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Arctic Love
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Arctic Love



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have visited this beautiful arctic beach in Norway many times, but last week, I had a magical moment before the thick cloud blanket rolled in... Lady Aurora da...
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have visited this beautiful arctic beach in Norway many times, but last week, I had a magical moment before the thick cloud blanket rolled in... Lady Aurora danced for me at this amazing heart-shaped stone! It lasted a few minutes only, but what a treat! We need to appreciate every moment during these difficult times and I am thankful I could travel so much this year!
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cameraCanon EOS 5D Mark IV

settings Aperture f/2.8 ISO 3200 Shutter 13/1 Focal Length 18/1 

locationNorway

upload_dateOct, 2020

Views

2785

Likes

Awards

Runner Up in Aurora Chasers Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Night Time Photo Contest
Curator's Selection
Top Shot Award 22
Contest Finalist in Enchanted Nights Photo Contest
Honorable Mention in Creative Compositions Photo Contest Vol9
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Peer Award
mngr8bbcvx kbsimages dminspiredfotos Chevyguy joanabarroso kathieaautry gryphonjewel +653
Absolute Masterpiece
paultownley_9706 gregorynate michaelatkinson_5804 ivarsduntavs mariadelcarmenllavayol SCE2AuxJenni allengaydos +50
Superb Composition
VladimirBukharin Bruno_Ribeiro DanaCarruthers EilaZ24 joannepenney Scurreyaboutimages SBPHOTOGRAPHIA +27
Magnificent Capture
PicMoments kiwidragonfly Madde1 reggaedancer ivanrfin Erin1705 frankwilson +20
Outstanding Creativity
Dacemac karthikeyankrishnamoorthy ernestinefishburn photoSOKRATIS familycam nikoncameraman lindabraithwaiteprince +20
Top Choice
Dorje alecsmart bobbycurtiss melissaknapp alainpratte Chriskoool RandySchoener +12
Superior Skill
amberlycorker carlrichardharris MistyDawnDziubski richardbauman bogumalka diegoscaglione
All Star
Eva-Luna dwreid68 michellehamm estercastillo08 cristinacovas
Genius
janzark katherineplessner RHRatcliffe
Virtuoso
OBRonTyan

Emotions

Impressed
EloIm ThirdRockPhotography gman176 dkouroublis jessicavanpoucke ZoltanKr davegc +19
Happy
Maadhatter Ton_van_Waard FranciBepunkt

Top Ranks

The Night Photo Contest 2024Top 10 rank week 1
All About The Night Photo ContestTop 30 rank
All About The Night Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Aurora Chasers Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Aurora Chasers Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
View more
Through The Lens ProjectTop 20 rank
Through The Lens ProjectTop 20 rank week 1
The Photo Art ProjectTop 20 rank
The Photo Art ProjectTop 30 rank week 1
World Wonderer Photo ContestTop 20 rank
World Wonderer Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Aurora Chasing Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Aurora Chasing Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Night Shooter Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Night Shooter Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Travel Addict ProjectTop 10 rank
Travel Addict ProjectTop 10 rank week 1
Our World Photography AwardsTop 20 rank
Light In Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Light In Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Creator Show ProjectTop 10 rank
The Creator Show ProjectTop 10 rank week 1
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol11Top 10 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol11Top 10 rank week 1
Night Time Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Night Time Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Green Shades Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Green Shades Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Earth Day Photo Contest 2022Top 10 rank
Creative Moments Photo Contest vol1Top 10 rank
Earth Day Photo Contest 2022Top 10 rank week 1
Creative Moments Photo Contest vol1Top 20 rank week 1
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol13Top 10 rank
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol13Top 10 rank week 1
Enchanted Nights Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Enchanted Nights Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
My Best Capture Photo Contest vol2Top 10 rank
My Best Capture Photo Contest vol2Top 10 rank week 1
Creative Compositions Photo Contest Vol12Top 30 rank
The ViewBug ProjectTop 20 rank
The ViewBug ProjectTop 30 rank week 1
Rule of Thirds Photo Contest vol9Top 20 rank
Rule of Thirds Photo Contest vol9Top 20 rank week 1
ViewBug Homepage Photo ContestTop 30 rank
ViewBug Homepage Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol12Top 30 rank
Dark Hours Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Dark Hours Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
photographyawards2020Top 10 rank
photographyawards2020Top 10 rank week 2
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 27Top 10 rank
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 27Top 10 rank week 1
Inspired By The World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Inspired By The World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Creative Compositions Photo Contest Vol10Top 10 rank
Creative Compositions Photo Contest Vol10Top 10 rank week 1
Enchanting Landscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
A ViewBug Logo Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Enchanting Landscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
A ViewBug Logo Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Capture The Night Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol7Top 20 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol7Top 10 rank week 1
Creative Compositions Photo Contest Vol9Top 10 rank
Creative Compositions Photo Contest Vol9Top 20 rank week 1

Categories

18 Comments |
MELLIE1955 Ultimate
 
MELLIE1955 October 11, 2020
You are very talented. Where did you take that s photograph?
Bartruzik
 
Bartruzik November 25, 2020
Now I have another place for my bucket list !! Beautiful-Love it :)
EpicByErika PRO+
EpicByErika November 26, 2020
thank you! That beach is truly wonderful! Also many locals go there for BBQ, the benches are nicely set so that everyone can enjoy the views!
adiestiano
 
adiestiano December 29, 2020
Cool
EpicByErika PRO+
EpicByErika February 21, 2021
thank you!:)
tonelock
 
tonelock January 04, 2021
So amazing
EpicByErika PRO+
EpicByErika February 21, 2021
thanks
EllaMarrs
 
EllaMarrs January 07, 2021
beautiful
EpicByErika PRO+
EpicByErika February 21, 2021
thank you!
ashleycurtisphotography
 
ashleycurtisphotography January 13, 2021
Love it
EpicByErika PRO+
EpicByErika February 21, 2021
thank you
JPART7
 
JPART7 February 21, 2021
I saw this in a contest somewhere I remember voting on it! Superb!
EpicByErika PRO+
EpicByErika February 21, 2021
thank you!:)
tysonator
 
tysonator June 15, 2021
wonderful composition and tones
P-Squared
 
P-Squared September 23, 2021
I watch a live stream of the aurora lights on YouTube all the time and dream of being able to photograph them one day! This picture is magical!
artiste9999
 
artiste9999 October 02, 2021
Masterpiece! You have a great eye for composition!
prayerofserenity
 
prayerofserenity February 17, 2022
Creative!
Beatob
 
Beatob March 17, 2022
Amazing
Biswa_MyPhotography
 
Biswa_MyPhotography March 19, 2022
Amazing! 👏👏
SherrieMosher Platinum
 
SherrieMosher April 01, 2022
An amazing capture, I love the heart shaped rock but I'm equally curious about the circular formation of stones to the right.
darlenepollard
 
darlenepollard July 18, 2022
Love this!!
mikaylacannon
 
mikaylacannon November 03, 2022
Just Beautiful 😍
raninaidoo
 
raninaidoo November 22, 2022
Outstanding
garys760 Platinum
 
garys760 December 19, 2023
Excellent Capture!
EpicByErika PRO+
EpicByErika December 20, 2023
thank you❤️

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#nature #outdoors #night #aurora #aurora #canon #Northernlights #norway #arctic
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Behind The Lens

Location

This photograph was taken at Uttakleiv beach in Lofoten, Norway. The Aurora is dancing above the heart-shaped rock on this beautiful arctic beach.

Time

This image was taken approximately an hour after the sunset, just as the sky turned dark enough to capture the dancing Aurora.

Lighting

Almost an hour after the sunset, the sky still had the red glow from the setting sun towards the west. I was hoping the Aurora will start to dance in a low arch from east to west facing north.

Equipment

I used my Canon EOS 5DMkIV full-frame camera with a Zeiss18mm 2,8 wide angle lens and a sturdy Really Right Stuff tripod. This was a 13s exposure at f2.8, ISO 3200.

Inspiration

The forecast for the Northern Lights was incredible that evening, but the weather forecast expected clouds later at night. My friends had a very long discussion in the car about where to go. Knowing how unpredictable the arctic weather can be, I felt I had to make a quick decision. I asked them to drop me off at my favourite arctic beach. I saw the heart-shaped stone the day before, and I wished to capture the lights dancing around it! As soon as I set up my tripod and found my desired composition, the mystical green lights lit up the sky! The show lasted a few minutes only, but what a treat!

Editing

Three long exposures for the foreground, to reduce noise and shorter exposure to capture the structure of the lights. The final image is a blend of these two, the composition remained the same, images taken at the same time. Adjustments of highlights, shadows, colour correction and noise reduction applied.

In my camera bag

Whenever I am planning to shoot outdoors, I usually carry my full-frame Canon R5 or 5D MkIV camera with the 16-35mm wide angle lens in my bag. If there is a chance to spot wildlife, I also pack the 100-400mm lens, as I love animals! I am a big fan of long exposure shots of running water or moving clouds. Therefore you can always find several neutral density filters as well as a polariser in my backpack. Spare batteries and memory cards are a must!

Feedback

Patience and preparation. I tried to capture the northern lights many times before with no success. At the very beginning, years ago, I was struggling to set up my camera in the dark. Rule number one: know your camera even blindfolded- trust me, you can train it at home!:) If you are not sure, set up the camera beforehand. Zoom in the lens to infinite so that the stars are sharp (u can either mark it on your lens or use a tape to make sure you will not move the zoom ring), set the aperture to 2.8 and ISO around 3200 in Manual mode. You will play with the shutter speed based on the intensity of the lights - start with 10-15 seconds and check the result. Set your camera display brightness to a minimum at home, so that it does not disturb your night vision. A sturdy tripod is a must! Check the weather and the aurora forecast. I use many applications on my phone, which are also sending me alerts. Dress warm, don't forget the gloves and spare batteries. Live view and the cold will drain the batteries quickly. Be patient! And if the if you struggle to capture the lights, don't stress, just sit back, look up and don't miss the show!

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