Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Aurora Borealis From Fairbanks Question(s)

Not too sure. I haven't spoken with them yet, just got a couple of emails this morning with some great lights pics.

Thanks.
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And yes, the red color has been common this season as you can see below:

I can only hope to see one like that. Wow, green and red....way cool!

One more day then headin' your way...

If it's clear and you drink coffee, you should get to see the lights. Thurs and Fri are your best bets.

http://classic.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=fai&wuSelect=WEATHER



A series of 3/9 forecast nights coming up.

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/Alaska/

What kind of camera u using? great shot!!! I go to sleep before 10pm 95% 0f the time...I get up to the drain the monkey.... and take a look ..but I have missed the red ones thus far.

I used a Canon 5DII for the photos above, but sometimes i also use a 7D with similar results, although the 5DII allows for higher ISO speeds with less digital noise than the 7D. But digital noise is not a problem with taking photos of the Auroras, since you can remove most of the noise with PhotoShop or the NIK noise-removal plugin. I also use ultra-wide lenses with wide apertures (around f/2.8).

You can use just about any digital camera brand (Nikon, Canon, and so forth), and this is what I do (camera on a solid tripod):

a. 600 or higher ISO (even 1,000 if very dark outside)
b. From 11 to 13-second exposures
c. Lens and camera on manual mode, with the lens manual-focused to infinite (the mark on little figure 8 on the lens barrel)
d. Viewfinder covered with electrical tape, before pressing the shutter release button

Some cameras include a viewfinder curtain, but mine don't. So I cut three pieces of black electrical tape and make a small curtain to cover the viewfinder. I look through the viewfinder to make sure that everything looks right (compose the image), move the tape down over the viewfinder, and then press the shutter button. The first image will show on the screen, so I look at it carefully to make sure that the horizon is correct, the focus is good, and so on. If everything is fine, then I just keep on pressing the shutter button over and over again to take a bunch of photos.

I need to learn to use our stock cannon powershot G12 better! thanks!

On my way up! Sitting in Seattle airport waiting for my connection to Fairbanks. Can't wait to join my bro's, see Alaska for the first time, catch some lights (I hope), and have a blast. If anyone is up for a beer, on me, let me know.

Robert

so u..... are the one bring this snow !!! a after work beer sound good to me ...

How was the trip?

Trip was fantastic! We were able to see lights on 3/6 nights; the two brothers that got there earlier saw lights, real good ones, on their first 4 nights there (7/10 nights). We were able to cross-country ski in two different beautiful locations, we took in the ice sculpture festival multiple times, we took a road trip to Denali (town totally shut down but the park was open for 12 miles), and we were able to go dog sledding too. The only thing we wanted to take in but were unable to find a single option to do so was a back-country snow machine tour. We called everywhere and couldn't find anything. The hot springs had an option but only if you wanted to pay good money for a 45 minute single file "ride" around their property. No thanks to that.

Unfortunately, due to timing and scheduling conflicts with my bros, I was unable to hook-up and have a beer with atvalaska. I am still bummed about that and will make it up next time as I am sure to go back. Great time, great people, and beautiful (and frigid cold) country!