Taken from Charlie Dome at Chena Hot Springs AK. Aurora's can be more than just green. Yellow is sulphur, green oxygen, nitrogen purple, pink. Depending on...
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Taken from Charlie Dome at Chena Hot Springs AK. Aurora's can be more than just green. Yellow is sulphur, green oxygen, nitrogen purple, pink. Depending on altitude and scale of the aurora.
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Awards
Top Shot Award 22
Winner in Aurora Borealis & Aurora Australis Photo Challenge
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Contest Finalist in Contemplating The Aurora Photo Contest
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kurtvolkle
July 06, 2016
Went to University of Alaska in Fairbanks in the early 70s and got to see this all winter long! Great shots!
crystalallentarpley
March 06, 2019
Fantastic! Went to Alaska in August long ago. While it was gorgeous, I didn’t get to see this. On my bucket list to see Alaska in winter!
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Behind The Lens
Location
From Charlie Dome at Chena Hot Springs outside of Fairbanks, AK. In March of 2014.Time
About 2am.Lighting
I have found I don't need a light meter. When you photograph the aurora's it depends on the KP index for exposure time but you have to play around.Equipment
This was my first year photographing the auroras. No flash is needed. The camera sees more than the human eye in terms of colors. I shot this photo with aI actually had a Gitzo titanium tripod with a a Manfrotto grip mount. I used a 14-24 Nikkor lens.Inspiration
I was there for the aurora's. Most people shoot landscape but occasionally, shooting portrait makes your photo stand out. With the grip mount it makes it easy to move the camera.Editing
I use Lightroom. I try not to do much. I usually use the Lens correction,RGB graph, Basics like highlights, contrast, blacks and whites and I push the clarity up.In my camera bag
I always carry two D600 bodies. One as a backup. I use a Tamron 150-600 lens that I just love. I almost never use the 18-200 Nikkor lens now that I have the Tamron, a Nikkor 18-55 Micro Nikkor for macro work and for everyday, 24-70. For landscapes I use the 18-24 Nikkor wide angle. I also carry a Sony NEX-7 in the car if I don't have all my equipment with me.Feedback
The aurora's are fun to shoot. Going right after the solstice in March is best (in AK) as the magnetic fields are wider and you have a better chance of catching them more often. This is a good website to start with for the forecast I found that it was the same in Finland where I just went this year. That said, it is cloudier in Finland so I was happy with 3 out of 6 nights being clear. I've gone to Fairbanks twice and found it not as cloudy. http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast Wide angle is best. The focusing is the difficult part. I use live view and focus it on the brightest star. If it is a bit cloudy or windy, I'll use a laser pointer and focus on that. You get to know your camera's sweet spot. Just putting it on infinity works to a point but you will still get blur. I use electrical tape to keep the lens where I want it. This definitely works well when you move the tripod or the camera angle. Shooting in the cold is a bear. My toes and hands always get cold. I've tried battery inserts and hand and to warmers. I bought a pair of Mukluk's and the manufacturer told me to stand on a piece of foam. (like a doubled over yoga mat or egg crate cut to fit in the bag). I can't believe how well that works. If you are going to stand outside for a long time, remember to stand on something.