The AURORA in New Zealand - How To See And Photograph The Southern Lights

Рет қаралды 10,860

Жыл бұрын

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I was recently blessed to experience a pretty amazing show of the Southern Lights, and I’m excited to share what happened, my techniques used, and the images.
This is something that needs to be experienced at least once.
I hope this video inspires you and gives you the right techniques for creating lasting memories of this amazing natural phenomenon.
Enjoy!
-
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00:00:16 - How to know when the Aurora will show
00:01:46 - Camera setting for capturing the night sky
00:03:40 - How to focus the shot
00:04:40 - How to compose the frame
00:05:40 - Some challenges you might face
00:07:10 - Improving the composition
00:11:11 - Final thoughts
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Пікірлер: 143

@kateg4623 2 ай бұрын

I mean… i’ve been IN LOVE & OBSESSED with the night sky for as long as I can remember… Always thought I’d never get to see them because I was sure i’d HAVE to travel. ESPECIALLY considering I’m in Melbourne suburbs and its almost an hour to ANYWHERE CLOSE to somewhere with less light pollution- unfortunately, its always been cloudy… My birthday is next week and I am absolutely STOKED that last weekend we got the strongest display in over 20yrs… I decided it was an early birthday present. Half way through the time my friend and I were there, people started to flood us(both experienced photographers and I’ve mentored/taught a fair amount of photographer) and stare at our screens and ask us how to take aurora photos hehehe Felt good to hear them then trying to teach others (using my exact words in one case). Anyway, this video is so perfect as a teaching tool! You explain the technical terms in such an easy way for night photography. Maybe the only thing i’d add was telling people they will DEFINITELY NEED A TRIPOD. Speechless, last week = yes… Your screaming = my almost 40yo butt crying. Did you see last weeks? I am SO DEVASTATED that its over and hour to ANYWHERE that would truly satisfy me… that ‘something in the foreground’ is so me, cause I’m a portraiture/fashion photographer… And like I said, to get ANYWHERE with less light pollution to see the Aurora Australis it is almost an hour for a suburb beach… The good beaches/places are almost 2hrs… Thanks you for sharing this vid, and letting people have access to your RAWs is so kind.❤

@leannecullen8317 Жыл бұрын

A night to remember for sure - likewise I got goosebumps just remembering and seeing it again. Thanks for an awesome video and the tips along with it. Both locations were worth it.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

So awesome you got to experience it as well. Stoked about that. Thanks Leanne! :)

@bevkane1830 Жыл бұрын

Wow William, this was fantastic. I've just come back from 6 weeks in Canada including a fortnight at Yellowknife to photograph the Northern Aurora. Definitely heaps of green up there but did get some faint glimmers of red and yellow. Hope the Southern Aurora is firing agin when I come to NZ in July. Doubt if I can get as far south as Te Anau but hopefully will be able to see it from West Otago.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Nice! Yellowknife was the first place I saw the aurora, and at -42 degrees 🤣 fond memories though. Hope you have a great time when you’re here. Thanks for the support.

@andrewedwards3989 Жыл бұрын

Boom , well done , bloody choice , ta for sharing Will

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

haha, cheers mate!

@andrewsimpson5436 Жыл бұрын

Nice locations and the show was crazy tall here in the North of Scotland too. A joy to catch.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Glad you got to enjoy it also. Thanks Andrew :)

@Hamzakhan-dt3gv Жыл бұрын

Interesting video 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

🙏🏻

@Hamzakhan-dt3gv Жыл бұрын

@@WilliamPatinoPhotography you’re welcome

@wardastrophotography5098 3 ай бұрын

Wow incredible ✅✅✅

@larrywales358 Жыл бұрын

Spectacular ! Thank you for sharing your evening shooting the Aurora from a far away place. Awesome- Pretty Work

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Cheers Larry!

@tmeeten3195 Жыл бұрын

Wow - just beautiful. Thanks for sharing your experience with these stunning lights and your shooting tips. One day!! Got to leave Auckland first!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks. Hope you see them someday!

@aassra Жыл бұрын

I can feel the energy as if I were there with you, incredible display, tips and photographs

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much mate.

@ianbraithwaite9563 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic Video Will looks like you had a ball very envious but hope I get the same chance one day!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Great fun. So nice to be able to document it on video too. That was the extra special part for me. You will get it one day!

@piteshmistry9957 Жыл бұрын

Great vid Will!! Such an incredible experience seeing an aurora that strong in NZ :)

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate! It was truly special :)

@Offaducksback Жыл бұрын

Epic levels maxed out. Hope to witness it one day, had already been toying with the idea of a strike mission to Tassie if the stars align.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Man it was pumping. Hope you can do it someday!

@user-il5xs5qv1v Жыл бұрын

Thank you Will, great work. What an epic night you experienced, thank you for sharing

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Sue!

@EltonMcAleer Жыл бұрын

Amazing work!❤

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot Elton!

@BucNasty32 Жыл бұрын

Loving the videos Will. Man seeing that explosion of light and colour sent chills. He displays his awesomeness in so many ways and that for me was a "Let me show you something" moment much like our Iceland night when the sky lit up.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

That was truly a special one mate. Incredibly humbling, especially as it reflected in the glacial waters. A cherished memory. Thanks brother.

@CarolineOrdHume Жыл бұрын

Thank you for all the raw files Will 🙂

@pangelos44 Жыл бұрын

Truly awe inspiring! Beautiful images and excellent instruction, as usual. 👏

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Legend, thanks Paul!

@reneepatino7804 Жыл бұрын

So good! It was such an amazing display ❤❤

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

So happy you saw it from home. Next time, you guys are coming out with me though. Then it will probably be a dud lol x

@DobromirManchev Жыл бұрын

Absolutely amazing shots! You are so lucky to have witnessed this IRL! Damn :D

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot!

@wkwtse Жыл бұрын

This video is soooo good - Explains everything so clearly and makes it so easy to understand! Thank you!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thank you.

@rosssayer6524 Жыл бұрын

Really great video William, the colours in that sky was amazing, many thanks for sharing the images and tips

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ross! Always appreciate your support.

@gusstanden8957 Жыл бұрын

Mate, absolutely stunning shots. Keep it up

@barbarachamberlain6918 Жыл бұрын

Goosebumps here too!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

😆❤️

@warrenlloyd7532 Жыл бұрын

Right place, right time! How good is that

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

That’s essentially the goal of a landscape photographer. Then know what to do once the moment arises haha. Cheers mate.

@dipakgadekar Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing this, felt as if I was there experiencing the beautiful and amazing natural phenomenon.👍

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Couldn’t ask for more. Thank you.

@lphilpot01 Жыл бұрын

Woo-hoo! As someone who lives at a temperate latitude (32N) I've seen the aurora only once and it was just a red glow - Like a distant forest fire. This was phenomenal, Creator at work ...or is that at play? 🙂

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Haha, I think either fits the description well! Hey at least you got to see it even like that. Usually here it’s more of a glow, like a distant fire as you mentioned or distant city lights. This particular night it was on another level though. Cheers :)

@dianneturner4874 Жыл бұрын

Oh lovely, how amazing. Thank you for sharing. I do hope I get a chance to see these lights one day!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

I hope so too! Thanks.

@joanhuggett5164 Жыл бұрын

This was beyond beyond, William. Your commentary, as fired up as that magical event, was awesome. For someone who will never see this, I truly can't thank you enough. After I view a few more times, I will pause to note down some settings for the night sky. So grateful. A sister in the WA bush.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for the thoughtful comment and support Joan. Always appreciate it ☺️

@CarolineOrdHume Жыл бұрын

First class exciting and informative video Will. Not sure how you manage to do all that multitasking and not get distracted from your compositions. Deciding to drive for an hour while all that is happening is inspiring. I love looking for the extras that alway seem to pop up in your videos... such as deer and shooting stars.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for the thoughtful comment and support Caroline! Always appreciate it ☺️❤️🙏🏻

@simpletexan Жыл бұрын

What beautiful shots! In addition to your great talent, you are so blessed to be able to go to places like this.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Ken. I'm certainly thankful and try and make the most of it. Cheers mate :)

@ayesharakha9122 Жыл бұрын

Such a wealth of knowledge! Brilliant video Will 😁 I’ve been following you for years now, crazy to see how much you’ve honed your skills in a relatively short period. Certainly inspirational!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Amazing. Thank you so much! 🙏🏻🖤

@MegaDwilkinson Жыл бұрын

Wow - wonderful - one day, hopefully

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Definitely mate. One day.

@owendavies6575 Жыл бұрын

Darn cool! Was a pretty amazing night here as well with kp 8-9. I got a few shots off my deck facing south that came out alright but Edmonton has horrid light pollution so its pretty tough. The display was 2nd only to one I saw here in the 1980s...both from horizon to peak and 360 deg around...I'd thought of driving out east to a dark sky area but it was 1am and I was already tapped out tired...Love those shots you got, truly stunning!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Unreal mate. It's truly a special sight to behold. Definitely can be hard to fight the body clock though!

@harrybradley Жыл бұрын

Great to meet and share this experience with you down at the lake - a truly unforgettable evening! Still gives me goosebumps, and your photos and video really did it justice!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Hey mate! Yes wasn’t it spectacular. Glad you got to witness and enjoy it too :) cheers

@hmkwong5833 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for letting me share this mesmerising experience with you.

@michelledeppe7201 Жыл бұрын

so amazing!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks Michelle! Such a fun, memorable night. It’s ingrained into my mind haha.

@michelledeppe7201 Жыл бұрын

@@WilliamPatinoPhotography Thanks for the tips to shoot the aurora. I didn't think about exposure stacking, and I'll have to try it next time. I've only seen the aurora two nights when I was in Norway.

@annetivendale8616 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely stunning! 💙

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks Anne :)

@ebonypaaka6240 Жыл бұрын

Bloody Magical! ❤

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Cheers Ebs!

@WalkForFreedomOz Жыл бұрын

Hi Will. Sometimes you can get lucky. Well done. Really like that last image. 👍

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Cheers Justin

@karendubois9206 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your videos! Northern Lights are on my bucket list!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thank you Karen! Hope you get to see them sometime :)

@melindapryor Жыл бұрын

Amazing!!! How good.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks Mel! :)

@davidmaltby2065 Жыл бұрын

Another outstanding video, and really informative. Thank you

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the support and comment Dave. Cheers!

@davidmaltby2065 Жыл бұрын

@@WilliamPatinoPhotography can I ask what app you use?

@vinodtavildar Жыл бұрын

Wow amazing photography and settings 👍👍🙏, the pink glow pillars are phenomenal 🤩, how lucky you guys are. Both video and still require same settings ??

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Video needs faster shutter speed otherwise it will be blurred. So the ISO is much higher for video. Thanks!

@NomadOutdoorAdventures Жыл бұрын

Absolutely amazing I just picked up the Sigma14mm F1.8 and I hope in the near future I’ll be capturing similar images up here in Canada.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks, I’ve seen them up there a few times. All the best with it!

@sfuterfas Жыл бұрын

I'd be happy just to see them, period! I've been to Iceland and Fairbanks, Alaska to see them, but both times no dice! At least I still had a blast. Still hoping to one day see them!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Oh bummer! Yeah there’s so many variables. I’m fortunate to have seen them many times now but certainly don’t take it for granted. Hope it eventually happens for ya!

@nolanwest6831 10 ай бұрын

That was awesome

@WilliamPatinoPhotography 10 ай бұрын

Thanks brother 👊🏻💚

@denisesavage2382 Жыл бұрын

W O W - what a night that was. I so wish I had been able to get out that night. Hopefully next time!! Cracking experience and images Will.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks Denise :) Hope you can see it someday!

@denisesavage2382 Жыл бұрын

@@WilliamPatinoPhotography I’ve spotted it a few times now - but not when it does it’s exciting stuff. I always seem to miss those ones . . . Sigh. One day.

@karolinarussell3383 Жыл бұрын

Great video, thank U!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the support!

@somroy Жыл бұрын

What a visual feast brother! Extremely informative and probably the sharpest course on everything aurora. And congratulations - NZ now officially competes with everything the other continents can rummage through. P.S. Did I catch some vertical camera support? :P

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Haha thanks mate! And yes, I had to succumb!

@brinx07 Жыл бұрын

Spectacular and incredibly fortunate to capture this! Great video

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. Yeah, so stoked to get it on the video also :) have you ever seen the aurora?

@brinx07 Жыл бұрын

@@WilliamPatinoPhotography Trying to plan a trip to tassie or South Island soon to see it for the first time. Your video is very insightful and geeing me up big time!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

@@brinx07 Awesome, hope you get to see it! Keep in mind it is somewhat rare but you will have a great time nonetheless.

@JohnMumford Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thank you John 🙏🏻

@bikramghosh1 Жыл бұрын

This was probably the night we could have made a decision to go to the other location bro. Woukd have been epic.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Can’t think of what you are referring to, haha. This was two weeks back.

@bikramghosh1 Жыл бұрын

@William Patino end of the world stacks bro...lol. can't put that of the list.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

@@bikramghosh1 haha, don't worry it was on my mind, trust me. This flare came up so late in the afternoon, faster than any forecasting could pick up. Wasn't meant to be. I've got 2-3 places in mind for next time, if there's enough warning and certainty of it going off. One day!

@teeeenyfifi Жыл бұрын

Just awesome… it would be good to see how you blended them 😁😁😘😘🤣 I haven’t tried but what I’d maybe do is shoot a few frames (16?) with high iso then put them through NR by stacking and then blend a single frame into the sky, but I’m guessing this isn’t the best way? Anyhoo top video once again 😁

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

The probably with that method is if you want to focus stack, which I did in both these images, you’d need minimum 32 frames just for two focal points but usually at f/2.8 you’re going to need 3-4 focal points. If you do the math, it’s going to be far too many frames for my liking Haha. Way easier to do the bulb method IMO. The blending is relatively straight forward in post, basically focus stacking all the bulbs then do the sky blend at the end. Hoping to do a mini astro tutorial course later in the year. Bit much for KZfaq. Cheers Fi :)

@teeeenyfifi Жыл бұрын

@@WilliamPatinoPhotography ah yeah of course! I’ll keep an eye out, definitely will add that to the arsenal 😁

@walk-about-photo9453 Жыл бұрын

Great video, we've been able to see them from new Hampshire USA.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

So awesome! Thanks ☺️

@warwickatkinson2558 Жыл бұрын

Just hope mid-April is nearly as good for Queenstom as Mt Cook. Sorry for not changing name

@user-xe5zk6yc9d Жыл бұрын

Wow - what a night! Was that 23 March by any chance? I was lucky to catch the 27 Feb display - also epic - on the west coast of Tassie. Thanks for the tips on capture - great information! Would you consider doing a video on how you edit the aurora photos? Not necessarily the focus stacking etc, but just the basic Lightroom settings. A lot of the images on-line look over-saturated and a bit surreal. It's a challenge (particularly with a crop sensor) to get the colour, definition and low noise. I'd love to see/hear how you tackle that challenge. Thanks for all your videos - they are such a great resource!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks Kerry ☺️ This was Feb 27! 🎉 They key to the low noise is using bulb with low iso. The colour can be tricky because as you know, they naturally come out so vibrant. What typically occurs is that the aurora is quite weak and people want to process it to be something greater than it was. Same with sunsets and sunrises. I’ll make more in depth tutorials some day specifically for astro. Thank you for the support.

@TheAllfi Жыл бұрын

awsome pictures❤ I have a bit of the same problem that you have down under that it has to be a high K number even though I live in Sweden. But I managed to take some pictures of the Aurora this year. And the Aurora phenomenon will increase in intensity until 2025 when it reaches its peak to come back in 11 years from 2025.

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Yes, should be more and more opportunities on the way! Thanks for viewing :)

@TheAllfi Жыл бұрын

@@WilliamPatinoPhotography Absolutely, there will be more opportunities to photograph the Aurora. So now the plan is to find a more beautiful place to photograph than the field I was standing on, only grass and forest in the foreground, not the most beautiful place

@christophercann3831 Жыл бұрын

I remember the day this was filmed, sitting watch the forecasts , unfortunately the entire area around Melbourne was completely covered in cloud!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

I feel you. It’s often the case here! There will be more opportunities on the way.

@christineportelli7335 Жыл бұрын

That's amazing! Thanks for the video. How much of that was visible to the naked eye?

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Hard to explain, at least 70%. Enough that people without cameras were heading out and being very excited about it. It was spectacular. I’ve had nights in Iceland where it’s so bright and vibrant, all you can do it burst into applause, laughter or cry. Hope you can see it sometime.

@christineportelli7335 Жыл бұрын

@@WilliamPatinoPhotography that's absolutely awesome. Not sure what it'll be like in a couple of weeks, but we're heading to Queenstown and really hoping we'll be able to see something cool - even if it's just through the lens!

@PMCN53 Жыл бұрын

Great advice William! I didn't know that NZ could have such brilliant Arora display! What time of year is best for the Southern Aurora? I was in Lofoten in Feb 2020, that was in their peak NL season but we didn't capture any NL imaged due to the cloud cover :(. NZ is not so far & less expensive to get there. I know it's an unpredictable event, but I'd love to give it a go as part of my next trip to NZ -South. Cheers!

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate! I wouldn’t base an NZ trip around trying to capture the aurora. The latitude were at means that it’s nowhere near as common as places closer to the poles. Anytime of year it can happen, depending on the suns solar flares. Summer it isn’t dark until almost 11pm, so autumn and winter will provide longer hours of darkness. Best to just come over and hope you get lucky haha. It’s more spectacular up north though, closer to the pole.

@PMCN53 Жыл бұрын

@@WilliamPatinoPhotography Thanks for the advice!! I’ll just have to go back to Lofoten 😎

@Coolguy-bw7qf Жыл бұрын

Great video, a few questions 1. Could you make a video showing how you post process it, particularly the blending? 2. I’ve never shot the aurora but hope too this fall, when I have tried other types of Astro I can’t seem to get any detail in the foreground and whatever subject Im shooting even at longer shutter speeds. Will this be different when shooting the aurora? ( I’m currently shooting with a Nikon d 7500 and a 10mm f 2.8)

@WilliamPatinoPhotography Жыл бұрын

For more detail, you just need to expose longer with the lower iso. Or, shoot 15-20 frames at the standard shutter and iso then blend together in post to reduce noise. The aurora can help partially brighten dark environments for sure. Easiest way with astro is to shoot all the subject matter during blue hour at a narrow aperture and low iso, just as you would for a normal landscape image. Then blend the sky in once the stars are out. I cover some of this processing in my courses but might get something on here someday :)

@Coolguy-bw7qf Жыл бұрын

@@WilliamPatinoPhotography thanks for the advice, I'm excited to hopefully be able to see the aurora this fall.

@corinnelacroix5796-v5x 5 ай бұрын

Hi...marvellous explanations ! It will help me for my first Aurora southlight photo ,may be.We will star 2 months in south Iland... april...may..utils 8th jun.Where did you make your marvelous Aurora photography ? ...de are from New Caledonia...I gave a canon r5..f16mm 2.8..tripode etc....

@WilliamPatinoPhotography 5 ай бұрын

It is very rare. Any location looking south, as long as the aurora is active and skies clear along with a low moon. Lots needs to align! All the best :)