Aurora in Denali
Film camera image scanned to digital. 1950s Fujica, totally mechanical, was the only camera that survived weeks of camping and dog sledding at -40 (choose C or ...
Read more
Film camera image scanned to digital. 1950s Fujica, totally mechanical, was the only camera that survived weeks of camping and dog sledding at -40 (choose C or F). Overnight camp on a frozen lake near (or at) Denali National Park, Alaska.
Read less
Read less
Jun, 2015Views
1246
Likes
Awards
Action Award
Top Shot Award
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Love it
All Star
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 20 rank
Top 10 rank
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Top 30 rank
Categories
PRO+
billkuespert
September 15, 2018
I was wondering if pictures I took with my 35mm are acceptable to enter because I have a few I can scan in. We took a couple vacations with that camera......And nice shot by the way!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo have been taken on a North-West border of the Denali National Park in Alaska, USA, on a small frozen lake where we camped overnight. Beyond that point we could not use motorized snowmobiles support and in the morning we continued only with our dog sleds, through the Denali National park to the final destination just under Wickersham Wall (the steepest drop on the planet Earth) of the Mount McKinley/Denali (and than back the same way). Building a camp like one above every night and dismantling it before the next day dog sledding stage.Time
This photo have been taken relatively late at night, no one was time-watching as after the exhausting day of dog-sledding and camp building we were rewarded by these amazing Aurora displays. Time didn't matter. Even exhausted we got just few hours sleep as mind just doesn't want to sleep under such splendor.Lighting
Lighting was the available light: stars, Aurora and little human devices in the tents. I prepared before this trip of the lifetime and have had made tables of exposure times depending on the lens focal lengths and apertures. Goal was to have stars as pin-points while Aurora would be the main subject (after certain exposure lengthening, stars wouldn't be points any more...). Additional restriction was that this image have been made in the early 2000, on a film camera. With film, reasonable life-time situation images were limited to about 800ISO sensitivity (yes, just 800).Equipment
Anticipating some problems with the cold I brought along three cameras: a major brand SLR, very up-to-date for 2000 (minimal bump which you may not even notice during normal usage of such camera broke off the plastic corner of the camera body in Alaskan Winter); 1950s all-mechanical German made Altex-n (during this first night out, it took two frames, including the image above - and than mechanism froze in place); Fujica ST701, old very mechanical SLR which I used without its electronic parts on purpose (that camera survived the whole trip and was responsible for most of the photography, now it is venerated by me as my most-rugged camera). Lens on the Altex-n was equally old and mechanical Trioplan f2.9/50mm (at f2.9). I also used tripod, most plastic latches of it broke from the normal use that same first night, I patched it into the permanently open position by some Duck tape.Inspiration
Scene was expectedly awe-inspiring and I prepared in advance not to lose my mental focus in the awe but to look for something that would put the amazing Aurora in the perspective. In this particular scene internally-lit, contrasting color tents just begged to be in (in some other images during the trip I placed tree silhouettes or brightly colored dog sleds in the similar scenes).Editing
No post processing at all. Original film was developed and later scanned into the digital image as-is. I do post-process, nothing against it, but this image just worked as-is.In my camera bag
After decades of amateur shooting I have good understanding of my mental eye and have zen-down to what that eye requires. I mostly see the World through Nikon f1.8/85mm though I sometime widen my horizons to Nikon f2/20mm. Currently my most used camera is Nikon D600. That is for my normal equipment (typically D600 with 85mm & BlackRapids strap over the shoulder and the 20mm lens in a lens pouch attached to my belt). If I expect a need for tripod, I use trusted and rugged Induro A213 with Manfrotto 322RC2 head for flexibility. I sometime take IR film photography with previously mentioned Fujica ST701 and Russian made Jupiter-9 f2/85mm lens (and appropriate filters).Feedback
Interesting lesson for photographers who go into the cold wilderness on prolonged journey (ours was 10 days of dog sledding and camping in February and March of Alaskan winter, with days in -20F, nights -40F): in addition of typically underlined need to protect your batteries from draining and lenses/camera bodies from fogging, be aware that internal mechanisms can freeze in place and that the plastic becomes extremely brittle at low temperatures (which could end the life of your camera "in a nudge"). Second point, be it whichever extremes (or without any), if you are going to a trip of a lifetime, prepare, prepare, prepare. Think ahead of subjects and situations not just equipment. It will help both your photography and enjoyment of the moment.
