The shooting process begins with scouting during the day. The day had only five hours of light from the sun appearing over the horizon. Basically from 10AM to 3PM, I looked for locations with dark skies and some sort of character in the foreground. Using Aurora and Aurora Forecast Apps and heading to the Geophysical Institute, I’d determine the activity and likelihood we’d see and photograph the lights. The first couple of nights, they were just screaming overhead but we couldn’t see a thing. Clouds, snow clouds prevented any observation of the heavens. The last two nights though we had totally clear skies and the times of our lives out in the -34 degree temps shooting up a storm!

The photography was really very simple. The Z 6II / Z14-24f2.8 were attached to the Platyball and set up on a tripod out in the cold. The Z 6II was connected to the MB-N11 which has two batteries. The Z 6II was set to Aperture Priority and I changed the exposure comp based on the lights, from 0 to -2 stops. The Z14-24f2.8 was set to Infinity and I had the self-timer going taking nine shots at a time. Did that for two reasons. The first is the lights are moving, it’s like waves crashing on a shore and at the same time, changing in intensity. The second reason for the self-timer, get my hands back in my pocket to stay warm between shots. The first night we stood out in the cold for a few hours with no issues. The second night the cold set in so we went inside our running vehicle and controlled and fired the Z 6II with Snapbridge.

And the whole time, we just enjoyed the amazing show. The lights lasted two hours one night, nearly three the second night. The Z 6II had no issues, operational or battery being out in the cold that whole time so all we had to do was enjoy the light show. The -34 really wasn’t an issue since there was no breeze. We just took in the lights. I more about the Arctic that I’ve enjoyed for so long and have a new appreciation and love for Northern Lights. I am going back in ’23 just to see the heavens dance!

I love those times when I can include the sun in my photographs. The vast majority of the time, the aperture is closed down creating a starburst and while I love that effect, it’s times like this that I treasure. When there is a starburst, the sun is an element in the photo. But here, the star is the star. Shooting mirrorless makes this easier and safer so I find myself seeking the opportunity more and more.

The air temp was around -30, the time was just after 11 AM (sunrise was about an hour earlier). On the ridge, we could see over a vast portion of the Alaska plain across to the Alaska Range. The sun really never much higher in the sky all day. It was constant sunrise or sunset color. With all of these elements, the sun created its own landscape to star in so the photo was a simple click. Handholding the rig, I moved so I had no elements in the foreground and with zero comp, went click. It’s quickly become a favorite of mine. I’ve spent a lifetime chasing the light the sun shares with my camera. I was happy to make it the star.

It’s after 10:00AM and the sun is just thinking about breaking the horizon. Yep, I’m up near the Arctic Circle looking for light. Northern Lights that is! It was a lovely -14 this morning as we scouted looking for where we would stage tonight for the show. It was forecasted to be solid clouds but we had a gorgeous day with the skies all clear to the north. We went in for dinner coming out to the forecasted, solid cloudy skies. We’re here for a week with the next four nights forecasted for clear skies so not to worry.
These stars we came across during our scouting and with the way they seem to take you up to the clouds. You know me and clouds, I had to stop to make a click. Something about climbing to the heavens to be with the clouds just grabs my imagination. Time to rest up … hoping to be going out at 01:00 and -29 to play in the lights. mtc

There wasn’t even a hint of light on the horizon when we pulled away from the lodge. This time of year in the north, sunrise is nice and late, if you’re an early riser. As we ventured up the road, the first hints of light wiggled through the clouds and then, the clouds began to disappear. The glorious sunrise burst on the scene with a great screech of rubber on the road. Within seconds I was standing on the edge of the Yellowstone River soaking in what the great west is all about!
Photographers, everyone for that matter, is sucked in by the color red. When it wraps a scene in its entirety as it does here, it can make it hard to know where to look and more importantly, say in your photograph what’s the subject. Bringing out that red required setting the WB to 9000k and underexposing by one full stop. More importantly, though was the inclusion of the tall trees to the right of the frame. I bring in the old west, it keeps the eye in the frame, gives the water an anchor point for flowing, ties the red sky in with the foreground. As you arrange all the elements, bounce off what you see in the viewfinder with what words you are using to express the moment. You might be saying out loud what you need to say in your photograph. It is a special moment, red sky in the morning.