How to Photograph the Northern Lights: Part Two

Overview

In this tutorial, the focus is on capturing the Northern Lights on camera specifically in the Arctic region. Key areas covered include preparation, equipment, photography settings, and creating a time lapse. Additional practical tips for maximizing photographic outputs in extremely cold conditions are also discussed.

In-Person Workshops

• Conducted in Northern Norway every February.
• Led by the author and Autumn Schrock.

Equipment Preparation

Clothing

• Essential for Arctic cold: hats, fleece, puffy jackets, gloves, warm boots.

Camera Gear

• Lenses: Prime lenses preferred, wide and fast; recommended options include:
  • Sony 14mm F1.8
  • 20mm F1.8
  • 24mm F1.4
• Camera: Full-frame cameras preferred for better low light performance; larger sensors offer lower noise.
• Tripod: Sturdy and stable, suitable for windy Arctic conditions; example is the Colorado Tripod Company Centennial with Aspen ball head.
• Extra Batteries: Keep spare batteries warm inside the coat pocket to avoid cold-induced drain.

Camera Settings

Aperture and ISO

• Aperture: Open wide (F1.8 recommended) but can stop down for sharpness (up to F2.8).
• ISO: Start around 2500-4000; adjust based on Aurora brightness.

Shutter Speed

• Aim for short exposure, around 2.5 seconds; can extend to 6 seconds if Aurora is dim and slow-moving.

White Balance

• Manual setting at 3500 Kelvin for accurate color representation (deep green-turquoise); avoid going higher than 4000 Kelvin.

Additional Tips

• Use a shutter delay timer or remote control to prevent shake.
• Shoot in uncompressed RAW for image quality.
• Set color space to Adobe RGB for better green detail.

Focusing Technique

• Switch to manual focus using a bright star.
• Use camera's zoom feature to find exact focus point.

Time Lapse Creation

• Intervals: Keep short to capture quick motion; 6 seconds recommended.
• Sample Setup: 3-second exposure, 6-second interval.
• Duration: Run time lapse for about an hour to obtain best Aurora moments.

Conclusion

The tutorial provides all necessary equipment, settings, and tips for successfully photographing the Northern Lights. The author also plans to show an example of a Northern Lights time lapse at the video’s end.

Call to Action

• Encourage likes and subscriptions to the channel.
• Engage with the audience by sharing and recommending the content.

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