Aurora Storm, Alaska

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 20, 2011486 views30 comments

Hey everyone, back with another aurora image from my recent Aurora photo tour in interior Alaska. This was taken about 10 miles from the wilderness lodge that hosted the tour. It was about -30 this night, but luckily almost no wind. Plus, we had the safety of a well heated track vehicle to escape to when we 'needed a break' from the light show.

Canon 5D Mk 2
Tokina 16-28/2.8 @ 16mm
8" @ f/2.8
ISO 3200

More photos on my blog.
http://sixtyonenorth.com/blog/

This is 1 of 101 photos taken back to back over several minutes. The 101 images have been optimized and are being put into Final Cut Pro to do a 'movie clip' that should be a fun experiment.
Comments & critiques always welcome. Thanks!

Comments

30 comments

Comment posted by Enrique Vizcarra on March 20, 2011 at 1:00 AM

I want to see it some day, really wonderfull

Very nice capture of wonderfull moment

Registered on September 10, 2009, 223 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on March 20, 2011 at 1:02 AM

David: Jaw dr

pping wonderful. Superb capture of a magical moment.>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on March 20, 2011 at 1:29 AM

This is simply stunning. An amazing capture, David.

Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on March 20, 2011 at 2:13 AM

Must be an amazing sight to witness, living in the northeast I've only seen the northern lights once and they were very dim. Incredible photograph, really stunning.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on March 20, 2011 at 4:38 AM

David,

This is an epic photo. Really superb.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on March 20, 2011 at 9:38 AM

amazing light show

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by INGOMA on March 20, 2011 at 9:49 AM

Whoa!!!! Incredible! This is the most amazing Aurora I have ever seen!

Registered on July 2, 2004, 231 Posts, 3110 Comments

Comment posted by Art Escobado on March 20, 2011 at 10:26 AM

That's pretty fantastic!!

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on March 20, 2011 at 11:11 AM

David, you make me SICK! you are killing me with these images... I'm a big fan of yours now!

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on March 20, 2011 at 11:50 AM

that has got to be something to see! Nice image

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on March 20, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Fantastic capture David. Wonderful.

Bob

Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on March 20, 2011 at 11:52 AM

Amazing display! The bottom landscape/dark portion looks a bit noisy to me.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by David Taylor on March 20, 2011 at 1:19 PM

Thanks everyone!
@Rick - I recommend Pepto Bismol for the ailment

@Stan - thank you & I agree about the noise. The aurora was moving so quickly that I had to keep the ISO high to even partially 'freeze' it's motion. I've always said that I'd rather have a noisy sharp frame than a very smooth blurry one

Thanks again everyone

Registered on March 3, 2008, 25 Posts, 64 Comments

Comment posted by Cliff Dodge on March 20, 2011 at 1:56 PM

Beautiful light display. Nicely captured.

Registered on March 25, 2006, 125 Posts, 507 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on March 20, 2011 at 3:00 PM

WOW - Spectacular light display. Like the mnts for some scale, but clearly the sky was the draw.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on March 20, 2011 at 3:01 PM

David,

No matter how many times I see images of the Aurora, it's still to hard for me to believe this really happens! This is awesome because of the immense scale - great job showing the broad landscape which really helps identify the scale. Nature is amazing.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on March 20, 2011 at 3:49 PM

Fantastic display! Killer shot.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on March 20, 2011 at 6:22 PM

Awsome and magical!
I want to go!!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on March 20, 2011 at 6:37 PM

You're getting so much practice under these conditions, I imagine you'll only improve on the techniques and artistic response that are already producing stunning results. If these photos don't make people at least think about joining your tours, they're way out of touch.

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by David Taylor on March 20, 2011 at 6:46 PM

Hey Kent, thanks for the kind words. Very much appreciated, it's always great to hear from you.

Registered on March 3, 2008, 25 Posts, 64 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on March 20, 2011 at 9:43 PM

That's amazing, Dave. Is that an 8 second exposure? Wow, this must've been incredibly bright. Beautiful display for sure.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by David Taylor on March 20, 2011 at 9:49 PM

Hello, Tony & thank you! This was an 8 second exposure. They were bright, although not as much as the night before. That being said, they would be considered incredibly bright by a new viewers perspective

Thanks again!

ps - I REALLY need to do more research and learn your Luminosity Masks. It's truly incredible what I've seen them accomplish in other people's work.

Registered on March 3, 2008, 25 Posts, 64 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on March 21, 2011 at 4:09 AM

Dave:
Your series of Aurora images are really fantastic and incredible. Love to see you clip when done and may get to see this real life someday.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Christer Johansson on March 21, 2011 at 7:50 AM

Just lovely Dave. Great drama and beautiful scenery.

Registered on October 10, 2009, 50 Posts, 191 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on March 21, 2011 at 9:19 AM

Absolutely gorgeous shot Dave.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on March 21, 2011 at 8:47 PM

You have got to work on your marketing skilld, David... you should have recommended some pepto AND your workshop! Lol

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on March 21, 2011 at 10:23 PM

Just epic, love it. The auroroa are alwasy fascinating, especially when so well framed as they are here.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on March 21, 2011 at 10:55 PM

As impressive a display of the aurora as I have seen in an image. Never seen it in person!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on March 22, 2011 at 12:05 AM

Wow, what a show!! Now.. next time you've got to find some kind of cool foreground or mountain peak or something to pair with a show like that!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on March 22, 2011 at 1:08 AM

Very nice, Dave. The luminosity as presented here is so amazing.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments