Reflections under Aurora

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 3, 2010498 views28 comments

My first Aurora trip of the year. Larger version included.

Really strong moonlight, dead calm made the atmosphere really nice inside this little fjord. The Aurora wasn't too strong, but gave a nice edge to the shot IMO.
I've cloded away a small tree/shrub in the lower part of the middle of the shot. This just because it was really distracting, and also because it was impossible to get the comp I wanted without including it. Think of me what you will for doing so.

Tech
Canon 5D
Canon 17-40 @ 17mm
f/5.6
30sec
ISO 1600
No filters

C&C is very much appreciated!

Cheers
Håkon

Comments

28 comments

Comment posted by Arild Heitmann on November 3, 2010 at 9:10 AM

That mix of aurora/skies are really appealing. I dont know if you had the chance, but the tree down to the right does nothing for me...

The mountains and the reflections are briliant!

All in all its a superb aurorashot!

Registered on October 13, 2010, 27 Posts, 378 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gallagher on November 3, 2010 at 9:23 AM

I have never seen the Aurora photographed in combination with the moonlight. Makes for a beautiful photo. I don't object to the cloning.

Registered on April 21, 2007, 7 Posts, 54 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on November 3, 2010 at 10:25 AM

Beautiful colors, and the moonlight on the mountains combined with the Aurora and stars all make for a beautiful image. Very well done!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Jody Grigg on November 3, 2010 at 10:38 AM

I like the mountains and the aurora but my eye keeps on getting attracted to the big bush in the lower right corner.

Registered on February 7, 2004, 165 Posts, 1227 Comments

Comment posted by Håkon Iversen on November 3, 2010 at 10:43 AM

Both Arild and Jody comment on the brush. I can see now that it is a bit too dominating. Will try desaturating it, either as a whole or maybe just the reds, to make it stand out a little bit less.
Thanks for the feedback!

Registered on August 16, 2010, 20 Posts, 123 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on November 3, 2010 at 10:47 AM

One day I have to see this on my own - it always looks so unreal. The shot is nice though I might have not included the bush in the LRC. It's so domiant and almost overpowers the aurora. A simpler comp might have put the spotlight on the magical sky a bit better.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 3, 2010 at 10:54 AM

Wild--ive never seen anything quite like it, which makes it a winner in my book! Does feel a bit right-side heavy to me despite the mountains on the left (the aurora is the obvious focus here) so persoanlly id crop about half the distance from the cloud on the left. Nice!
EDIT: i just read the other comments. I dont think the bush takes away anything here, it just weights the shot more to the right side--all the more reason to crop some of the left!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on November 3, 2010 at 11:00 AM

Great shot. The moving clouds behind the aurora makes this one for me - there is a point of convergence that really draws the eyes

Registered on January 3, 2007, 313 Posts, 2270 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on November 3, 2010 at 11:10 AM

Very very cool!

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on November 3, 2010 at 11:14 AM

This is outstanding Hakon. The details in the large version are incredible. I agree with previous posters about the photo being heavy on the right, but overall this is great.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on November 3, 2010 at 11:35 AM

Hey Hakon! I love this really unique image that you've captured here. I think its the first aurora image I've seen that has so much fg detail. I am contemplating a trip to the motherland this coming May... I might have to hit you up for some good spots!

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on November 3, 2010 at 11:42 AM

Very cool indeed. It's crazy to see so much light on the land and blue sky with aurora.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on November 3, 2010 at 12:53 PM

Gorgeous color and a fantastic scene Hakon. Nice work.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on November 3, 2010 at 12:54 PM

Awesome. The depth from the recieding mountains, the reflection and tremendows aurora are all set off by the stars, which seem to supply a touch of magic.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on November 3, 2010 at 1:10 PM

I really like this with the minor exception, as others have noted, of the bush in the lower RHC. It's really not that big of a deal though . . . Stan may be onto something with a crop from the left. That does seem to help it blend into the overall composition a bit better.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on November 3, 2010 at 2:52 PM

I'm so jealous that this is only your first trip of the season! Great aurora shot! I like the bush in the lrc b/c the reds play off the green aurora nicely IMO. I might desaturate slightly, keeping the reds but to a lesser degree. I agree that the image is right-side heavy; I barely notice the mountains so I agree that losing some of them wouldn't be a bad idea. Great scene and foreground location!

Registered on October 10, 2010, 65 Posts, 904 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 3, 2010 at 2:58 PM

Really beautiful and interesting Håkon. I agree that this could do without any FG object, the mountains and aurora and their reflections are strong enough.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Good on November 3, 2010 at 3:11 PM

Nice to see something a bit different. I don't mind the bush in the LRC, but I might consider a crop off the left side. I think that may gives this even more balance. Nice work!

Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on November 3, 2010 at 6:34 PM

Great shot Hakon, the larger version shows so much more, wonderfully sharp throughout.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Håkon Iversen on November 3, 2010 at 6:35 PM

Thanks for all your constructive critisism! I really appreciate it. Will try some different crops and also try desaturationg the little tree. The problem is that to exclude the tree I had to be in the water...and that was not an option seeing it as the water is probably 4-5 meters deep there. ;-)

Registered on August 16, 2010, 20 Posts, 123 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on November 3, 2010 at 10:04 PM

I like it all… The sky is amazing!! I like the brush just where it is and the red is a nice contrast.

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on November 4, 2010 at 10:03 AM

Superb. Great comments above so I have nothing to add other than that I like it!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on November 4, 2010 at 11:53 AM

very interesting indeed

i liked the colors

good job

Hamed

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on November 5, 2010 at 1:54 AM

Excellent! The light from the full mkoon really gives this a different look. No nits from me.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Ant on November 5, 2010 at 5:38 PM

Awesome picture! The large version is fantastic...

Registered on April 13, 2009, 27 Posts, 474 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on November 5, 2010 at 7:59 PM

Nothing to add but a compliment, nice shot.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Cowan on November 5, 2010 at 10:12 PM

Wow...this shot has it all. I like the inclusion of the bush in the right hand corner. The stars, clouds, aurora, reflection...