Aurora in Alaska’s arctic

Northern lights reflect in the water of an ice filled river. Canon 5D Mark III, Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8, 13 sec, @ f/2.8, ISO 1250

I just concluded guiding two trips into Alaska’s arctic with groups of photo enthusiasts on the quest to capture images of Alaska’s magical landscape. As always, the big spaces reveal new and different opportunities every year. The great wet and cloudy season that hung over much of the state this latter autumn gave way to some clear skies and we encountered a grand show of the northern lights in the night skies. Many photographers and night sky watchers enjoyed this show throughout Alaska. Since October is the month in Alaska where most lakes and rivers freeze solid, I was hoping for a shot of the aurora reflecting in water before that happened. Ice was forming quickly on this river, and a long enough exposure blurs the ice chunks floating by. I photographed extensively with the Nikkor 14-24mm and Canon mount, and the Canon 5D Mark III performed amazingly well at 1600 and 3200 ISO.