Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Midnight Spectacle
‹ PreviousLandscape GalleryNext ›

Midnight Spectacle

by Zack Clothier

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 21, 2013590 views11 comments
First I would like to thank everyone who commented on my previous post. I've uploaded a repost incorporating some of Stan's suggestions, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on the repost. If you want to see a larger version check out this Link.

Now on to this image. Knowing there was a possibility for the Aurora I drove "down south" to a previously scouted location in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone NP on the evening of July 14th. At around midnight, just as the moon was setting, the lights came alive over White Dome Geyser. As I was standing there in the darkness photographing a coyote started howling nearby, adding to the already eeriness of the scene. If you look closely you can see a meteor streaking down towards the geyser, to the left of the Milky Way. This image was achieved with a single exposure. Some subtle light painting was used to boost the foreground shadows because the moon was no longer adding enough light.

Click the Purchase Print link to view Larger on a black background.
Thanks for any comments!

Nikon D300s
30 Sec. @ f/2.8
ISO 1600
14mm

Comments

11 comments
Comment posted by Peter Coskun on July 21, 2013 at 2:05 PM
This is really great Zack. I have been hearing reports of recent aurora activity in glacier, so I'm hoping I can get a little lucky when I'm there in two weeks. The colors in the sky are great and I love the little bit of cloud cover near the horizon. The shooting star is a plus as is the steam emitting from the geyser. Well done!
Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments
Comment posted by Zack Clothier on July 21, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Thanks Peter, yeah solar activity has been up, I've seen the aurora 5 times in Southwest Montana since March. Good luck up in Glacier!
Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Johan Eickmeyer on July 21, 2013 at 3:20 PM
Beauty! Nice catch for the Aurora.

I wonder if a several minute long exposure for the foreground would have illuminated it much from natural light? Then combine two exposures in post.
Registered on March 25, 2013, 36 Posts, 164 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on July 21, 2013 at 4:47 PM
Great colors in this one, and the night sky looks good. I really like the fortunate position of the falling star. An excellent accent to the whole scene.

Johan's suggestion is a good one if you ever have time to try it. The large version on your site has some artifacts along the horizon. Particularly along the geyser. I don't know if it's compression for uploading to your site or not?

A gorgeous night shot, Zack!
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Lowe on July 21, 2013 at 5:00 PM
Gorgeous image, Zack. The scene really comes alive in the larger version. The colors are awesome and the streaking meteor is a definite plus.

Ed
Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Hilton on July 21, 2013 at 7:36 PM
Excellent planning and execution,
I love it...
Well done!
Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on July 22, 2013 at 1:11 AM
Another unique aurora image Zack. Love the colors an especially the shooting star.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on July 22, 2013 at 3:18 AM
great sky in this scene Zack, i prefer to keep just the sky without the FG

nice work
Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments
Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on July 22, 2013 at 4:12 AM
Zack this is freakin awesome! Very fortunate you are to have experienced it in person.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments
Comment posted by Zack Clothier on July 22, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Morris: the artifacts in the larger version are a result of compression from uploading to the website, I even tried uploading a high resolution tiff and could not get rid of them :confused:
Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Reid on July 23, 2013 at 1:55 AM
Beautiful image Zack. Love the colors and the silhouetted mountains. Well planned and executed. Very nice.
Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments