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Captions: The Stories Behind the PhotosChasing the Northern LightsRelated Content
Presented by Snapped More than thirty years ago, a farm boy from Wisconsin watched the northern lights flash across the night sky and dreamed of Alaska. He worked his family’s gardens with his hands, but he imagined using them to help build the pipeline snaking its way across the Land of the Midnight Sun, and even after his own children had grown and left the home, his Alaskan dreams remained. So, at the turn of the new millennium, Gary Kallberg took his wife and his belongings and moved north, settling down in the deep, cold woods outside Fox in the heart of the Last Frontier. And when he looked up at night, the dancing green glow of the aurora seemed closer than ever before. So he bought a new camera, his first DSLR, a Nikon 5000 that stayed in its box for nearly a month after he opened it. “I kind of thought I shouldn’t keep such a thing,” he said. But he did, learning to adjust the exposure and shutter speed until the northern lights flickered across his camera like they did across the horizon. He began going to bed earlier and earlier, waking up in the middle of the night to make his way into the dark and point his lens towards the lights above. There are hundreds of photos – swirling colors twinkling across shadowy skies and flaring between orange streetlights and dark buildings – and Kallberg sells them on magnets and puzzles and playing cards and calendars from the small shop he built with his wife. They keep gardens, too, growing hardy oversized vegetables and Alaska wildflowers on the grounds alongside Goldstream Creek. And most nights, the northern lights wave overhead. “I am truly blessed,” he said.
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Carol Frane said on Tuesday, Nov 27 at 3:58 AM
Hey, wow, thx for sending this Gary....kinda gave me goose bumps..we all have dreams, I'm glad you got to turn yours into reality.....
107722926Marlene Palser said on Tuesday, Nov 27 at 4:13 AM
What a great story! How fun to know I road the bus with the young Wisconsin farm boy whose big dreams came true... an inspiration for us all!
107723596debbie said on Tuesday, Nov 27 at 4:16 AM
very cool Gary!! you and Teresa have an interesting life! thanx for sending.
107723696Janice Arndt said on Tuesday, Nov 27 at 5:34 AM
Great article. Just goes to show that if you follow through with your dream, they can come true. Thanks Gary for sharing, with all of us back here in Wi.
107727871Chris said on Tuesday, Nov 27 at 10:26 AM
You work hard at your passions and it shows. Great Work Gary and Teresa. Thanks for sharing your enjoyments in life.
107750976christa said on Tuesday, Nov 27 at 11:31 AM
the pics are great maybe someday i will to see the lights
107755825Evie said on Tuesday, Nov 27 at 12:01 PM
Great Job, Was soo nice to read about your dream, and even nicer that they came true.
107757651Garry Engel said on Wednesday, Nov 28 at 5:15 PM
Outstanding Gary !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am happy to see someone is making there dreams come true , Good Luck my friend !!!
107857636Carole Kovatch said on Wednesday, Nov 28 at 5:29 PM
This is great, Gary. And to think I knew you way back when you were just a little tyke and now you are famous!
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