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Observing and Imaging Group
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Topic starter
Here’s how not to take a photograph of the Aurora Borealis while in the Orkney Islands.
(1) Take the photograph in the summer when there is still twilight in the sky
(2) Make sure it’s a partially cloudy evening
(3) And when there’s a full moon
(4) Take the photograph hand-held, without a tripod, using only the roof of the car as a prop
Follow these simple instructions and it will look like this:
Here’s what happened. We were visiting friends in the north of Orkney in August. We had been talking about the northern lights and the fact that we had never seen them. As we were leaving, they said that there could well be an aurora in the sky at that time, but that the conditions were too poor to actually see it – there was still the glow of twilight and the full moon was in the sky. So were the clouds.
But my daughter thought she could just make out a curtain of green. It seemed as though she was right. We drove half a mile away from the streetlights and, sure enough, there was indeed a wispy green glow, coming and going. Not easy to see, but the camera caught more than our eyes could. Just a shame we weren’t prepared and had to hand-hold the camera, propping it as best as possible on the roof of the car.
Well, at least we saw them!
Posted : 12/09/2015 2:16 am
Wow, given all of those constraints, I'm amazed you picked up anything at all!
Well done!
Posted : 12/09/2015 11:49 am
Ha, thats how to take the BEST Aurora image when given the aforementioned limitations! Well done, Andy. Liked the story that goes with it too, so I enjoy the image far more for it then just a simple professional showcase image.
Posted : 12/09/2015 12:26 pm
Aha! The fluky aurora photo that you mentioned when we last met at our lecture evening.
Heeding your 4-step instructions clearly produces results... ! I'd be very happy to have captured that especially given the circumstances.
Posted : 26/09/2015 12:07 pm
I'd be quite chuffed with that under the circumstances.
My 5 day trip to Iceland 18 months ago ended with 5 cloudy nights, apart from one, which was 90% covered and stormy. We chased for gaps from Reykjavik to the airport and Blue Lagoon. Eventually found a spot that a coach tour was parked and decided to stay and take the chance. I didnt manage to get any photos, but did at least observe the auroa on 3 occasions for a couple of seconds. Maybe next time!
All was not lost. Iceland is a great place to visit.
Posted : 01/10/2015 8:38 am
Topic starter
This, on the other hand, is how you should take photographs of the aurora borealis...
Posted : 08/10/2015 11:19 am
Those photos are gorgeous! Lucky Northerners!
I really want to experience seeing aurora again.
Posted : 10/10/2015 1:30 pm
Topic starter
This aurora was taken last night by our friend David Taylor whom we were visiting in Orkney when I took my 'How not to' photo in the summer...
Posted : 07/03/2016 6:18 am
