Beauty from Ashes: Finding Light in the Night Sky with Suanne Kallis

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Growing up on a small farm and ranch in southwestern North Dakota, Suanne developed a deep appreciation for wide-open spaces and the endless night sky. That early connection to the land still shapes her work today.

For the past nine years, Suanne has traveled thousands of backroad miles across North Dakota's landscape, braving frigid temperatures and countless sleepless nights in pursuit of a single, breathtaking moment beneath the stars. What some call “the thrill of the chase,” she calls purpose.

Astrophotography is more than a passion — it is her therapy, her creative outlet, and often the light that keeps her moving forward. Through her lens, Suanne seeks to share the wonder and beauty of God’s creation, capturing scenes that remind viewers that even in darkness, there is extraordinary light. Each image is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect — with nature, with stillness, and with something greater than ourselves.

Her award-winning work has been recognized in multiple juried competitions and publications, including the ND Governor’s Photo Contest and features in ND Travel and Tourism publications. While her roots are proudly grounded in North Dakota, her images resonate far beyond state lines, celebrating the shared beauty of America’s night skies and open horizons.

Through fine art prints, Suanne hopes to bring that sense of wonder into homes and spaces across the country — one sky at a time.

How did your journey into photography begin? Was there a specific moment when you knew you wanted to document landscapes and natural beauty through your lens?

Well... let's go all the way back, shall we?! lol

I grew up on a smaller farm and ranch in SW, North Dakota, where I was raised with a good work ethic. By the time I came in from the field and got done with the chores, it was dark and I'd often find myself looking up at the night sky. --It was so vast!! I wanted to capture it somehow, but didn't know if it was possible. On other occasions, I'd be riding in the back seat of my parent's car as we'd be coming home from some school function or church event, and I'd lean my head back on the seat and just stare up at the night sky through the window, looking for constellations mainly. I did not own any camera gear nor did I know much about cameras at that time. My mom only had a little film camera--- a point-and-shoot that we only used on occasion. But I got my first "exposure" to "long exposure" in college when a friend and I were just messing around being "college kids" and writing our names with a flashlight and taking pictures of it-- and well, from then, I was really curious how that all worked, but not really linking it to anything of capturing the night sky and the Aurora at that time.

I think cameras always kinda fascinated me. I never was part of putting together the Yearbook in HS, but I think if I had the chance, I would've enjoyed it! I love capturing moments!

Also, I always wanted to pursue more of the "Arts" for line of work, but always felt I'd be a "starving artist." My first love was floral design, then I thought about graphic design or interior design. Long story short, I ended up getting a Bachelor of Science in Crop and Weed Science aka Agronomy from North Dakota State University. ha! (My Ag roots run deep, I guess you could say!) While at NDSU, I interned for the Extension Plant Pathologist on campus for a summer for their IPM program (Integrated Pest Management) where I scouted farmer fields all over SE, ND. I loved it because I got to travel around a new area of the state and take pictures as I saw new things along the road! I had only taken one Plant Pathology introduction course, but it definitely intrigued me to the point, I thought I'd pursue that as a job/career in Plant Pathology after college.

To my dismay, I didn't land a job in Plant Pathology right away. The job hunt in Ag Research was challenging at the time. Thinking I'd never leave North Dakota or pursue anything but Plant Pathology with NDSU, I finally landed my first job in February 2012 (I had been looking since October 2011) and I moved to Lincoln, Nebraska to take my first job with the USDA-ARS in March 2012 working with warm and cool season perennial grasses and Switchgrass for Bioenergy. Even though I lived in Nebraska, I kind of treated it like I was a tourist! I saw more of NE and SD on my route home to SW ND than most natives to the state probably have! I was down in Lincoln for three years and had a point and shoot camera and my cell phone for picture taking but never grew to anything more than just for the pleasure of capturing moments with friends or on my travels.

My last Spring in Nebraska, Spring of '15, however, my life changed forever. It was March 31st, and I had a missed call from my dad. My coworkers and I were burning fields to clean them up for new growth to come through. I called Dad back while on a break and received news my mom had passed away unexpectedly. I broke down and just fell to the ground. It was a complete shock to me. I had already had plans to take a more "permanent" position back in ND with NDSU, but when this happened, I didn't want to leave NE. It had become home to me. The people, friends and my church family. They were all home to me. I had about a month between mom's funeral and when I was going to move back to ND to take my new position, but really, I was stalling for more time. I didn't want to leave.

But I am a person of my word, and wasn't going to back out. Plus, I needed a more stable job and the pay increase to survive. So, I got moved into Carrington, ND, May 2015 and started my new position right away. I worked long hard hours, and tried to "keep up with the guys" and hide what pain I was really going through. I kinda hate to admit this, but if I'm being honest, I HATED life. I hated that I had to move from a place I grew to love - from people who loved me and I, them. I hated that Mom wasn't there to cheer me on and encourage me while I transitioned back to ND and into my new position, and that we never got to spend anymore holiday dinners together. I hated that I was in a place where everything was new, and no one knew me or what I was going through. I hated every step I took from my garage to my apartment and back to my garage again. I would mutter under my breath, "I hate this, I hate this, I hate this..." Just wishing I could wake up from this "bad dream." I am so thankful for my Pastor's wife at the time who would sit with me over "coffee" or tea and just speak truth to me, listen, and encourage me.

But I still worked long, hard hours, and not having a social life or anything else to really "turn-to" for "fun," I decided to buy myself my first SLR camera. I bought a Sony A6000 because I was going to learn how to shoot the night sky. I'm not entirely sure on the order of events after... I had met another older gal in town who was into photography and we would shoot together sometimes. Just drive around on some backroads outside of town, in the country. She introduced me to a photography club in Jamestown (about 45 mi. away) where we would go to their once a month meetings. I learned the basics of photography through those meetings and a couple other workshops and classes held by other photographers in the area, but mostly, I just started shooting and learning on my own - the good 'ole, "trial by error" method. ;)

From there, I taught myself how to light paint when I started adding "subjects" into my images.... like old grain trucks, combines, and old barns. And from there.... I just would shoot everything I think would be cool under the night sky! Old churches, windmills, and old barns are just a few of my favorite things to shoot! Kind of became an addiction. I would go out in the coldest of cold weather -30 or -40*F (with windchill) just to capture those crisp stars, capture the aurora or even light pillars at night! It was a rush! It was my therapy and my saving grace. My dad had told me after losing Mom, I could ask God, "why," but never to question the goodness of God. With tears in my eyes as I type this, he was right! Even through the hurt and unbelieveale heart-ache, I felt God was writing my "Beauty from Ashes" story.

Isaiah 61: 2b-4 says: To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

So this whole photography "side-hustle" and how it came to be... it's a God thing. I look at my images and wonder how in the world I was able to find what subject material I did, and capture "the lights" as I did or a shooting star perfectly on a third in the frame... I even captured an image of a dove in an Aurora shot I took back in November of 2021. (That's a good story, maybe for another time -- or message me and ask me about it sometime) but those are "God moments," I tell people. There is no other way to explain them. As much as it's still a bit hard for me to admit, God put me here, in this time, at this place for "such a time as this." (see Esther 4:14b.) Psalm 19:1 says, The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands. This verse has become my photography anthem verse. God gets the glory in this. Not me. He let me go through a season of pain to grow closer in my faith and to share HIS Goodness and Splendor, for the world to see!

I'm not sure what is next from here, but I keep shooting and letting Him lead me in this endeavor! To God be the Glory!

Not only are you a photographer, but you’re also a Plant Pathology Research Specialist at North Dakota State University! How do you juggle the analytical nature of plant pathology with the open-ended creativity of photography?

It can be a bit of a challenge at times! I do vendor shows and shoot throughout the year, but my Ag job does dictate my schedule unfortunately at times and what I'm able to do. Sometimes especially during the Spring, I have to put things with photography on the back-burner, if you will, and have to keep weekends open during planting season in case we get rained out or have a breakdown during the week and have to be planting over the weekend. I try to be "responsible" (ha!) and get good rest and save my energy to pour into a long and intense day of planting, but I have pulled a few "all nighters" before and been back on the tractor planting all day the next day. (I don't exactly recommend it, but also, I'm not about to miss a "once-in-a-lifetime" aurora show either! Sooo I just put in some eye-drops and grab a couple Bubbler energy drinks until I get to finally catch up on some sleep the next night or two later. haha Us Aurora hunters/chasers can be a little hard-core and dedicated!! haha)

I think the creative aspect of photography helps keep me in check and balanced in life. I'll sit down over lunch or after work and just go to my computer, listen to music in the background and just do some photo editing or work on an order to submit to Artbeat ;) -- Something--anything photography related to get my brain back to its "right" side! haha (See what I did there?!) lol ;) But, since I am more artsy than analytical, I do notice slight details that help me excel in taking exceptional disease rating notes for my Plant Pathology job. These notes are what get formed into data for publications that's used for farmers, crop consultants, extension agents, and other researchers to glean and make decisions from.

We are a very unique Plant Pathology team that does hands-on field-applied research on various crops and diseases, but largely Sclerotinia aka White Mold and tractor applied spray technology - row spacing, timing application and efficacy - of which our research may be one of the only ones who do what we do in all of North America! So I take great pride in taking highly detailed notes that make an impact for so many!

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about patience from capturing night skies and natural phenomena?

It has taught me, the night sky is SO amazing and you just never know what's going to happen so, wait it out!!

You might just capture a fun surprise, like an Aurora Borealis substorm! I think it also has taught me more patience. Like farming, I've also learned to just roll with the conditions. You really never know what the night sky will give you. I mean, I do check apps, and the weather for clear skies, check cloud cover - all that jazz, but you still don't know for sure what the Aurora will do - when it will take off, or if it will be a complete bust, even though the data may show otherwise.

I just go for it, usually, and see what I can do with the God-given creativity that's in me!

What camera and gear do you rely on most for capturing auroras and nightscapes? Do you use planning tools (like aurora forecasts or apps) to scout nights in advance, or do you prefer spontaneous shoots?

So as I mentioned earlier, I first got into Sony being I wanted to chase the night sky. The Sony A6000 was new on the line at the time and was making headway as the first SLR's on the market. I was a Canon point and shoot user mostly otherwise and maybe also had a Nikon once for a point and shoot camera, but kind of liked the Canon for the menus and modes better than the Nikon.

But Sony is all I have owned since getting into SLR's. I shot that little crop sensor with my Rokinon 12mm the majority of my photography career, up until a few years ago, when it started glitching out on me between modes, so I finally made the jump into full-frame, and then got the 14mm Sigma Art Lens. The Sigma lens is a bit heavier than the Sony 14mm, but it's a little more cost-effective and had heard great reviews on it, so I went for it! It's been a bit of a learning curve, but I'm definitely loving it! (Wish I could say the same about my tripod! ha! --Would take recommendations on an upgrade of a tripod! -- I like the locking legs, vs. the twist kind being I shoot in the cold a lot and don't try to touch a cold tripod longer than necessary!)

I do use Aurora apps (iPhone) -- "Aurora Pro" and "AuroraAlerts" mainly as my guides. I also use the "Sky Guide" and "Sky Tonight" app occasionally for the MilkyWay, comets, and stars. The Aurora can be so unpredictable! Sometimes I just chat with other aurora chasers and kinda "feel out the night!" -- Not an exact science, but it kinda works! ha. Idk, I don't always get it right or go out all the time, but these apps and resources definitely help guide me to pursue chasing in the night! And it's good to have someone know you're out and about in the night also!

Honestly, most of the time, I just start driving. lol I sometimes have locations in mind and places I've marked on my map, but a lot of the time, I just drive into the night. Kind of depends on how big the Aurora Storm is they are predicting also! I sometimes say I'll drive until the aurora stops, but sometimes it doesn't stop! -- And in that case, I once made it to a destination almost to the Canadian border one night just to get something specific in the foreground!

If it is a big Aurora storm though, sometimes I'm able to shoot in other directions other than just north -- including above my head and straight south and to the SE and SW! -- get some new cool angles (think church steeples and windmills) and get subjects that I couldn't get otherwise because they are facing the wrong direction to normally be shooting north instead of south.

What advice would you offer emerging photographers who want to specialize in nature and night photography?

Just go for it! The only shots you miss are the ones you don’t take!

Don't get discouraged if you don't get it right away, just keep practicing!

Keep shooting, exploring, and experimenting with your camera! Play with different light and different settings! (I love the golden hour for prairie shots!) And know that once you get into night photography, the aurora comes in waves and is more prominent at certain times of the year, so ask questions from other photographers and just watch the patterns!

Don't be afraid to embrace the stars when the aurora isn't out. Conditions can always change, so even when the aurora is out and there are some clouds, shoot anyway, as the clouds can add character to your images! (Can't be totally overcast tho!)

Remember to try different angles -- Get low to the ground and don't forget to look up and in all directions, especially if there's a big Aurora "storm!" ;) Shooting Nightscapes is a lot like shooting in the day, but with just less light and different settings. ;)

Always tell someone where you're going, be prepared and dress for the elements, bring water, food, a flashlight, and have a full-tank of gas --and most importantly, have FUN!! :D

Your aurora and North Dakota sky images capture incredible depth, contrast, and subtle color shifts. When translating those scenes into print, what materials or finishes best preserve the intensity and detail you work so hard to capture, and why do those choices matter to you?

I love HD metals and HD acrylics for nightscapes probably the most! I print the majority of my prints on the HD metals as they are more cost effective for me and then the consumer and I love how vibrant the colors are and the extra shine on the metals for the night skies! :D

Also, the HD metals show details probably the best as I use the white background, glossy HD metals option. I get comments and compliments quite regularly where people think my prints are actually lit-up when it's just Artbeats bringing life to my prints! :D

And that goes for the HD acrylics as well. I definitely am more choosy when printing on the acrylics as the color is a bit more rich and saturated due to being printed on metallic paper before it gets mounted on the acrylic, but I love the "oyster" effect, as I call it, that plays with the shine of the acrylic and gives it a more metallic, even "dreamy" feel and seems to bring the image to life in a more dimensional kind of way!

I call the HD Acrylics the "Cadillac" of prints due to their solid build, great color, and quality! I have printed some on the metallic canvases as well and there again, kind of depends on the image itself. I definitely have taken the advice of the experts of Artbeats many a time in knowing what image looks best on what kind of medium also! :)

Canvases can also be a little harder for me to take to vendor shows when I'm traveling, moving them around and dealing with sometimes extreme temperatures, but I do print them on occasion because there are still those that love a canvas piece on their wall, while the metals and acrylics have a little more of a "modern" feel to them!

When choosing a print partner, what factors matter most to you, such as craftsmanship, color precision, material quality, or collaboration, and how did Artbeat Studios meet those expectations?

I can honestly say, Artbeats has been my main printer since day one!

I have worked with other "mom and pop" shops from Omaha, NE to more locally in ND - and between the quality of product, color precision, turn-around printing time, the ability to print any size of print with many mediums to choose from, and probably moreso, the customer service (and difference in time zones -ha!) is what won me over.

I am on Central Time and when I was first starting out and getting used to everything from knowing how to print, to color calibration, it was nice to have a couple hours after I got off work at 5pm to be able to call up Artbeats and hash through some art pieces with them! (Times have changed a bit since their move, but I'm thankful still for the off-set hours to still take a little advantage of this!)

I can't rave about Artbeats enough! They are always so friendly and helpful! If they didn't have the quality, and customer service that they hold their company's standards to, idk that I'd be doing what I'm doing. The website for ease of ordering is so great and easy to navigate also!

It makes my life easier knowing my photo art is safe where I left it and can order again at any time without having to explain myself or having to upload it again because a file got lost (and things like addresses to ship to can be saved also! (--Gotta love that free shipping after a $150 order and being a platinum member to give you a year-round set discount also!)

If there's ever a print issue, they do their best to make it right! :D

So thankful I found Artbeats on a Facebook ad years ago! (You guys rock!!)