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Konica Minolta Users | all galleries >> KM Challenges >> #4: Alone - hosted by Ferenc Mogor >> #4: Alone - Competition > Observing the Aurora* by Howard Sandler
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09-MAR-2004

Observing the Aurora* by Howard Sandler

Ottawa

Minolta DiMAGE A1
5s f/4.0 at 7.2mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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niamh 12-Mar-2004 23:48
Love the stance of the subject, the low viewpoint and the contrast between the silhouetted figure and the distance bright lights. niamh.
Howard Sandler12-Mar-2004 02:30
Thanks smatty. NeatImage really cleaned them up nicely.
Howard Sandler11-Mar-2004 16:36
Thanks. I downloaded them. Will have a better look when I'm home tonight and have a calibrated monitor.
Smatty 11-Mar-2004 09:26
Hi Howard,

I think it is easyest if I just upload the image to my webspace for you to look at. Once you took a look (and copy it to your computer) I will take it off.
Remember I only had the compressed jpg versions, so some detail got lost due to jpg compression. Also, I did sharpen it a bit. Now you know wich dots are real stars ;-) Here it is: www.HamburgCam.com/test/Aurora.jpg
I also took the liberty to do the same with the 25 sec ISO 800 picture you posted in the forum. 25 sec. ISO 800! What were you thinking? ;-) That was a tough one and this is the best I got: www.HamburgCam.com/test/Aurora2.jpg
Guest 11-Mar-2004 08:50
Yes, 5 sec is brave :-) I wonder how the original looks...
I Like it!
Veronica Freschi11-Mar-2004 02:54
Howard, Oh, 5 seconds is sooo brave...but I think it was worth the shot, nonetheless. The color provolks a mood of being lone, and the glow of lights on the horizon seems like diamonds. I like this shot a lot. Veronica
Howard Sandler11-Mar-2004 01:36
Oops. Sorry smatty, I though the offer to send me a NeatImaged version was from Jim at first. If you could post it somewhere, or somehow pass me an email address to write to to receive it, that would be great.
Howard Sandler10-Mar-2004 21:29
Thanks Jim. I've emailed you.
Konica Minolta Users10-Mar-2004 19:04
Good picture Howard. The 'aloneness' shines through. Standing in the cold at night watching the sky produce colour. I remember it fondly from my youth. The picture grain is not that much of a problem with this type of shot, although less noise would be better. Since you were at wide angle (exif 7.2mm)perhaps an notch or two less in aperture would have allowed slower shutter. OTOH, hindsight is very clear.
Jim Rickards
Smatty 10-Mar-2004 17:20
Howard,

I took a copy of your picture and ran it trough Neat Image. It looks smooth. Can I mail you the copy or can I put it online in my webspace for a day for you to look at?
Howard Sandler10-Mar-2004 16:13
Thanks. Unfortunately, by the time I decided to put myself in the picture, the aurora was almost gone. I put the image through Noise Ninja, but the default profiles for the A1 do not do much for time exposures (they work very well on normal shots at 1/20s or shorter though).
Smatty 10-Mar-2004 09:16
Howard,

very nice picture and nice framing (off center person works very well here). I know a 5 second exposure is pushing the A1's limit in regard to pixel noise. Did you already run neat image over this photo? I guess the cold temperatures also helped to keep the noise down more that if it was shot in tropical areas (not that they get to see the Aurora).

Anyhow, great that you got to see and capture the Auroras :-)