I like the softness of the first two and the animation of the second two. You're right, if they're like our redpolls, they're anything but peaceful!

Very nice, looks like you did everything right! Next time they're out, hope for clear skies and a high aurora forecast. They've been forecast as awesome for the past few days here in the Interior, but the snowy skies didn't cooperate.

The video is an excellent explanation of how correct exposures can be achieved through changes in aperature and shutter speed (with consistent ISO). Thanks for sharing.

Be sure to check the aurora forecast that is available daily on the Wunderground website, as well as the clear sky forecast. It's really important to dress warmly (and yes it does get -40 or colder), and keep your batteries warm and have extra batteries. A wide angle lens works best, the faster the better. I shoot mostly at ISO 400-800, shutter speed 20-30 seconds, widest lens aperature, tripod, remote release if you have one, focus on manual and set at exactly the middle of the "infinity" icon. We had over 12" of snow the last day or so, and as I'm writing, it's still snowing. Good luck!

Our black calico, Luci, is either totally aloof or affectionately beyond description.

Great shots. A lot of folks miss the explosion after the sun actually sets, when the sun lights up the underside of the clouds!

If it stops snowing and the skies clear, I hope to be shooting the aurora again.

Just before dark


Later in the evening

Here in Alaska, we have the unique opportunity to photograph sled dog races, one of our many wintertime activities. These were taken at the start of the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest in February. All the posts regarding event photography have been great. One more thing, be sure to dress appropriately for the event!

First musher out of the chute


A few miles upstream on the Chena River

I'm with you on that. I have a D300 that I dearly love, but it won't last forever and all the Nikon higher end digital SLRs now have video capability.

Tom, one thing I forgot to mention. DON'T use any filters, because it just adds another layer of glass that detracts from the sharpness of the images. Good luck. AK-T-08

Hi Tom, I would keep an eye on the Wunderground website for zipcode 99701, which is Fairbanks. There's a link there for the aurora forecast, the UAF Geophysical Institute. It's given for the night in general, but at the upper right you'll see another map that gives the hourly forecast. It hasn't been terribly cold, no less than about zero, but warm gear is needed. I'd also bring a headlamp for light to adjust your camera controls, and try to head North out of the city to get away from the lights. A digital SLR is a must, with a wide angle zoom, fastest possible, and a tripod. Last week I set my D300 and 17-55/f2.8, on 25-30 seconds, ISO 500, manual focus infinity, f/2.8 - f/4, white balance daylight, and the pix were great. I noticed the lights were out around 10pm, but I only shot for about 45 minutes.

No, it never gets old! Like all photo excursions, you never know what to expect, you just need to be able to "shoot fast and don't miss."

Tonight, it's the aurora because the forecast is "active" for interior Alaska, and tomorrow it's North of Fairbanks during the day to shoot (photograph) caribou and hopefully wolves chasing the caribou.

Thanks, these are just a few of the hundreds I shot. I had the D300 cranking!

The Quest began in Fairbanks this year. There were 23 teams heading for Whitehorse, Yukon, 1,000 miles away. The teams were made of veterans, rookies, women and men.

Sled dogs ready to go


The first draw out of the chute


These guys are running hard