Analogue Northern Lights

bjolester · 2012-05-17T13:01:40+0100

These images were taken on the 25. April, and are from the same session as the ones in this post: https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/even-more-northern-lights-34747 The major difference being that these were shot with my Pentax MX and Fuji Provia 400X. I used the same lens, FA*24mm f2.0, on both my K20D in my other post and here with the MX. In 35mm film format the 24mm is wide enough to catch much more of the Lights, which was important because I do not have a decent wide angle lens for my DSLR. I find the FA* 24mm quite superb at capturing nuances in demanding light conditions like the N.L. C & C is welcome! 1. by , on Flickr 2. by , on Flickr 3. by , on Flickr 4. by , on Flickr 5. by , on Flickr

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bjolester bjolester

981 posts
16 years
Trondheim,
Norway

Posted 20/05/2012 - 19:26 Link

womble wrote:
Some lovely shots there. What sort of exposure time did you need?

I'd be very pleased to have taken these and would get some printed up too!

K.

Thank you Kris! Well - since this was the first trial with 35mm film and Northern Lights, I tried to stay close to the settings I previously had used on my K20D for the same kind of photography. I used the same lens (FA24mm) fully open, 400ASA film, and exposures ranging from 10 to 15 seconds throughout the 36 exposures of the film. The five images above were shot in immediate succession and probably with 10 seconds exposures. After having scanned the images I only adjusted the white balance and applied USM and NR. There was no need to adjust exposure or add brightness. The conclusion is that the 400ASA ProviaX film behaved in a very similar way to 400ISO on my K20D - luckily

BTW: There is one great advantage with using a film camera for these kinds of shots: One can shoot long exposures in immediate succession. With a DSLR (mine at least) one has to wait for the camera to add the "dark frame" (hopefully the right term?) , which takes roughly the same time as the exposure.

Bjørn

PPG
Flickr

Gwyn Gwyn

10344 posts
19 years
The Netherlands

Posted 20/05/2012 - 19:49 Link

You need to get yourself a K-5. You can turn the dark frame off on that.

DrOrloff DrOrloff

2628 posts
16 years
Brighton,
England

Posted 20/05/2012 - 20:06 Link

Lovely photos Bjorn. I turn off the dark frame subtraction for two or three minute exposures. However I have tried for two hour exposures and dfs is definitely essential. Therefore a film camera is the best option.

You can see some of my photos here if you are so inclined