How to Photograph the Aurora Borealis...in the UK!

Рет қаралды 5,423

2 жыл бұрын

The Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis is without doubt one of the greatest natural spectacles and is a bucket list item for many landscape photographers. There is a widespread misconception that you absolutely have to travel to places like Iceland, Norway or Canada to have any chance to see the Aurora Borealis but this just isn't true. In this video I share with you everything I've learned in how to find and photograph the North Lights in the UK or locations of similar latitude. I discuss the gear, settings and environmental knowledge you'll need to capture photos of this wonderous sight potentially on you're own doorstep. Thanks for watching and happy Aurora hunting! ✨
#aurora #northernlights #astrophotography
*My full equipment list at the time of filming this video*
PHOTOGRAPHY FILTERS
My Filter kit - kasefilters.com/kase-wolverin...
CAMERA & LENSES
Main Landscape Photography Camera - amzn.to/2zTq7nO
My Main Lens - amzn.to/2ZhpRcX
My Wide-Angle Lens - amzn.to/3g7q74f
My Telephoto Lens - amzn.to/2G7X95M
My Main Astrophotography Lens - amzn.to/3ja00ga
My Wide Angle Astrophotography Lens - amzn.to/3p8TZo6
Z Mount Adapter - amzn.to/3bRLZgY
ACCESSORIES
Camera Bag - amzn.to/2Xa2zDj
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Geared Tripod Head - amzn.to/2mrwQyz
Hiking Tripod - amzn.to/2JnldkM
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Shutter Release Cable - amzn.to/2JyVVjL
Head Torch - amzn.to/37dwBKu
Micro Fibre Cleaning Cloths - amzn.to/2rbeBzL
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L Bracket - amzn.to/2AJcAzO
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Len Condensation Heater - amzn.to/2w0aj1c
VLOGGING GEAR
Vlogging Camera - amzn.to/2Kq6zNq
Vlogging Lens - amzn.to/3naQ0TY
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Variable ND Filter - amzn.to/3dEs32S
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Music - courtesy of KZfaq Audio Library - Zodiac Structures - NoMBe

Пікірлер: 77

@brianspicer8829 2 жыл бұрын

Image 4 for me James , A great video to help me tick off the Aurora on my bucket list , you laid it out very well ,,,,,,,Bri

@noelmasterson3646 2 жыл бұрын

I think you got extra lucky James as I believe the colour red and perhaps purple are not seen as often as green and yellow, great shots. btw, I got a sunny day shot of "winky" in the summer

@zygmuntziokowski7877 2 жыл бұрын

James, I think they all are great, but I like #2 and #3 the best. The 85mm looks good, but I think #2 and #3 are better.

@airship9637 2 жыл бұрын

Very illuminating and well presented. I vote for #4 -- It simply stands out from the rest. There is a balance between the foreground defined tower and the strikingly banded background aurora making an outstanding image. Well done, indeed.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the feedback 👍 number 4 for the win I think

@jamesoliver6625 2 жыл бұрын

No.. 2 for me James. Most distinct melding of the lighthouse and the lights creates a cohesive image, not just an image of the lights with a lighthouse or vice versa, but an image of the lighthouse giving light (similar to Neowise)

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback James. Interestingly I preferred the 50mm images too but there seems to be a lot of support for the 85mm image. Shows how subjective it all is. Hope you had a nice Xmas 🎅

@jamesd3369 2 жыл бұрын

All lovely images but number 4 wins hands down for me! Keep up the great work!

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks James 👍

@Lennymcgra 2 жыл бұрын

Image 4 for me, have a great Christmas

@jimhamilton8775 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Image number 4 for me.

@andrewbilverstone2613 6 күн бұрын

Number 4 I like the best

@owenwilliams9582 2 жыл бұрын

Many thanks James for the info, just a bit south of you on Anglesey. On my to do list. There all wonderful shots, I'd bid on the top one, I like the way it shows the whole scale as well as the horizontal aspect of the Aurora, inspiring stuff, cheers Fon

@Ian-sv7py 2 жыл бұрын

Congratulations in capturing your images of the Northern Lights, the last image is the image of preference for me. Many thanks for your advice and hopefully I too will be successful one day in capturing the Aurora Australis (southern lights)

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ian! Good luck 🍀

@janfrosty3392 2 жыл бұрын

I like image 4 the best,

@eltinjones4542 2 жыл бұрын

Great shots all round, James Love the Comet one but to get to the point, I prefer the 50mm 1.8 shot I like where the cloud divides the Aurora 📷👍

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Eltin! That’s not cloud dividing the Aurora. That’s separate banding in the actual Aurora itself 👍

@S.F.D.R 2 жыл бұрын

Merry Christmas James. I hope you a good and blessed Christmas. :)

@RadAlzyoud 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent tips. Thanks

@ashbrooks2857 Жыл бұрын

I would say for me I found #4 the most striking of the images. Travelling to Tromso and Svalbard in Jan 2024 in the hope of getting some images of the northern lights myself. Living in Devon opportunities from home are rarer than rocking horse s***

@richardsmith8115 Жыл бұрын

Such clear and consise information James. Thank you. Number 4 is my favourite of a quality set. Off to Skye in a couple of weeks and hoping to photograph them for the first time, weather and luck permitting.

@Stone1108 2 жыл бұрын

Image number 4 for me! My first watch of your channel, thanks for the advice, appreciated. Off to Scotland for Xmas for some landscape photography, oh and to visit family! Who know, there may even be some aurora activity🤔, I’ll certainly check out the links you gave out in the video. Love the IOM by the way, lucky man. Great video, many thanks for the excellent content. 👏

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Andrew! Hope you have a nice time in Scotland. I’m very envious!

@dh5421 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, well laid out and informative. Totally jealous of where you live! Number 4 for me since the longer focal length brought out detail in the lighthouse but didn’t compress the aurora in the background to a featureless blur. Really nice work

@codebluedjs Жыл бұрын

Superb information thanks. Will definitely be watching all of your videos. Number 1 for me.

@dcallan812 2 жыл бұрын

I caught the AB a couple of times fom my balcony, I live not far from Teesside so have to deal with lots of light polution. The local council now use LED street lights thats helped a bit. But when you see them its just amazing. Thanks for sharing your way of shooting the AB. 2x👍 No4 for me

@ericneeds8444 2 жыл бұрын

No 4 for me. Lots of excellent advice, but as I live in Reading, SE England, the main message was to go north! Thanks for videos.

@mikescuba1 Жыл бұрын

Great presentation.

@gilboalevi4275 2 жыл бұрын

Nr.4

@AndrewWaltonPhotography 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic shots but no.4 was the one that stood out immediately but I'd be happy with any of those. Thanks for some great tips.

@carljarvinen1189 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve only had chance to see and photo the northern lights just once which was over Lake Superior from northern Michigan a few years ago. My images were so so, but they were exciting to see. They are on my bucket list to see and photograph again, would love to do this Finland. My favorite is #4.

@PauloLuFotovlog 2 жыл бұрын

Number 4, is incredible.

@eggmeatless6086 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that, was very helpful💪

@dominiclester3232 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent thanks!

@sharonsuskin6859 2 жыл бұрын

This was the best video I have watched about shooting the Northern lights. Well planned out and easy to understand (not easy to do, just understand). I don't live in a region of the US where I can see them, but would love to someday take a trip north. I think I liked the final photo one and four the best, but i loved all the photos. Thank you for doing this video.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Sharon. Glad you found the video useful 🙂

@scottheaneyphotography 2 жыл бұрын

Love them all, but 4 is my favorite. You do a bit of light painting on the lighthouse using the 85mm?

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! No that is light picked up from another close lighthouse 👍

@susanfirth2279 2 жыл бұрын

Great information and tips. Would love to witness the incredible Aurora Borealis one day. Great images but have to say the last (No. 4) was m fave.

@trevorpayne2749 2 жыл бұрын

For me image 3 but I see plenty favouring others which just goes to show how marginal the difference. Very informative. I've saved this in the hope I can one day revisit when I can put the tips into practice!

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Trevor. I hope one day you get to put the tips into action

@cesarm8811 2 жыл бұрын

Gosh James, it really hard to pick which photo I like the best, but if you twist my arm, I say number 2. Thanks so much for the great tips. Viewing the Northern light (Aurora Borealis) is on my bucket list. Since I leave in South Florida, it requires a trip to Norway, Alaska, etc. I need to hurry, since I am not getting any younger. As always really enjoy your videos and looking forward to your next one.

@nigelbramley4188 2 жыл бұрын

Quite astonishing the quality of your night time imagery James, no less your knowledge. Always a must view on the KZfaq photography list. Excellent stuff as always.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Nigel 🙂

@Retirement_Life 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, James. My vote goes to #4, as Winkie takes a more prominent role.

@antonoat 2 жыл бұрын

Xclnt film James, thanks for sharing it👍😀 they are all good, my fave is image 2.

@peterkennington1043 2 жыл бұрын

Number 4 for me, it has the most defined curtain of light. I visited Tromso and the Lofoten in March some years ago and was lucky to have clear skies and plenty of activity, without doubt it is the best location in Europe. I have a micro four thirds camera but still managed to capture acceptable images as I understood its capabilities well.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Peter. Tromso is just an incredible Aurora destination. Would love to one day return 👍

@martinsarre 2 жыл бұрын

Not many people would shoot the aura at 85mm, excellent work! time to trade it for the z version ?🤔. The 85mm shot is my fave, love the detail in it.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

I think I’m going to stick with the f Mount 85mm. It’s actually a really nice lens plus I can’t afford the switch 😂

@adamsmith6594 2 жыл бұрын

I have seen the Northern lights in Norway and it was nothing short of spectacular. We have had quite a lot of Northern light activity of late due to massive solar ejections and I jave kept an eye out for the lights as they have been spotted and photographed further south than me. But I was looking too high in the sky. What I thought was light pollution was actually the lights. If only I'd taken a few shots and this vlog existed prior. Arghhhhhhh. Armed now though James so thank you. And yeah No.4 for me. Good to see a James Brew upload.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Adam. Good luck with your Aurora hunting 🍀

@wrmarhoffer 2 жыл бұрын

Exceptionally thorough and clear instructions and impressive images. Personally, I prefer your image number 2.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers! Nice to see a vote for number 2!

@paulm8157 2 жыл бұрын

Sterling, first-hand knowledge-based tutorial, James! Well paced, clear, nicely illustrated, informative cogent graphics. Love the “space weather” analogy and advice to be a “nerd”. Glad you captured the target images this time around. Solid advice about how camera amplifies the scene. Cute name for lighthouse “Winky”. (Where’s “Blinkin” and “Nod”?😀) Fourth image does best job of bringing out greens/detail, IMO. Cheers!

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Paul! Appreciate the feedback. Looks like No 4 is the winner. Hope you had a nice Xmas 🎅

@geekgee 2 жыл бұрын

A difficult choice indeed but I think I favour number 3. I lived in the Isle of Man for a couple years but unfortunately never saw the lights. Thanks James for yet another enjoyable video.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching 🙂

@roybixby6135 2 жыл бұрын

Great images and good advice. I'd love the chance to take Aurora images. Do you set Picture control to vivid?

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you - I shoot in RAW so dont pay attention to the picture profiles

@Stillfilm1 2 жыл бұрын

Another great tutorial, thank you James. Very little chance of seeing the aurora here in Cornwall, so I'll just have to admire your stunning shots. I think I prefer No. 4.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much! It is possible to see in Cornwall but maybe a once in 5 year event. Good luck and happy hunting 🤞

@markfrazee8623 2 жыл бұрын

They are all beautiful images so it is hard to pick a favorite. I am torn between 1 and 4 while probably leaning to 4 with the larger view of the lighthouse foreground.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback Mark 👍

@paulus0109 2 жыл бұрын

What an image James. I like 4 the best. The lighthouse, to me, is the most beautiful if it's a bit prominent. Also with the horizontal aurora. I was surprised by all the different Photo's of the lighthouse. That's a great portfolio you have! Thnx

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Looks like 4 is the clear winner 🏆

@mitchwitt9944 Жыл бұрын

Another great video, thank you! Hoping to capture the Northern lights in Norway next year using your advice. Would you change any default settings besides what you've advised? Would I get good results in jpeg or would you advise RAW?

@edwardwest5035 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the video . James, I like number four best. I like seeing some more of the detail in the lighthouse and it doesn't detract from the Aurora but what do I know.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback Ed 👍

@johnjtoth7633 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the great tips and suggestions. Terrific images. All three are great; however, I lean towards the 35mm, f/1.8, 6 seconds at ISO 2500. In that image, there is a separate shaft of light directly on the lighthouse at about the same width as the lighthouse.

@JamesBrewphoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks John! Nice to see the 35mm getting some support 👌