Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
2 Likes  #1
The Northern Lights
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f2.8 Camera: Pentax K-x Photo Location: Northern Illinois ISO: 800 Shutter Speed: 6s Aperture: F2.8 
Posted By: krp, 10-25-2011, 11:51 PM

I have wanted to see the northern lights for a very long time. I've been watching out for geomagnetic storms and usually they happen during the day or when it's cloudy and I never see them here in Illinois. But last night, finally the conditions were just right. One minute I could just see a little green on the northern horizon. Then a wave of red shot up on the eastern edge. Then suddenly over half the sky lit up in bright red, green, and purple. It was amazing watching all the patterns move across the sky. The bright colors slowly faded out 10-15 minutes later. There were reports of people seeing them as far south as Alabama. Did anybody else on the forum see them? It was most intense at 8:30 pm central time.

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.

Views: 1,685
10-25-2011, 11:55 PM   #2
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Bob Harris's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Canon City, Colorado
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 18,477
Marvelous photos Kevin, I am green and red with envy. what an experience that must of been.
10-26-2011, 12:10 AM   #3
Ash
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Ash's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Toowoomba, Queensland
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 23,920
Magnificent phenomenon.
Well captured.
Last one is screen-saver worthy.
Good ones.
10-26-2011, 03:49 AM   #4
Veteran Member
kyricom's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New York
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 569
Great shots. I'm really jealous! We had Northern Lights last night but they were about 40 miles north of us. I had dreamed of getting shots like this.

10-26-2011, 03:58 AM   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Melbourne
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,386
Hi

You are a lucky man, these bright red ones are rare I believe. I am too consumed with jealousy.

Greetings
10-26-2011, 04:36 AM   #6
Veteran Member




Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southern California
Photos: Albums
Posts: 4,082
Amazing, thanks!
10-26-2011, 06:17 AM   #7
Site Supporter
charliezap's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: saugus ma
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 8,686
Nice captures Kevin.I've only seen them a couple of times in my lifetime here in the Boston area.--charliezap

10-26-2011, 06:49 AM   #8
Pentaxian




Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Dayton, OH
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,721
Very nice. Your shots really convey the size of this phenomena.

Tim
10-26-2011, 11:46 AM   #9
krp
Veteran Member




Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Illinois
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 470
Original Poster
Thanks everyone. There's a lot of pictures of this event from all over the place here: SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids They also have a lot of information about when to look for the northern lights if you're interested.
10-26-2011, 12:00 PM   #10
Veteran Member
Nass's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: The British Isles
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,402
Stunning, never seen 'em myself but I'd love to
10-26-2011, 01:53 PM   #11
Veteran Member
tpg2's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Reading, Pa
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 733
Great captures! I've seen them once but didn't know what it was 'till I talked to a couple of people. Tom
10-26-2011, 05:57 PM   #12
Pentaxian
RoxnDox's Avatar

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Gig Harbor, Washington, USA, Terra
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,494
Nice! I'm jealous - we had clear skies for a change in Seattle, but I saw nothing and had to give it up early because of today's work schedule...

Jim
10-26-2011, 06:10 PM   #13
jac
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada
Posts: 2,364
Here's a great link, How to photograph the northern lights with a digital camera. Alaska Photography Blog which includes a forecast secondary link. Aurora Forecast | Geophysical Institute
Included is a iPad/iPod App link and an ability to subscribe for email alerts when high activity is anticipated. Living in the Arctic, it's ironic that often the activity is to the south :-)
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
camera, lights, photo, sky, time
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Night Northern Lights outkast2k5 Post Your Photos! 2 09-18-2011 10:04 AM
Night Northern Lights, Which is the 'Better' shot? Sagitta Photo Critique 5 08-07-2011 04:12 AM
Night Northern Lights Pauld Post Your Photos! 9 12-05-2010 12:44 PM
Night Northern Lights wedgetail Post Your Photos! 7 08-12-2010 12:08 AM
Anyone get any Northern Lights pictures 08/03/10?? vievetrick General Talk 5 08-05-2010 06:00 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:58 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top