“Explore the Wonders of Nature at Chuck Haney’s Spectacular Photography Showcase!”

From a transient lake in Death Valley to eclipses, auroras, magnificent Brocken spectre halos, and visual tricks above the clouds, photographer Chuck Haney from Whitefish experienced a 2024 unlike any other. It was a year where natural occurrences manifested stunning spectacles that Haney, boasting over 30 years in professional photography, sometimes found hard to believe.

The finest images from Haney’s year and the narratives behind them, combined with music and refreshments, will be presented at his annual charity show this Saturday, January 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center located in downtown Whitefish.

A monetary contribution to both the North Valley Food Bank and Whitefish Theatre Company serves as the entry fee.

For Haney, the year of extremes initiated in February when he journeyed to the depths of Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park for a photography class.

The Badwater Basin, typically a dry stretch of salt flats, stands as the lowest area in North America at 282 feet below sea level. On average, it receives just 2 inches of rainfall each year.

“However, upon our arrival, it turned into a lake,” Haney remarked. “They experienced unexpected amounts of rainfall,” he continued, “and just a couple of weeks later, it was gone. Our timing was perfect. It was a real delight.”

The ephemeral Lake Manly at Badwater Basin vanished during the Holocene era 35,000 to 10,000 years ago, and today, only temporary lakes are observed. In 2023 and 2024, the Death Valley floor received 4.9 inches of rainfall over a duration of six months.

“That was the first of the natural marvels,” Haney stated. “The other significant event of the spring was the total solar eclipse.”

Haney grew up in Ohio and drove back home to witness the spring eclipse alongside his mother.

“It was amusing; she didn’t expect it to be that impressive,” Haney recounted. “We traveled to an open golf course and it took a while to inch forward. It gradually became darker and more surreal; it was very unusual.

“She was astonished. Simply experiencing it made the 4,000-mile trip worthwhile.”

Then came the auroras.

“I’ve been to Iceland and seen the northern lights multiple times, but May showcased the most breathtaking display,” Haney noted.

Haney observed the aurora on May 11 from Whitefish Lake State Park.

“Typically, it’s just to the north, but this time it illuminated all directions from one to three in the morning,” Haney described.

Later, in June, Haney found himself at Teddy Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota leading a class when a herd of bison crossed the Missouri River.

“We positioned ourselves by the river and awaited dawn,” Haney recounted. “Suddenly, around three hundred of them crossed in front of us; steam rising from the water around them.”

Haney additionally witnessed a bison giving birth at the National Bison Range.

During two occasions in 2024, Haney beheld a Brocken spectre, an optical illusion that can manifest as a halo when sunlight shines behind a figure.

“It’s a very rare phenomenon,” Haney remarked.

When he first encountered the spectre from a plane, he described it as if “you’re above the clouds at the perfect angle and you see this rainbow halo.”

While at Croagh Patrick near Westport, Ireland, he observed the Brocken spectre create a halo of light over the sacred mountain.

“It’s a sacred mountain,” Haney stated. “Saint Patrick fasted there for 40 days. There’s a pilgrimage held every year. I couldn’t help but wonder if Saint Patrick witnessed something similar.”

Other photographic highlights from the year encapsulated the culture of Ireland and Portugal captured during a six-week journey through Europe. Locally, he mentioned that the inversions — the fata morganas — were unforgettable.

If there’s any challenge for the annual event, it lies in the selection process given the plethora of phenomena witnessed throughout the year.

“With 250 images and only 10-15 seconds per image, it’s tough to delve into the narratives,” Haney remarked. “Every year, I tell myself I will showcase fewer images and elaborate more.”

The third segment for this show will feature a selection of more artistic images emphasizing the shape, form, and unique lighting characteristics of natural features.

“Abstract captures on their own,” Haney stated. “Each year presents its own uniqueness.”