Comments on: Photographing the Aurora Borealis – i.e. Northern Lights http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:06:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: C Hedley http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights/comment-page-1#comment-215947 C Hedley Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:34:31 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=9533#comment-215947 Thanks for all the advice. I've looked at a lot of photos of the AB, apparently taken using wide apertures, and I'm amazed at how much of the foreground is in focus. Is it an optical illusion, post production editing, or is there somehow a deeper depth of field in low-light conditions? I'm going to see the AB in Finland next March so want to be well prepared. I'll be shooting on a Canon EOS 40D, using a Tamron 18-250mm. I'd love to take a better lens but I need a reasonably good all-round "holiday" zoom lens, so this is it! Any advice welcomed! Thanks for all the advice. I’ve looked at a lot of photos of the AB, apparently taken using wide apertures, and I’m amazed at how much of the foreground is in focus. Is it an optical illusion, post production editing, or is there somehow a deeper depth of field in low-light conditions?

I’m going to see the AB in Finland next March so want to be well prepared. I’ll be shooting on a Canon EOS 40D, using a Tamron 18-250mm. I’d love to take a better lens but I need a reasonably good all-round “holiday” zoom lens, so this is it!

Any advice welcomed!

]]> By: Dawn Callaway http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights/comment-page-1#comment-157632 Dawn Callaway Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:17:38 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=9533#comment-157632 Thank you everyone for such great info on the Northern Lights! I am going to Fairbanks in a week and am so hoping for an opportunity to see this! With the tips from this article I'll hopefully be able to get some great shots. Thank you everyone for such great info on the Northern Lights! I am going to Fairbanks in a week and am so hoping for an opportunity to see this! With the tips from this article I’ll hopefully be able to get some great shots.

]]> By: Dave Heffernan http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights/comment-page-1#comment-72000 Dave Heffernan Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:13:38 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=9533#comment-72000 Actually, it really depends on the Solar Activity that's occuring. There are places, such as Space Weather Canada which dedicate a lot of time to monitoring the Solar Activity. You can see if for yourself at their site http://www.spaceweather.gc.ca/sf-eng.php. I varied my exposures to find the right amount of time given the conditions of the night - i.e. moon light, brightness and activity level of the Aurora, city light, cloud cover, etc... Actually, it really depends on the Solar Activity that’s occuring. There are places, such as Space Weather Canada which dedicate a lot of time to monitoring the Solar Activity. You can see if for yourself at their site http://www.spaceweather.gc.ca/sf-eng.php. I varied my exposures to find the right amount of time given the conditions of the night – i.e. moon light, brightness and activity level of the Aurora, city light, cloud cover, etc…

]]> By: sshahid http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights/comment-page-1#comment-71530 sshahid Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:17:05 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=9533#comment-71530 Do these aurora lights flash all the time or they are like lightening; can happen at any time, unpredictable? Did you take 15 or 30 s exposures just to try your luck if you can capture one? Do these aurora lights flash all the time or they are like lightening; can happen at any time, unpredictable? Did you take 15 or 30 s exposures just to try your luck if you can capture one?

]]> By: Lennard http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights/comment-page-1#comment-69064 Lennard Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:52:51 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=9533#comment-69064 To answer Matts fog question: Don´t go out in the could without putting your camera in a closed plastic bag before so that it can cool down slowly. Better let it cool down before you start shooting. If the moisture ist really high your only solution is to put an anti-dew heater (google for "Kendrick") on the lens hood. Or the cheap solution: Build one by yourself from supersaturated solution (crystallization-type) hand warmers, or a car mirror heater pad which you put in thin metal foil around the lens hood. To answer Matts fog question: Don´t go out in the could without putting your camera in a closed plastic bag before so that it can cool down slowly. Better let it cool down before you start shooting.
If the moisture ist really high your only solution is to put an anti-dew heater (google for “Kendrick”) on the lens hood. Or the cheap solution: Build one by yourself from supersaturated solution (crystallization-type) hand warmers, or a car mirror heater pad which you put in thin metal foil around the lens hood.

]]> By: Mike http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights/comment-page-1#comment-69000 Mike Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:23:18 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=9533#comment-69000 Totally awesome pics!!! I had the pleasure of seeing the AB on a airline flight flying over Greenland enroute to the UK, most of the passengers were asleep but my face was plastered to the window watching it. This happened several years ago and I had a Canon EOS 20D at the time, I had no idea how to take pics of the AB so I just tried everything I could think of.....I was in a very excited state at the time lol. I think I took over 40-50 pics hoping I'd get at least 1 or 2. I had a hard time trying to eliminate the light reflection off the windows from the cabin lights inside the aircraft. I did manage to get a few decent pics though....they were awesome! Totally awesome pics!!! I had the pleasure of seeing the AB on a airline flight flying over Greenland enroute to the UK, most of the passengers were asleep but my face was plastered to the window watching it. This happened several years ago and I had a Canon EOS 20D at the time, I had no idea how to take pics of the AB so I just tried everything I could think of…..I was in a very excited state at the time lol. I think I took over 40-50 pics hoping I’d get at least 1 or 2. I had a hard time trying to eliminate the light reflection off the windows from the cabin lights inside the aircraft. I did manage to get a few decent pics though….they were awesome!

]]> By: Jimmy http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights/comment-page-1#comment-68909 Jimmy Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:36:38 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=9533#comment-68909 Jeez mate you've done well. Those are amazing Jeez mate you’ve done well. Those are amazing

]]> By: Jordan http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights/comment-page-1#comment-68871 Jordan Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:08:33 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=9533#comment-68871 my parents use to live in the Northwest Territories where you could see these almost every night of the week, and I must say, these shots are some of the best and truest to life that I have seen! good job. my parents use to live in the Northwest Territories where you could see these almost every night of the week, and I must say, these shots are some of the best and truest to life that I have seen! good job.

]]> By: Ruby http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights/comment-page-1#comment-68853 Ruby Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:44:29 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=9533#comment-68853 gorgeous! I wish I lived somewhere where I could shoot those. gorgeous! I wish I lived somewhere where I could shoot those.

]]> By: Myles http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photographing-the-aurora-borealis-%e2%80%93-ie-northern-lights/comment-page-1#comment-68834 Myles Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:33:17 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=9533#comment-68834 Does the camera operate ok at such low temperatures? Have you tried any time lapse sequences? Does the camera operate ok at such low temperatures?
Have you tried any time lapse sequences?

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