Hard as it is for me to keep this short, I'll try. I hope it doesn't become a dumb answer because of that but...

As a paddler with a camera:
My best answer is use a cable release with a lock. Put your camera on a tripod or rest it solidly on a rock with the lens wide open and pointed in the right direction. Open the shutter then lie back and enjoy the show for a while! Hit a new frame every so often and chances are you won't be disappointed... unless that pesky moon comes out.

Exposure time is always more a function of the lights and their movements. Generally, if they change drastically in mid exposure (or when the tripod gets bumped) it's been long enough. Close the shutter.

Faster film is pretty much a necessary evil. Let your tolerance for grain be your guide. The grain will really show. Transparency film will have less, and much crisper grain at any speed.

The photo-weenie in me begs to add:
A correct exposure will depend on film, lens speed and auroral activity. Your meter will probably be useless. A ballpark average guess for northern lights? Try 200 speed film (at least) at f2.8 for 60 seconds. Using 400 speed film OR a 2.0 aperture will cut that time in half, etc... An ideal might be 400 speed transparency film at f2.0, 5 - 30sec.

Search the manufacturer's website for reciprocity suggestions for whatever film you use and add that time to what's above. "Not recommended" does not not possible. Always error on the over exposure side. Reciprocity, just like speed ratings are usually a bit optimistic.

An exception to the advice above would be the northern lights picture on the first photo contest page. It was a very marginal northern lights display. It didn't have the normal "shafts" or streaks and it never looked like that at any one time. I thought it wasn't worth burning film on but it seemed to repeat a spiral pattern over time so I gave it a try. We joked that it might look like the swirl from a world going down the drain. That particular frame was a choice time period; probably 10 minutes at a middle aperture. You can't see them at web size but the star trails are obvious in the original slide or a big digital print.

I've always considered seeing any Northern Lights a special gift. They don't happen all that often. Being miles from nowhere at the time makes them even more special. No photograph can ever hope to conjure the feeling I get... just standing there watching... feeling small... mouth wide open in a state of absolute wonder... If mother nature cooperates it's pretty easy to get something that will wow your friends. Too bad they can't get the full experience.

Don't forget to simply enjoy the show.

Posted by db on July 23, 2002 at 12:56
From IP address 66.84.234.123