"Aurora Treeling" One of my
first aurora pictures
by Glacierwolf, 2 more photos
Most cameras are spec'd only to +32F. The best aurora viewing is October to March temperatures hover between -20F to -40F and lower. Keep your camera wrapped in a clean hat, bring it inside your car every 20-30 minutes for 15 minute warm up, have 3-4 charged warm batteries ready.
Aurora photography is time lapse photography. You need a steady tripod and a remote - anything but keeping your finger on the camera for time delay photos. The tripod needs a quick release and rubber coated. A fast lens - F/1.8 or better is needed for professional results.
35mm or digital - depends on the F/stop of your lens at it's widest angle. F/1.8 lens takes a great shot at only 3-4 secs at ISO 400. An F/2.5 lens is 15 secs. The aurora is always in motion, the quicker the shot, the sharper the image. ISO's 800, 1600, or 3200 gives allot of grain in film, noise in digital.
Expect to take 200-300 pictures. Digital pictures at the largest possible size and resolution. A laptop can be handy to download images on site.
Having an LED headlamp is invaluable - lets you peform hands free adjustments on your camera at night.
The best places to take aurora photos are south of town at the Chena Lakes Recreation Area and Bathing Beauty Pond. Address: Chena Lakes Recreation Area in North Pole, AlaskaDirections: From Fairbanks go south on the Richardson Highway, pass the town of North Pole and take a left at the large brown "Chena Lakes Recreation Area" sign (14 miles south of Fairbanks). Climb up on the dike or drive up in any of the 3-4 locations.
