Northern Delights Photo

Photographer’s Note

In this part of the world we had a beautiful display of northern lights overnight...which means I didn't get much sleep :-)

It is truly a magical spectacle to see these shafts of light dancing and swaying across the sky. And believe it or not, you can actually "hear" the northern lights.They broadcast a soft humming sound that oscilates the way sound is distorted if you are standing near a large bonfire.Click HERE for an audio sample or HERE for more information about northern lights and how they light up the sky.

This is not a shot from a quality camera but it does give you an idea of the "show".I used 15 second exposure with a 100 ISO setting.The result was quite grainy so I smoothed out some of the noise.

gioy, SophieL, gaetanche, sunny, ngythanh, gazo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

gioy (423) 2004-11-08 8:36

For me is very beautiful!
A natural show!

SophieL (6030) 2004-11-08 10:13

I'm so jealous! :^)
Your picture is magical. The choice of a long exposure allows to see the outline of the landscape, and the colors of the lights are so beautiful. Great work.

freedom (287) 2004-11-08 11:24

I really don't understand how the northen light can be streit, usually is shaped like an "S"...Probabily is because the shin of the moon behind the clouds illuminate the particles, but what about the sun, which usually is the one who make the particles visible? What a mistery....But no metter who or what you did, is a suggestiv photo.

PLD_images (7141) 2004-11-09 9:09

I am always fascinated by northern lights. Having lived up North for a while, I got to see many. I heard the discutions of the lights making sounds, but never belived it. Thanks for the links, I helped me to better understand. I like the photo. Did you try longer exposures?

ninadev (5225) 2004-11-09 15:14

This is an incredible shot! I have seen many pics of auroras and had the priviledge of seeing on myself many many years ago but nerver saw this type with green and purple straignt bands..as if spotlights coming from heaven. And those stars twinkling and dancing on the sound of these north light as "feu folets" (don't know the english word for it)are just so great. Perfect title...

sunny (3068) 2004-11-11 14:21

Amazing phenomena of night magic, Derek! It looks to me as if a big allien's ship is preparing to land and is transmitting a powerful stream of light down to the ground! :-) I haven't seen the northern lights before and I can say it is strikingly beautiful! Thank you very much for sharing - wonderful atmospheric shot!

Motrem (2392) 2004-11-12 16:15 [Comment]

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optic (0) 2004-11-18 7:25

Amazing picture Derek ! il n'est pas facile de réaliser ce type d'image, vous avez très bien réussi! j'ai consulté les liens inclus dans votre note, FASCINANT !

gazo (116) 2005-04-13 16:47

Very nice. Thank you.

IaKoop (819) 2005-09-19 3:29

I guess this is what TrekEarth is all about. Your shot compelled me to look up your region on a map. I didn't realize you were far enough North to see these colours! I'd seen Northern Lights in Ontario, but it wasn't until I arrived in the Yukon that I saw anything other than green. Beautifully composed and executed, quality camera or not. Thanks for the education.

Beaconx (81) 2006-08-16 14:00

It's a spectacular natural event and I envy you being there to capture it. I am sure it took you a lot of patience to compose and shoot. I wish your use of tripod would help you define a sharper horizon with the silhouttes of the trees. If the result somehow turned out to be grainy, you could have used a higher ISO setting for an easier (and most probably a sharper one as well) picture. Then you would again get rid of the grains. Still I envy that you were there to shoot it. Cheers,
Alp

mateosite (604) 2007-01-14 19:28