It is not common for someone to have the opportunity to see the Southern Lights just 30 minutes away from their home and I was lucky enough to do just that.
Sitting at Ikea eating dinner I was casually scrolling my phone when I saw that the alerts for the Aurora watchers page were going absolutely crazy. People were posting online that the phenomenon could be seen in suburbia.
Not wasting any time I raced home to grab a wide lens and a tripod, making my way to the very crowded Ricketts Point to attempt to capture the Lady aurora dancing across the night sky.
With virtually everyone out with phones, a pastime of the serious photographer has become something the selfie generation now hunts. Etiquette, manners and common decency have gone out the window in the race to post the ultimate selfie.
This can make things a challenge for the more serious photographers, so having the right equipment is essential. A wide lens, study tripod and a fast SD card are essentials.
Now the thing about the lady is that she doesn't appear in the night sky as she appears on camera, you won't see the vibrant colours. What you will see is a white mist in the sky, and that is where you want to aim your camera.
Camera Settings
Mode: Manual
Lens: 14-24mm at f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 20 seconds
ISO: 3200
Focus: Manual, on infinity
White Balance: 4000K
For some of my images I used a vintage Samyang 8 mm lens. This lens was so sharp, the images were super crisp, which was amazing. However with the vintage lenses there can be a little barrel distortion which is easily corrected in post production.
In this image it can be seen that the horizon slightly warps, but the sharpness of the Samyang is absolutely fantastic and this was a really fun lens to use.
After a while I switched lenses back to a wide angle and captured her as she danced across the horizon.
Being able to witness both the Australis and Borelais is incredible and something I thought I would never witness in this lifetime.
Recommended Gear:
Samyang 14mm
Nikon Z6ii
I recommend a fluid video head tripod as they are so much easier to work with than other tripod models. I find having the wrong tripod can really ruin your night and make taking images frustrating. The last thing you want in low light is to be fumbling with gear and having the right tripod is essential.
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