Wednesday, 8th December 2010
Midnight Magic
by Marc Adamus
This Aurora show was captured in the northern Ogilvie Mountains, Yukon Territory, Canada in late October. The temperature this especially cold night was in the -10's and the rivers were freezing, leaving streaks behind as chunks of ice floated by and emitting a faint mist (which wreaks havoc on ones lens at -15F) that added to the scene.
The photograph is a blend of three exposures for the depth of field needed at f/2.8 and one additional exposure for the sky. The landscape exposures were all at 20 seconds and the sky was taken at 10 seconds, about as long as you can get away with if you want to record some of the textures and details in the ever-shifting lights.
I photographed the scene for about four hours, marveling at the displays. I can tell you honestly no photograph you will ever see or take of the lights captures one tenth of their beauty, but this was my best attempt in the few chances I've had.
Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II, Nikon 14-24 with V3 adapter
Marc Adamus
I am a professional landscape photographer based in the Northwest US. My love in life is wilderness. I enjoy having the opportunity to bring my experiences in nature to you through my photography.
Website: www.marcadamus.com
Midnight Magic by Marc Adamus was photo of the day on Wednesday, 8th December 2010. It is tagged Aurora, Canada, Night. You can leave a comment below.
44 Comments
Debs
Wow. Great shot. I love the sky
Tad Bowman
I love this image. Amazing composition and nice colors.
JimAtkin
What one will do to persue ones passion! Below zero tempratures and all but it sure was worth it. So thanks for letting us see the results of your labor.
Anurag
Unbelieveable rhythms. Masterful composition. The sky, is but a mirror!
Justin Reznick
Congrats Marc! A no brainer choice, it’s a stunning image!
Steven Davis
Amazing shot Marc! Are you on flickr or facebook? I wanna follow your work!!!
Jake
Awesome composition. I love earthshots.org!
alma
I love this picture,its beautiful…it looks as if your getting a glimpse of heaven above…
Mario Molave M. Delmendo
What a phenomena! That’s a great photographic art, indeed! Great!
VOJTa Herout
Wow! Simply great! This is really work of the Master!
Pauline Jones
Your efforts were rewarded here; this is a really good shot; thanks for sharing it with us.
Luigi Calabrese
Great photo Marc. I know your works from many years. For my landscapes I’m inspired by them.
It’s an honor for me that my photo is next to yours on this web site.
Jim
Have always wanted to see The Northern Lights and this whets the appetite still further. Really well balanced image. Your explanation of how you took the photograph is appreciated. Yet again it was worth getting cold to capture such a treasure.
Alex Sharp
what a fabulous image, I love that there is also the reflection of the coloour in the river, it’s pure magic.
Wanda
Even tho I understand what you are saying about not being able to capture the beauty of the experience, this is still a wonderful shot. Thank you also for your explaining how you captured it.
Örvar Atli
Stunning Aurora shot Marc and a very succesfull captured. Perfect compo which is one of the trickiest part of Aurora photography to get in the dark of the night. Thanks for detailing the technique you used. I have found out that shutter speeds should be disproportionate to the Aurora activity and going down to 4-6 sec during peak activity. I am glad to see that you have the same gear setup as me. The nikon wide angles perform much better under these conditions than the canons.
Neil Wilkinson
WOW!!!!!
Rajib Singha
Magical!
Cynthia
Love this shot! I am putting a trip to Northern Canada on my bucket list to see sites like this first hand. “inspiring!”
Roxy Johnstone
I have lived in Alaska for five years and my most outstanding memory is the Northern Lights, as we called them then. Undulating, iridescent, sparkling, dancing ribbons across the sky. You have been able to capture the movement in your photo, which is the most breathtaking part of watching them. Altho you are right, a photo could never do nature’s light show justice! Never mind that, this photo is magnificent.! Thank you for all your winter shots on your website; you are giving us images that the great majority of the people on the planet will never see in person!
Beener
Great shot. A shame it has to be composite to come out this well.
Marie Dunphy Harding
An exceptional show! Thank you for your endurance, it was worth it!
Christian Klepp
Marc,
as always its a pleasure to see your impressive work!
I love the composition and atmosphere this photograph leaves behind!
Congrats,
Christian.
Terri
I think you were born to capture this moment in time. Did you feel like you were standing on holy ground when you found this?
gouldkb
It is stunning! I love the colors. And that you were able to be out in the cold for so long to get the shot – what dedication
azureangel
Stunning! Ineffable!
Lisa
Whoa! Talk about Nature’s night light! What gorgeous colors you’ve captured – phenomenal! Congrats!
Erik Page
This is without a doubt the best photo I have seen in quite some time! Beautiful work.
James Fougere
I am going to get you a T-Shirt with a big S on it!! SUPERMAN !!!! Marc I know the story behind this trip. You are one driven guy! I cannot wait to head back up there next year!!!
May Haga
A very amazing capture Marc.
penelope
bellissima
Amy
Truly amazing!!! I can’t tear myself away! Thank you very much.
Robert Griggs
Great picture, thank you for sharing this natural beauty with us!
Lil
Oh this is beautiful, sure would love to see this in person.
Mary Ann
Amazing! Sparks the imagination! Thanks!
Marc Adamus
Thanks all for your generous comments. I’m honored.
Deborah Flowers
Amazing! Stellar image. Probably the best I’ve seen of the Aurora Borealis. The mountains and treetops under the sky, and the ice floes and reflections in the foreground, add so much, elementally to this image. I feel as if I’m actually seeing it the way you saw it. Not just a picture of the lights. You’ve captured the entire Vista.
I can feel it too.
Thanks so much for sharing, and congratulations on POTD! This is POTY in my opinion.
Thanks for weather and technical details.
Excellent, excellence!
Patrice R.
Positively breathtaking.. thank you so much for posting!
Mary
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is an awesome picture. iTS RADICAL DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kymie
Oh wow – that is just the most brilliant capture – love that colour and a great sense of movement with the lights
)) love this
Christine Lobsinger
Hello Marc,
This is such a OUTSTANDING IMAGE you made!!!! My GOD! It is like I am standing right beside you- WOWOW! The most spectacular shot I ‘ve ever seen… And I thought Niagara Falls images were ‘out of this world’…. truly a LANDSCAPE MASTERPIECE!!
Thanks for your for bringing us with you!
Smiling, Christine
PlanetLover
Amazing beauty. I loved your description and the explanation of your technique. Congratulations on the great results of your efforts in such cold weather.
Christine Lobsinger
I had to re-visit your beautiful image you made Marc…. simply stunning!!
WOW!
Smiling again,
Christine
Mario Fiorucci
A very amazing capture, Congratulations
Regards from Argentina