“Discover the Wonders of Nature: A Captivating Journey Through Chuck Haney’s Lens”

From a fleeting lake in Death Valley to eclipses, auroras, magnificent Brocken spectre halos, and optical deceptions above the clouds, Whitefish photographer Chuck Haney’s 2024 was an unparalleled year. It was a time when natural occurrences produced stunning displays that Haney, with more than three decades of professional photography experience, found at times hard to believe.

Haney’s standout images from the year along with the narratives behind them, accompanied by music and beverages, will be featured at his annual fundraising event this Saturday, January 25, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in downtown Whitefish. 

A cash contribution to the North Valley Food Bank and Whitefish Theatre Company is required for entry.

For Haney, the year of extremes commenced in February when he ventured to the depths of Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park to conduct a class.

The Badwater Basin, typically a dry stretch of salt flats, is the lowest point in North America, sitting 282 feet below sea level. It averages just 2 inches of rain per year. 

“However, when we arrived, it transformed into a lake,” Haney remarked. “They received unusual amounts of precipitation,” Haney stated, “And just a couple of weeks later it vanished. Our timing was superb. It was an extraordinary experience.” 

The temporary Lake Manly of the Badwater Basin faded away during the Holocene epoch 35,000 to 10,000 years ago, and today, only temporary lakes can be found. In 2023 and 2024, the Death Valley region saw 4.9 inches of rain over a span of six months. 

“That was the first of the remarkable occurrences,” Haney shared. “The other significant event of the spring was the total solar eclipse.” 

Haney was raised in Ohio and traveled home to witness the spring eclipse with his mother.

“It was amusing; she didn’t believe it would be that impressive,” Haney recounted. “We drove down to an open golf course, and it took some time to navigate. It gradually became darker and odder; it was quite peculiar.

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

Then came the auroras. 

“I’ve visited Iceland; seen the northern lights many times, but May was the most remarkable I’ve encountered,” Haney stated.

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

“It usually appears just to the north, but this time it was visible in every direction, from one to three in the morning,” Haney noted.

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

“We positioned ourselves along the river and awaited the sunrise,” Haney remarked. “Next thing we knew, about three hundred bison crossed right in front of us; the steam rising from the water among them.”

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

Twice in 2024, Haney observed a Brocken spectre, an optical phenomenon that can manifest as a halo when sunlight shines behind a figure.

“It’s a very rare occurrence,” Haney said.

When he first witnessed the spectre from an aircraft, he described it as “being above the clouds at just the right angle, creating this halo of rainbow.” 

When he found himself at Croagh Patrick near Westport, Ireland, he again saw the Brocken spectre cast a halo of light over the sacred mountain.

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

Other photographic highlights of the year included the cultures of Ireland and Portugal documented during a six-week expedition to Europe. Locally, he mentioned that the atmospheric inversions — the fata morganas — were unforgettable. 

If anything, the challenge for the annual exhibition is merely selecting from the abundance of occurrences from the year.

“With 250 photos and 10-15 seconds dedicated to each, it’s difficult to delve into the stories,” Haney explained. “Every year I vow to display fewer images and talk more.” 

For this presentation, the third section will feature a series of more artistic photographs emphasizing shapes, forms, and unique lighting elements of natural features. 

“Abstract captures in their own right,” Haney remarked. “Every year presents something unique.” 

    Brocken spectre observed from the peak of Croagh Patrick Mountain near Westport, Ireland on November 4. (Chuck Haney photography)
 chuck haney   

    The Northern Lights illuminate Whitefish Lake and the Whitefish Range. (Chuck Haney photography)
 chuck haney   

    Waves crash beneath the Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment State Park, Washington, USA. (Chuck Haney photography)
 CHUCK HANEY