Aurora Cloudealis

This is really beautiful, Roel. The clouds act as a diffuser filter and give both softness and some texture to the sky, that is different from a standard aurora image. The wide angle really works very well. There is a bit of noise, especially on the water, but the clouds and the ghoulish greenish glow really steal the show!

Hi Roal, I am sure it was very impressive to experience! I guess you were at the limits of the lens and camera and have had to push the image a bit which shows in the noise in the water. I would try and bring that under control.  The downsized imaged has a strong sharpening halo which is more under control but still quite visible in the larger image.  Where I am really not sure is the rock mass on the right - for me it is too close to the edge of the frame and I would be tempted to crop.  
Cheers, Mark

Roel,

Wow, that is some fascinating light!  Would have been hard to figure not knowing the  Aurora was the source of light here - but it all makes sense.  I really like that you've also been able to retain detail in the darkness.  I also think the flow of the river all the way around the bottom works beautifully.

I can see Mark's point about the rock on the right; it's like I want either more of it, or none.  But then again, what may trump that is the flow of the river... I'd hate to cut that out.

Regardless, a unique and mysterious scene.

Lon

That is a very cool cloud scape and a place to camp.No snow and aurora - sweet.  While the light is terrific, I'm not sure the comp. is doing it for me.  The rock wall on the left seems to intrude rather than add. to the overall image.  I do like the water flow and reflection.  What time of year was this?  I need to return when less snow to deal with!

I love the mood here; this is very other worldly, Roel. Photographing an aurora is on my bucket list. The scene is very natural and believable looking with a bit of detail in the darkness. My only suggestion would be to crop that rock on the right side as it disrupts this beautiful scene a little for me. Just a suggestion of course.

Ed

Thanks for the comments all! I left the rock on the right side in because I didn't want to lose part of the flow of the river ánd lose some of the clouds to the right that I feel balance the most apparent clouds to the left. And I actually like it as a partial framing, haha, but I seem to be the only one!

Lon, yes, it was quite a challenge understanding what was going on for my sleepy brain. I knew there was no moon and no light polution, so I didn't realize what was going on until I took the first photo and all looked green on my LCD. I've learned that if you can't see the stars, than you can't see the Aurora either, but this was the proverbial exception.

Harry, this was taken in the beginning of September. September is the best month of the year, and the northern light is one of the reasons for that. It may not be the darkest period yet, but for reasons that are not entirely understood, the aurora is more active during the two quinoxes (September and March), so if you're around the arctic circle around those periods you have a really good chance of seeing them. They suspect it has to do with the magnetic field of the earth being aligned with the sun, but it's not really understood why.

Wonderfully unique take on the aurora.  I love the cloud softened curves.  Like others, I prefer it without that rock on the right.  If you are not opposed to it, perhaps you could clone some river activity into the left foreground?  

Roel,

This is such a cool looking image. That light really is quite amazing and I love the mood it gives to this scene. I also enjoy that you were able to keep some details in the shadows. The water flowing across the bottom works great but I do think I might like it with the rock on the right edge cropped out. I would hate to lose much of that water so just enough to do the job.
Nice work Roel.

Nick bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Roel,
Cool image. Very unique lighting conditions. I might be tempted to try a crop with the rock face on the right size of the image removed. I'm unsure if it is substantional enough to hold interest.

Hi  Roel     I can  imagine  the thrill  you had, waking  up at  night, and seeing  this wonderful light.  A  stunning  capture of the  Aurora.

Albert Darmo
Canada