Aurora Photography
- Thread starter AKSLP
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Sirocco
Explorer
Im no expert. The hardest thing is composition in the darkness.
Tripod is obvious and manual focus just back from infinity. Start by using a relatively open aperture F4 and an ISO of about 400 and see what you get. The colours get more intense the longer you expose for. If the greens don't come through try pushing to F8, F16 or even more. If you need longer drop the ISO to 100 or 200.
try to limit outside light and make sure you have a few batteries fully charged. The cold really sucks the life out of them. This is more of a problem with star trail photography but does apply if your out in the cold for sometime.
Shoot lots
G
)
Askalyota
New member
Aurora Borealis was one of my bucket list things. I was fortunate to have witness a spectacular display of 7 Kp activity in Fairbanks last March 2013. You did not specify what type of camera you have ie film,P&S DSLR? You said that you have been chasing the lights all winter so I will assume that you were not successful hence the inquiry about settings and remote places? I live where I just can't look out my window to see if there are any light activities happening. I've never seen or photograph the lights before and it was going to be very expensive endeavor to do it. Travel, lodging and 4x4 rental and good winter boots and clothing for the -30 bone-chilling coldness. I really had to maximize my chances. That's where the web came to play. With the advent of the internet, there are a wealth of great info that will point you the way. There are 3 main factors in order to see the lights. 1.weather clear skies, 2. location/orientation to minimize the light pollutions, 3. Time of day late in the evening or early mornings. I notice that you are in Alaska so you are already in a great starting point. I will share some of the tools that help me maximize my chances.
Aurora activity KP forecast here http://www.softservenews.com/Aurora.htm
Aurora Web Liveview camera here http://salmon.nict.go.jp/live/aurora_cam/live_aurora_cam_e.html
Alaska weather forecast your choice
http://www.alaskaphotographics.com/...h-the-northern-lights-with-a-digital-camera/#
One of my capture during the 7Kp activity:
Aurora activity KP forecast here http://www.softservenews.com/Aurora.htm
Aurora Web Liveview camera here http://salmon.nict.go.jp/live/aurora_cam/live_aurora_cam_e.html
Alaska weather forecast your choice
http://www.alaskaphotographics.com/...h-the-northern-lights-with-a-digital-camera/#
One of my capture during the 7Kp activity:
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photo_i
Explorer
That's why I want to go to Yellowknife in August.
I exchanged some emails with park rangers there and they say it is a very good time of the year to see the Northern Lights.
Askalyota
New member
That's why I want to go to Yellowknife in August.
@phot_i, great on your part! :bowdown: I have never been to Yellowknife and from the little search that I just did, it is definitely a very nice place.
However, the OP is already in Alaska. Which is why I did not address the remote places the OP was asking. Alaska have plenty of remote places to hunt for the elusive Aurora Borealis. Don't make sense for the OP to leave Alaska and to travel all the way to where you want to be in Aug-Sept since he is already in a great location where the lights will be visible. As far as location, I don't think Yellowknife is any better place to view the Norther Lights. And as far as weather go in Aug-Sept I don't think that there is much of a difference the whether makes between the two places since they are within that latitudes for viewing the lights and experience the same climate. I'm sure you pick that time of the year for the nicer weather and fits your plans. But there are more cloudy days during Aug-Sept compare to March/April. Hence, it was more important for me to maximize my chances in my hunt for the elusive Northern Lights than the weather factor. Happy Hunting!:ylsmoke: