Midnight Magic
by Marc Adamus
An in-depth story about my recent travels including the making of this image will appear in the January edition of this magazine. Until then, some notes:
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 cleaning at -15F) that added to the scene.
The photograph is a blend of three exposures for DOF 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.
Please view this properly in the darkest conditions available. Thanks!
Thanks for any comments, questions or suggestions you may have.
Comments
82 commentsGary.
My only nit - the Aurora appears to cover part of the peak, I would prefer the peak to be as clear and sharp possible. Is that an option?
I'm wondering how an image like this, and others of yours that required low light viewing on a monitor translate when printed? Do you make adjustments in the file when printed so the darker areas can be viewed in normal lighting, or does it required a really well lit room? Beautiful winter colors.
It may be an optical illusion with the sloping distant shore, but it does seem to need a bit of CCW rotation.
Some noise is apparant and it might be reduced if you wished to.
Sandy
Regarding the shore, the river is receding and curving causing a slope that is an optical illusion. If you look at the land itself at the top of the embankment at right you see that, if anything, it actually slopes the opposite direction and that it is in fact level ground.
Thanks.
im speechless
welcome back Marc
nothing to add, just enjoying
It's really minor nit but I'll point it out just because I always try and find at least something. On the left-middle part of the image at the tree line, there looks to be a pretty abrupt blending transition where it goes from some detail to complete shadows.
Guy
The dust on my monitor at first looked like stars reflected in the water. When I cleaned it away, I actually liked it better with the dust . . . er, star reflections.
No nits with this one.
Beautiful capture of a phenomena that I would love to experience one day. And as you write and we all know, a picture just can't bring that same experience to the screen. But at least for those who have never seen an Aurora, the visual treat you bring is still pretty special.
Lon
As far as the Aurora photography goes, talent or not, I haven't seen anything fulfill the potential for this subject yet. There's a ton more out there than can be done, particularly with today's technology making things like DOF blending possible, and that's exciting! I had something much different than this in mind, but, well...you'll hear that story eventually.
Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.
Thanks for the ongoing thoughts and suggestions.
Wow! for the original post and even bigger Wow! for the repost. The aurora now have a little more form with the tonal adjustments. Did you also increase contrast in the foreground? I'm getting the impression of greater clarity in the repost and and increased effect of being there (where's my parka?
Looking forward to more from the far north.
What magazine are you referring to where the story will be published? I certainly don't want to miss it.
What magazine are you referring to where the story will be published? I certainly don't want to miss it.
So..... To prove just how clueless I am; is the link to the magazine under Introduction above, subcategory "Articles"?
-Mike
Really really cool shot, Marc--a real beauty!!
hats off, Marc....
The thing that sucks about this for me is, by the time I get a machine, and the ability, and the opportunity to maybe try something like this, it will probably be dated and have lost some it's charm. then I'll be chasing after whatever new horizons you have reached.
Chris
:)
Thank you, as well, for your thoughful feedback on my first landscape post. I really appreciate it as I've just recently started to get into photography and can use all the help I can get, especially from such an extraordinary photographer like yourself!