Hi everyone, just a quick note to let you all know I'll be gone for a little over a week. Heading up to Alaska to hopefully enjoy the aurora! So wish me luck on the "space weather". ;)
While I'm gone Jo and Matt will still be available to help in forum threads, deal with registrations, etc.
- Oshyan
Have fun.
Have a great trip! I wish I could see the northern lights, heck, I'd just like to see the milky way again... the noise pollution in the USA is horrible where I live.
Brilliant. Enjoy it.
Have a good time there.
Also, bring pictures!!
Ah so jealous! I second the aurora photos demand! :>
Nice. Have a great trip.
James
Aaand I'm back! Awesome trip. I can highly recommend Alaska in late winter/early spring. Here are a few pics (3 aurora, 1 ice sculpture)...
- Oshyan
Nice photos Oshyan.
I didn't thought about this before but it looks like taking pictures of auroras is not so easy ?
Nice shots.
James
What the Heck!
You were in Fairbanks!? I could have bought you a beer. OF course it would have cost you a few hours of nube questions ;).
Nice photos. Did you get up on one of the hills north of town? The mind is reeling with ideas for animating the northern lights.
It's snowing now—no aurora viewing. Many people come to town and miss the aurora because of bad weather. You were very lucky.
Now, about the web site. Where'd it go? ;D (I found it)
Cheers,
Russ
Aurora are somewhat difficult to get good pictures of. Basically you need a camera with very good low light capability and/or a "fast" (wide aperture) lens. They're also big, that you need a wide *angle* lens ideally as well. I had an f3.5 10mm (15mm on crop sensor) that I used for most of those shots and it worked quite well. Would have been nicer to have f2.8 or even f2, but that kind of lens (if it even exists at that wide an angle) would cost a lot more than my 10-20mm. Having a camera with very low noise high ISO capability also helps a lot. Mine is decent but not exceptional. Someone with a Nikon D700 or D4 would probably be able to capture some really stunning stuff.
Russ, sorry I missed you! Had no idea we had a TG-er in Fairbanks, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. We did really luck out on seeing the aurora while we were there, mostly from Ester Dome (so yeah, I think you nailed the viewing location).
Anyway, I will be back, Alaska definitely won me over. I want to return for more aurora viewing of course, but also would like to check it out in summer when everything is green, and ride the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks (through Denali I think). That sounds amazing. Also glaciers!
- Oshyan
Yes, Summer is great for Alaska and Fairbanks can get downright warm then.
Don't do the package tour thing. They never let you out of their sight and the food is bad. Contact me and I'll give you some ideas if you don't already have some.
Definately do Denali Park! One full day minimum, perhaps a month ;D
Now back to work
R.
Great photos! Thank you.