How to View the Aurora Borealis: Northern Lights Photography Tips and Tricks

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11 ай бұрын

Unveiling the Magic Closer to Home: Your Guide to the Northern Lights in the Lower 48.
Have you always dreamt of basking in the glory of the northern lights, but felt daunted about where to begin? Push those uncertainties aside! With this video guide, embark on a journey to:
Understand the Aurora Forecast in Your Area:
You don't need to be in Alaska or Iceland to witness the beauty of the Aurora Borealis. We'll guide you on how to track geomagnetic activity and monitor local weather patterns, ensuring you know the optimal times to view this phenomenon in your vicinity.
Best Aurora Viewing Spots:
Regardless of your location, you might be just a short trip away from one of these prime viewing areas:
1. Upper Peninsula of Michigan: From Copper Harbor to Marquette, the northernmost part of the Great Lakes state offers countless vantage points to see the northern lights.
2. Rocky Shores of New England: New England boasts numerous spots to observe the aurora, including Acadia National Park in Maine and Mount Washington in New Hampshire.
3. Western United States: Known for its aurora views, regions like the open fields of Montana and the rocky landscapes of northern Idaho promise spectacular sights.
Tips and Pitfalls for Aurora Chasers:
Avoid the heartbreak of a missed aurora opportunity. Stay away from areas with high light pollution such as dense city centers. Prefer moonless nights, as the deeper darkness amplifies the aurora's glow. Always remember to dress warmly-nights can get quite cold!
Capturing the Magic: Photography Tips:
The northern lights can be elusive, so be prepared:
- DSLR or Mirrorless Camera: Those with manual settings are best equipped to capture even the faintest lights.
- Sturdy Tripod: Crucial for sharp, long-exposure shots.
- Wide-Angle Lens: Perfect for encapsulating the vast expanse of the night sky.
In conclusion, the northern lights aren't just an elusive Arctic dream. With patience, some luck, and our guide, you can witness the sky illuminate with brilliant colors. Dive in, and may the lights always be in your favor!
#AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #AuroraPhotography #AstroPhotography #NightSkyPhotography #PhotographyTips #LightPollution #TravelPhotography #MichiganPhotography #timelapse

Пікірлер: 21

@antipro6537 7 ай бұрын

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for and was lucky to find quickly! Thanks for the great editing and info!

@Borealis_Media 7 ай бұрын

So glad to hear this video was helpful - good luck out there! ✨💫

@louiedelrosario5518 10 ай бұрын

Excellent video tips for a beginner Aurora chaser! Thank you ❤

@Borealis_Media 10 ай бұрын

You are very welcome. We are so glad you found this to be useful!

@sarahgoodwin3451 11 ай бұрын

Faaaantasic!!

@Borealis_Media 11 ай бұрын

Thank you, Sarah - this was a lot of fun to put together!

@Denniscaskey 10 ай бұрын

Awesome video. One of the best ones I've seen on the subject. I'm curious about your screen brightness on the back of the camera when reviewing your photos. When doing night/astro photography, my camera was always set too bright so that when I reviewed photos on camera they would look great, but it was deceiving me because when I got home and pulled the images into lightroom they'ed be much darker. (I've since learned how to turn down the screen brightness.) Do you run into this problem, or do you just rely on the histogram?

@Borealis_Media 10 ай бұрын

Hey Dennis - So happy to hear you enjoyed it! While we haven't faced this issue ourselves, we've heard others mention it. We prefer checking images through the EVF rather than the rear LCD, as it gives a more accurate representation. And the histogram and light meter are also super handy in really dark settings like these. We appreciate you following along!

@cindyscoviac4904 10 ай бұрын

Great video!

@Borealis_Media 10 ай бұрын

Thank you! We’re glad you enjoyed it!

@LexaLianne 5 ай бұрын

I'm going to Alaska to see the auroras and would love to create a time-lapse. I have a Sony camera and I've watched multiple videos on what the settings should be but they all different. If youre able to help me could you please tell me what my shooting interval, how many shots and ae tracking should be. Also, do I need to utilize white balance? One person said to use incandescent, does that sound right?

@Borealis_Media 3 ай бұрын

Your camera settings will vary based on your shooting conditions. For example, when capturing the Aurora in Alaska, you'll typically want to set your exposure times between 4-6 seconds. This shorter duration helps prevent blurring as the lights move. If you're planning to create a timelapse, make sure to use your camera's interval timer to capture a series of photos consistently. As for white balance, it's adjustable in post-production, so it doesn't require precise setting in the field, though we usually fine-tune it after composing our shot. Enjoy your photography in Alaska, and I hope these tips are useful!

@Ryan.burger 10 ай бұрын

Fantastic tutorial guys!!👌🙌

@Borealis_Media 10 ай бұрын

Thank you, Ryan - we appreciate it!

@riverrunimages 2 ай бұрын

How were you able to shoot around that green/yellow floodlight at Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse? Is there a way to turn it off?

@LexaLianne 5 ай бұрын

Do you need to shoot in raw if youre not going to edit the photos or can you shoot in jpeg?

@Borealis_Media 3 ай бұрын

You should be shooting RAW whenever you can. As you gain more experience you will be glad you can go back and edit the stuff you shot during your trip - even if its years later!