Aurora Borealis
Jul 12, 2014 15:49:52 #
rojebo
Loc: Liberal, Kansas
Was very fortunate to travel to Fairbanks area of Alaska this past February. Took lots of pictures of the northern lights. If you have never been there, GO, you will not be disappointed. I can recommend a wonderful tour group if you are interested I that. Enjoy this picture taken near Fairbanks.
Aurora Borealis near Fairbanks, Alaska
Jul 12, 2014 19:01:51 #
Jul 12, 2014 19:15:09 #
rojebo
Loc: Liberal, Kansas
I used a wide angle Tokina 16-11 f2.8 lens on a Nikon D3200 body on a tripod, probably 5 seconds exposure. I couldn't tell you off hand the specific settings. Being in the cold I used an "Extreme" SD card for cold weather. I had several fully charged batteries in my inside coat pocket, because -15degrees can drain them quickly. Amazingly my batteries never drained requiring a change, though I was outside for a good hour and a half at least, each night. Of course, I made sure to start with a fresh charge each time.
I mentioned the tripod. I bought a lightweight carbon fiber tripod I could dismantle to carry in my suitcase. The carbon fiber is presumably better in extreme cold. It had screw connections for extending legs. I was warned that snap connections could break off in the cold. And I was told to tape the feet on so they would be less likely to pull out of the legs in the cold and dark. :shock:
I mentioned the tripod. I bought a lightweight carbon fiber tripod I could dismantle to carry in my suitcase. The carbon fiber is presumably better in extreme cold. It had screw connections for extending legs. I was warned that snap connections could break off in the cold. And I was told to tape the feet on so they would be less likely to pull out of the legs in the cold and dark. :shock:
Jul 15, 2014 10:24:38 #
rojebo wrote:
Was very fortunate to travel to Fairbanks area of Alaska this past February. Took lots of pictures of the northern lights. If you have never been there, GO, you will not be disappointed. I can recommend a wonderful tour group if you are interested I that. Enjoy this picture taken near Fairbanks.
Used to live there and would love to go back and "shoot the lights." I'd be interested in knowing which tour group you went with, and whether it was a photo group. Thanks.
Jul 15, 2014 10:37:40 #
rojebo
Loc: Liberal, Kansas
Special Interests Tours took us for the purpose of seeing the lights. The main tour was five days total. We flew into Fairbanks, then bussed to Chena Hot Springs. We returned to Fairbanks to tour the international ice sculpture competition. Then we had a two day extension for two nights in Anchorage after a Charter flight over/around Denali. While in Anchorage my friends and I took a side trip with Salmon Berry Tours to Willow Lake to observe the beginning of the Iditarod. I highly recommend SIT and SBT. SIT have been taking groups to see the lights for about 9 years. They offer many tours with different topics.
Jul 15, 2014 12:38:34 #
rojebo wrote:
Special Interests Tours took us for the purpose of... (show quote)
Thanks for the info! Will have to give them a try.
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