Northern Lights Images-Improved Processing-Part 3

Only a few images of Northern Lights were posted previously for three reasons: 1) It was difficult to post our blog at will because of WIFI limitations, 2) Lars had not developed  consistent post imaging processing  for these Northern Lights images, and 3) Time to develop consistent reprocessing parameters for these images would have been stolen from enjoying the passing Arctic scenery. The 7.5-8.0 hour flight from Reykjavik to Denver provided Lars the concentrated time to develop consistent processing parameters and apply them to all 100+ Northern Lights images.

Improved processing of the Northern Lights images was needed because the ship’s deck was much too well-lighted for imaging of Northern Lights, resulting in abundant light pollution of the images. This light pollution reduced the contrast and color saturation in these images of the Northern Lights. This was corrected for in post processing, resulting in images that are more like what would have been taken from a non-light polluted dark location. Light pollution from nearby towns is not removed and is seen in many images.

We have Northern Lights images from three nights, 15, 16 and 18 February 2015. Images from each night are presented separately, with commentary specific to each night’s images.

Notice: You are welcome to download any of these images of Northern Lights, so long as it is for your personal enjoyment. Instructions for downloading are given at end of each night’s collection of images.

Night of 18 February 2015

Images from 18 February 2015 were taken with 5 second exposure & ISO 6400 with camera on tripod.  These images were taken with an 18,8mm focal length wide angle lens on a Canon Rebel 5 Digital SLR camera. All these images were taken from stern of MS Finnmarken, where wave-induced motion of the ship is reduced and almost entirely up and down . Ship generally held steady direction during imaging.

On the third night Lars only imaged one major, persistent Northern Lights feature, which lasted much of an hour. This was a very large feature that is about 3-4 times longer than seen in these images. These images were taken from boat’s stern and other end of this feature extended to upper right to well in front of the ship, perhaps nearly to the opposite horizon. Lars took 46 images of this feature. These 20 images show the major stages and changes in this large feature.

The black, horizontal features near bottom of this feature are clouds. There was no nearby town to illuminate clouds and no moon either. These conditions for imaging Northern Lights from MS Finnmarken were about as good as they can get, so long as deck lighting is on.

NOTICE: These images were taken sequentially during this night’s display of Northern Lights. The higher the IMG_XXX number the later the image was taken. Not every image taken is presented here.

This large feature almost entirely faded away, only to come back strongly.

And now there is a hopeful Northern Lights photog in the picture – hope he got a decent image. In any case, he gives a good demonstration of how much light pollution there was from ship – even after correcting for this light pollution there is enough light left for a good image of him.

And then, it just faded away to nothing in a minute or so.

TO DOWNLOAD IMAGES (works on our Windows Vers. 7 & 8)

1) Place cursor on image, which should result in Image ID number to display, such as IMG_556_1.

2)Then left mouse click to get full sized image.

3) Right mouse click on full sized image should get box with option to “Save Image As”.

4) Then left mouse click on “Save Image As” to save image at whatever location you desire in your computer.

Northern Lights Images-After Improved Processing-Part 2

 Only a few images of Northern Lights were posted previously for three reasons: 1) It was difficult to post our blog at will because of WIFI limitations, 2) Lars had not developed  consistent post imaging processing  for these Northern Lights images, and 3) Time to develop consistent reprocessing parameters for these images would have been stolen from enjoying the passing Arctic scenery. The 7.5-8.0 hour flight from Reykjavik to Denver provided Lars the concentrated time to develop consistent processing parameters and apply them to all 100+ Northern Lights images.

Improved processing of the Northern Lights images was needed because the ship’s deck was much too well-lighted for imaging of Northern Lights, resulting in abundant light pollution of the images. This light pollution reduced the contrast and color saturation in these images of the Northern Lights. This was corrected for in post processing, resulting in images that are more like what would have been taken from a non-light polluted dark location. Light pollution from nearby towns is not removed and is seen in many images.

We have Northern Lights images from three nights, 15, 16 and 18 February 2015. Images from each night are presented separately, with commentary specific to each night’s images.

Notice: You are welcome to download any of these images of Northern Lights, so long as it is for your personal enjoyment. Instructions for downloading are given at end of each night’s collection of images.

Night of 16 February 2015

Images from 15 February 2015 were taken with 15 to 13 second exposure & ISO 3200 with camera on tripod.  These images were taken with an 18,8mm focal length wide angle lens on a Canon Rebel 5 Digital SLR camera. All imaging was from bow of MS Finnmarken in smoother seas and much less wind than on first night.

A wide variety of Northern Lights structures were seen and imaged on this night. Many of the images contain complex blue squiggles – these are stars, or sometimes a planet, and the squiggles show movement of the ship during the 15-13 second exposures and give good estimates of how much images of Northern Lights have been blurred by wave-induced motion of the ship (much less on this night than on first night). However, some images have wavy blue lines that resulted from the ship changing direction.  In addition, the Northern Lights were usually changing shape and/or brightness during 15-13 seconds – sometimes only one good image could be taken before a particular Northern Lights feature faded.The Northern Lights displays changed more rapidly on this night than on first night. Lars was often moving camera to image a new area, as one would fade and another appear some distance away.

Some of these images contain brighter reddish-brown blobs and broad areas that are clouds illuminated by lights from small towns. On this night the clouds were thin allowing Northern Lights to show through. Some black areas with small blue squiggles are areas of clear sky. 

The bright whitish spot in these and some other images is a planet (Jupiter?)

NOTICE: These images were taken sequentially during this night’s display of Northern Lights. The higher the IMG_XXX number the later the image was taken. Not every image taken is presented here.

The following 4 images show clear evidence of smearing as result of the ship changing direction. The first 3 have wavy blue lines describing the amount of smear, as do some bright white and red ground-based smears.

After the rapidly changing Northern Lights features shown above had faded, this relatively longer lasting feature appeared. The dark features are clouds seen against a brighter high altitude sky (weak Northern Lights effects?)

TO DOWNLOAD IMAGES (works on our Windows Vers. 7 & 8)

1) Place cursor on image, which should result in Image ID number to display, such as IMG_556_1.

2)Then left mouse click to get full sized image.

3) Right mouse click on full sized image should get box with option to “Save Image As”.

4) Then left mouse click on “Save Image As” to save image at whatever location you desire in your computer.

Northern Lights Images– After Improved Processing

 

Only a few images of Northern Lights were posted previously for three reasons: 1) It was difficult to post our blog at will because of WIFI limitations, 2) Lars had not developed  consistent post imaging processing  for these Northern Lights images, and 3) Time to develop consistent reprocessing parameters for these images would have been stolen from enjoying the passing Arctic scenery. The 7,5-8,0 hr flight from Reykjavik, IS to Denver, CO provided Lars the concentrated time to develop consistent processing parameters and apply them to all 100+ Northern Lights images.

Improved processing of the Northern Lights images was needed because the ship’s deck was much too well lighted for imaging of Northern Lights, resulting in abundant light pollution of the images. This light pollution reduced the contrast and color saturation in these images of the Northern Lights. This was corrected for in post processing, resulting in images that are more like what would have been taken from a non-light polluted dark location. Light pollution from nearby towns is not removed and is seen in many images.

We have Northern Lights images from three nights, 15, 16 and 18 February 2015. Images from each night are presented separately, with commentary specific to each night’s images.

Notice: You are welcome to download any of these images of Northern Lights, so long as it is for your personal enjoyment. Instructions for downloading are given at end of each night’s collection of images.

Night of 15 February 2015

Images from 15 February 2015 were taken with 30 second exposure & ISO 1600 with camera on tripod.  These images were taken with an 18,8mm focal length wide angle lens on a Canon Rebel 5 Digital SLR camera. All imaging was from bow of MS Finnmarken in choppy seas and strong wind. Ship generally held steady direction during imaging. A wide variety of Northern Lights structures were seen and imaged. Many of the images contain complex blue squiggles, sometimes with a definite circular component – these are stars, or sometimes a planet, and the squiggles show movement of the ship during the 30 second exposures and give good estimates of how much images of Northern Lights have been blurred by motion of the ship (generally not much).  In addition, the Northern Lights were usually changing shape and/or brightness during 30 seconds.

Some of these images contain brighter reddish-brown blobs that are clouds illuminated by lights from small towns.

NOTICE: These images were taken sequentially during this night’s display of Northern Lights. The higher the IMG_XXX number the later the image was taken. Not every image taken is presented here.

Parts of the ship are clearly imaged and little blurred because the tripod was securely held against deck of ship. NO, the ship was not leaning, just my camera. Note the quite circular motion of the ship, described by a bright star or planet.

These curtain-like features are very typical. The blue squiggles from stars are abundant in these images.

Shoreline features are generally extensively smeared because they are so much closer to the ship than the Northern Lights and the ship is moving toward or past these areas. Northern lights occur at very high altitudes, far above clouds.

Sometimes the Northern Lights are partly or extensively reddish, even yellowish, instead of the more common green.

Northern Lights die away, as seen in these 4 images, taken as the ship passed a hilly shoreline. The total display lasted about one hour this time.

TO DOWNLOAD IMAGES (works on our Windows Vers. 7 & 8)

1) Place cursor on image, which should result in Image ID number to display, such as IMG_556_1.

2)Then left mouse click to get full sized image.

3) Right mouse click on full sized image should get box with option to “Save Image As”.

4) Then left mouse click on “Save Image As” to save image at whatever location you desire in your computer.