the photographs as "a mix of disbelief, excitement and adrenaline." He now plans to enter the photo in various competitions, emphasizing that "the alignment, conditions required and composition really is once in a lifetime." The successful capture of red sprites at such an iconic New Zealand location represents a significant achievement in both astrophotography and the documentation of rare natural phenomena in the Southern Hemisphere.
