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Dancing Reflections
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Dancing Reflections

by Arild Heitmann

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 29, 2011891 views33 comments
Aurora Borealis early in april, just as the lakes are starting to melt. I waded quite far out in the lake/river and stood completely still for a while to make sure no ripples would appear. Easy to stand still when youre standing in freeeezing water...

Comments

33 comments
Comment posted by Alex Mody on November 29, 2011 at 3:36 AM
Perfect reflection here, Arild! I love the stars above the aurora.
Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments
Comment posted by Neale Dyster on November 29, 2011 at 4:04 AM
I hope you still have all your toes!
Great work Arild, beautiful reflection thanks to that still water and the stars are a big plus.
Registered on February 19, 2008, 94 Posts, 738 Comments
Comment posted by Sebastian Kraus on November 29, 2011 at 5:42 AM
Wow! Fantastic shoot!
Registered on March 17, 2011, 30 Posts, 132 Comments
Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on November 29, 2011 at 6:12 AM
So freakin cool. Curious what you are wearing to do stuff like this! Yikes :)

aF
Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 29, 2011 at 9:17 AM
Real pretty, Arild, the reflection and still water are terrific! I also like the hint of color on the horizon. Ordinarily id scold someone for not using thirds in a classic comp like this, but here i wouldn't want to lose any of the aurora, so your weird split (2/5) is forgiven :wink:
I kind of think there should be more of the lakeshore on the lhs, but again, that decision was driven by the aurora i think (including more of the top rhc requires sacrificing some of the lhs) It makes me appreciate the difficulty of getting a good comp when you are dealing with something so unpredictable, and in that regard, i think you've done pretty well. :smile:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Guy Tal on November 29, 2011 at 9:28 AM
Surreal and beautiful. I love the reflection.

Guy
Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 29, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Wow! Beautiful shot, Arild. The stars,aurora and reflection all just wonderful.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on November 29, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Another incredible aurora image. I really like your choice for composition and the still water. you must have been REALLY still to get that mirror lake reflection. Very nice.
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on November 29, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Just beautiful. I look forward to witnessing and capturing something like this one day! :toast:
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 29, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Arild,

Fantasticly beautiful. One day I'll get to witness one of these. I think the comp is excellent and perfect for the scene. Thanks for sharing, otherwise I'd never even get a hint of phenomena like this. Thanks!

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on November 29, 2011 at 11:48 AM
I love the combination of surreal and natural here. Very well done.

- Dan.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments
Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on November 29, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Your effort paid off. This is a magnificent image.
Registered on March 9, 2009, 171 Posts, 493 Comments
Comment posted by Paul DeCesare on November 29, 2011 at 12:33 PM
We need to talk to Jim about getting a new smiley icon to pick from: I want one that has Mr. Happy wearing a tool belt swinging a hammer, because Arild, you NAILED this one! I'd argue with Stan (OK, discuss, lol) on the LHS, I don't think it needs any more shoreline than you displayed because the point of the image is the northern lights and the reflection, with the horizon and terra firma giving enough perspective to know where the photographer and the viewer needs to be. What a shot... definitely would be a flagship in anyone's gallery! :toast:
Registered on August 31, 2007, 29 Posts, 202 Comments
Comment posted by Zack Clothier on November 29, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Incredible shot Arild. The reflection doubles the impact of this, really cool. I do notice an odd line about half way up in the reflection, is this a log or something submerged under the water? Anyway, congrats on braving the frigid water, your efforts certainly paid off! :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Andreas Resch on November 29, 2011 at 1:57 PM
Impressive - perfect composition for me.
Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments
Comment posted by Justin Reznick on November 29, 2011 at 2:49 PM
Incredible Arild, I love the shape of the Aurora and the perfect reflection!
Registered on November 24, 2009, 79 Posts, 515 Comments
Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on November 29, 2011 at 2:57 PM
A beautiful Aurora shot Arild. You did a great job with the reflection and comp. I would see if you can darken the reflection just a tad, especially close to the horizon, but otherwise this is a winner.
Registered on September 1, 2009, 41 Posts, 608 Comments
Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on November 29, 2011 at 3:31 PM
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Langton on November 29, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Love it! Perfect water, great star detail, nice colors!
Registered on February 26, 2005, 8 Posts, 26 Comments
Comment posted by Verdon on November 29, 2011 at 6:26 PM
woooooooow, quality, composition and place get this shot to the top shelve of auroras shots ever, CONGRATS!!! :toast:
Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on November 29, 2011 at 6:36 PM
I like the cool crispness of this Arild. The wonderfully still reflection is beautiful as well as the starry night sky.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Bruce King on November 29, 2011 at 7:01 PM
One of the coolest aurora's I've scene in awhile.......great shot. The clarity is impressive and the composition is solid. I don't think the basic rules of composition apply to an image like this. Awesome. :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments
Comment posted by David DesRochers on November 29, 2011 at 8:17 PM
Just an outstanding image. The reflection really makes the shot stand above others I've seen. Where did you take the photo? I'm heading to Churchill, Manitoba in February to photograph the Aurora. Borealis. This image really raises the bar.
Thanks for sharing. :toast:
Registered on September 20, 2011, 11 Posts, 18 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Dunn on November 29, 2011 at 8:45 PM
For me, simply one of the best images I've seen in a very, very long time. Aesthetically and technically exceptional. There are a lot of aurora shots that sacrifice quality of the terrestrial elements in order to emphasize the atmospheric elements, but this has it all, and in remarkable harmony. And bringing the lightshow to the foreground via the reflection is just plain showing off. :wink:

Honestly, if I were choosing the top 5 images I've seen on NPN in the 7 years I've been participating, this would be in that group, and a strong candidate for #1.
Registered on February 22, 2004, 35 Posts, 1311 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 29, 2011 at 9:23 PM
BEAUTIFUL! Perfect comp, light, and title.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on November 29, 2011 at 11:30 PM
A delicate balance of night and twilight - peaceful and mystical all at the same time. Processing loos fantastic. :toast: :toast:
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Arild Heitmann on November 30, 2011 at 12:59 AM
Thx a lot kind folks!

This was a fantastic evening. Had to ski for an hour, but that was a joy on hard and crisp snow. The pain started when i had to put on my waders (breathable, not neoprene..) and stand in the water for 15 minutes. That was not so much fun..
Registered on October 13, 2010, 27 Posts, 378 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Roane on November 30, 2011 at 6:10 PM
man, I've long wished for a shot like this, with the Aurora reflected in a calm lake - this is outstanding!
Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Nevesely on November 30, 2011 at 7:37 PM
Nice one! Looks perfect to me.
Registered on June 14, 2005, 147 Posts, 1550 Comments
Comment posted by Christian Klepp on December 1, 2011 at 4:51 AM
Arild,
what a beautiful scenery that you captured here,
just as all your images, just stunning!

Cheers,
Christian.
Registered on January 28, 2011, 8 Posts, 30 Comments
Comment posted by Adam Gibbs on December 1, 2011 at 9:18 PM
Stunning, Arild! You really have these Aurora shots nailed.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 168 Posts, 870 Comments
Comment posted by Reed Bowman on December 2, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Love the brightness of the lake and the reflection of the aurora...very crisp. Plus the light on the horizon is stunning
Registered on March 2, 2009, 166 Posts, 1058 Comments
Comment posted by James Fougère on December 4, 2011 at 10:21 PM
Solid Shot Arild. This is one of your best aurora images :biggrin: IMO
Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments