Aurora Bolaris

[smee]

I sold my camera the other week and had to call the girl who bought it offering a hasty night photography tutorial in return for a loan of the camera!
Only managed to catch the last glimpses and missed the full glory but it was really spectacular to see, went to bed buzzing last night.


Rothmaise Aurora 2 by ah_mr_smee, on Flickr

Monkey puzzle aurora by ah_mr_smee, on Flickr

[C7Steve]

Love the first picture Andrew

Care to explain what settings you used and how you went about getting the final picture please?

Is there any computer work been added to alter the final image, or was that all done pre shutter release?

I am interested to know what shutter lengths/aperture settings you used.

Pity that you did not get a shot of your car in the foreground with the northern lights too, as that would have easily made the SE calendar.



Steve.

[smee]

I know Steve, I've always wanted a shot of the car with the northern lights in the back ground.
Settings for 1st shot..
Iso 400
F5.6
30 second exposure
Wb set to flash. Photo taken with lights out of the house then a second shorter exposure with the lights on and the two layers merged.
Minimal post production in lightroom to adjust temperature and reduce image noise from the high iso.

Tree picture is a single exposure, same settings and flash and led torch to paint the foreground

[tut]

It would seem that they are everywhere but Old Deer.

I drove up the road from the village last night to get rid of the street lights, pitch black sky but no sign of the lights. Do not understand it as they are clearly visible from the surrounding areas.

tut

[Sanjøy]

Settings noted. Sat at Loch Leven with all the doggers last night looking for a shot.

[DJ]

Seemed to be a good show on last night and quite far south too. Anyone get a good view... Or any pics?

[Sanjøy]

Sat up this hill behind me for an hour and nothing, an hour too late.

[istoo]

i went out at 2330 last night, father called to tell me it was specatular from the black isle. I stay on the south side of a village so need to get out of the sodium lights which is a 10 minute walk, then to see cloud cover to the north, so i went back inside. Frustrating, not seen any this year...

A magnetometer will give you some advanced warning sign up to Aurora watch here;
http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/
only expect about 30 mins max warning. Anything more than that is pure prediction work. On the aurorawatch site you are looking for rising readings, needs to be into the yellow before its visible here.

[istoo]

I sold my camera the other week and had to call the girl who bought it offering a hasty night photography tutorial in return for a loan of the camera!
Only managed to catch the last glimpses and missed the full glory but it was really spectacular to see, went to bed buzzing last night.


Rothmaise Aurora 2 by ah_mr_smee, on Flickr

Monkey puzzle aurora by ah_mr_smee, on Flickr

nice shots! what time did you get out? (to take the pictures)

[Dominic]

i went out at 2330 last night, father called to tell me it was specatular from the black isle. I stay on the south side of a village so need to get out of the sodium lights which is a 10 minute walk, then to see cloud cover to the north, so i went back inside. Frustrating, not seen any this year...

A magnetometer will give you some advanced warning sign up to Aurora watch here;
http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/
only expect about 30 mins max warning. Anything more than that is pure prediction work. On the aurorawatch site you are looking for rising readings, needs to be into the yellow before its visible here.

That's a handy site

I have yet to see them

[campbell]

Saw a fair glow even through Linlithgow street lights last night.

Might take a drive to higher ground tonight too.

[jason]

Seemed to be a good show on last night and quite far south too. Anyone get a good view... Or any pics?

This was from our house looking towards Archerfield at about 1am. First time I've ever been able to see them with my naked eyes. Quite something!


Aurora Borealis by Jason Liddell, on Flickr

[Dominic]

Great shot Jason

[istoo]

had a chat with my old boy (space nut) The aurora watch site is good but because the magnetometer is further south than use the info is sometimes too late. Advised this is the better one, which is further north than us

https://www.irf.se/mag/
Kiruna Magnetometer.

[DJ]

Seemed to be a good show on last night and quite far south too. Anyone get a good view... Or any pics?

This was from our house looking towards Archerfield at about 1am. First time I've ever been able to see them with my naked eyes. Quite something!


Aurora Borealis by Jason Liddell, on Flickr

Gutted! To think that was visible as I snored away last night. Cracking pic. Did you just happen to spot it Jason or were you alerted to the possibility of seeing them down here in East Lothian? Not seen them since I was a lad.