How to shoot Northern Lights; Eielson location offers unique photos

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Shooting the Aurora Borealis can be a very exciting and rewarding experience.  The colors and shapes of the Aurora varies from night to night and even from moment to moment. 

Being stationed in the northern most Air Force base in the world offers the unique opportunity to photograph what some people often refer to as a "bucket list" opportunity.

"It's very important to see the Aurora while stationed here," said Master Sgt. Sean "Kurdz" Kurdziolek, the 353rd Combat Training Squadron superintendent. "The lights are considered by many to be one of the natural wonders of the world. During my time in the Air Force, I have had the opportunity to travel all over and see some incredible things -- the Aurora tops the list."

Kurdziolek explains words and even pictures don't do the natural phenomenon justice.  Seeing it in person is the only way to truly appreciate the magic and beauty.

"The Aurora can range from a dull green glow to very bright and vivid reds, pinks, yellows, blues, and purples," he said. "There can also be drastic differences in the level of movement in the Aurora from virtually motionless to very fast. You can go out to the same spot every night and take hundreds of photos, and no two will look the same. Photographing the Aurora can be a challenge, but anyone can do it."

Kurdziolek, who shot photos of the Northern Lights since his first duty station at Fort Wainwright offered the following tips for non-professional photographers to capture photos of the lights:

- Focusing at night is something many people struggle with when attempting to shoot the Aurora.  There are a few ways to overcome this. One of the simplest methods is to focus on a distant object during the day, such as a cloud or the mountain range. Then you will need to ensure you switch to manual focus and tape down the focus ring on your lens. Otherwise, when you get out there to shoot the Aurora, your camera will try to focus again. A small strip of tape will do, and you want to avoid tape that will leave a residue. Gaffers tape works best.

- You want to avoid "camera shake" as much as possible. There are a few simple ways to do this. Use a tripod to keep your camera steady. A shutter remote is also helpful because touching your camera will cause it to shake. If you don't have a remote, you can use your camera's self-timer. That will give your camera time to steady prior to taking the photo.

- Achieving a proper exposure is another challenge. To do this, you will want to put your camera in "manual" mode and input the ISO (or the light sensitivity setting), shutter speed, and aperture. For a "ballpark" starting point, set your ISO between 800-1600. Set the aperture at its widest setting; usually about f/3.5 on most common lenses (aperture is shown as a ratio, so f/3.5 is wider than f/22). Set your shutter speed for about 10 seconds. If the photo comes out too dark, set a longer shutter speed. If the photo is too bright, set a shorter shutter speed. Once you get comfortable, you can start experimenting for different outcomes.

Like any outdoor activity in Alaska, it is important to take steps to ensure individual safety. Aurora chasers should let someone know where they are going and when you plan to return. Keeping a good emergency kit in the vehicle and being dressed for the environment is also very important. 

"When I am out shooting in the extreme cold, I start my vehicle at least every hour to ensure it doesn't freeze over," said Kurdziolek. "On the coldest nights, I may just leave it running. Keep in mind that you can get instant contact-frostbite if you touch anything metal, like your tripod, without gloves. You will also want to protect your camera. The cold itself won't really bother it, but condensation can form when you bring it in out of the cold."

Steps Kurdziolek recommends to protect equipment include removing the battery and memory card then putting your camera in a sealed plastic bag until it warms up to room temperature after shooting. 

Finally, it is best to get away from the city lights when viewing and photographing the Aurora. There are many spots on base, such as Mullins Pit or Bear Lake. These locations aren't too remote and likely provide an opportunity to meet other Aurora chasers.