Lighthouses have always captivated artists, perhaps for their strong symbolism of being a beacon of hope, protection, or light in the darkness. On the heels of New Zealand’s worst civilian shipwreck on April 29th, 1881, the wooden Waipapa Point Lighthouse was constructed and finally lit on January 1st, 1884. The beauty of our night sky illuminates with a dance of colors from the Aurora Australis, reflecting the various gases being excited by electrons from space. Oxygen emits the familiar greenish-yellow light at lower altitudes, and red light at higher altitudes; helium tends to emit a purple hue. For proper exposure, I have painted the historic lighthouse with my headlamp for approximately 2 seconds, to obtain a warm and natural glow.