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.
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