Aurora Photography Tutorial For Beginners

This tutorial is designed for beginners attempting to photograph the auroras the first time. The instructions are based on what I wish I knew in 2010 when I began aurora photography.
Any beginner can do this with a basic DSLR or mirror-less camera, a tripod and a flashlight.
Canon M50
amzn.to/2YZcTzQ
Tokina Wide Angle For Entry Level Crop Sensor Nikons
amzn.to/3hUIudi
Amazing Lens For Canon M50
amzn.to/3jBBpim
All Other Cameras
www.amazon.ca/... wide angle&index=aps&camp=15121&creative=330641&linkCode=ur2&linkId=81324f6f0e9fc9c5c6336d353e7b2a2a
Aurora Forecast Website
www.spaceweath...
Aurora App
apps.apple.com...
play.google.co...

[@MrsK1689SDG]

Nice tutorial! Thanks for posting! 😊

[@laurab9451]

Amazingly clear instruction. Thank you so much for making it beginner friendly and a starting point!

[@attrell]

You are so welcome! Thank you!

[@CruisingwithChooChoo]

This is hands down the best aurora tutorial I’ve seen! Thank you so much for showing us the absolute basics and what a 20 second shutter speed looks like and how to access the other settings. Thanks for all your helpful tips. Fantastic tutorial that I will come back to time and again. Looking forward to watching your other videos.

[@attrell]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate that!!

[@CruisingwithChooChoo]

You mentioned that you were going to make a video on editing the aurora. Have you done it? Absolutely would love to watch it . Thanks so much for your wonderful videos.

[@Aylasartchannel]

Thank you so much for explaining things in such a clear manner, for the first time I feel I have an understanding of how to start. Just need to watch your focusing in the dark video!!

[@attrell]

Thank you and good luck!

[@jmi7562]

I love these videos. They are clearly stated and concise. They explain basic stuff and don't use a lot of jargon. Thank you very much for sharing this knowledge.

[@attrell]

Thank you!!!!

[@chrissyhellyer6133]

Thank you! For the first time I feel like it’s going to work capturing the aurora and I finally understand the settings! You explain things very simply and clearly. Very much appreciate that you share your expertise!

[@attrell]

Glad it helped!

[@tribeoflight-ireland868]

Thank you for using equipment that most people will have. I am just getting an old NX20 with standard lens, this video helps enormously.

[@kurtisroy5280]

fantastic tutorial Chris. Thank you so much for sharing. I will be trying this out this weekend.

[@attrell]

Thanks! I hope you get great shots!

[@WinNoren]

Thanks for the clear video instructions. I am eager to try on my trip to Banff in 10 days!

[@attrell]

Good luck!

[@barbaramitchell9703]

Thanks for the tips. I look forward to the next Aurora so I can try this out.

[@attrell]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@medroneacharya8521]

Best Tutorial Ever on Astro Photography. Infact I also saw some other videos and you have an awesome talent in presenting photography topics. THANK YOU SO MUCH SIR !!

[@attrell]

Thank you so much 😀

[@caseypennycook8316]

Looking forward to trying this thank you so much

[@jamie3976]

Shout out to Saskatchewan 😀. It nice to see someone close to home putting videos like this up. I live in Manitoba now, but Saskatchewan will always be home. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your videos. Jamie Carey

[@attrell]

Thanks for watching!

[@shaulacorr]

Thank you for the tips, they made a difference...Always happy when I can learn something new 😊

[@cscape1973]

Great video, my wife and I are going to Lapland at the end of the year and I hope to get a good shot from there…thinking of investing in a Nikon Z6ii for the trip. I have some photography expereance, but this will be my first time venturing off of Auto!! Going to watch your video again and practice

[@attrell]

Thanks! YOu will LOVE that camera

[@helmut7878]

Perfect Instructions for my Phototrip to Island in November 👍🤗

[@yvonnehillsden]

Hi Chris. Great video! I took your night photography class that you did in Kamloops and found it ever SO helpful. I have used many of the tips you gave us, and refer to the notes from your course frequently. Since doing that class, I have been doing quite a bit of night photography, and it is all thanks to you! Hope you come back to Kamloops to do do another course there again

[@attrell]

Thank you so much! I am so thrilled! Oct is my fav time for shooting at night! I hope to make it back in March.

[@paulos9304]

Great content as always. Not overly long and full of good tips. Very supprised by your subs. You deserve 100k more in my opinion. Here in Northumberland in the UK, I've only ever seen then once when I was younger. Great sight to see though, I'm hoping to get a photo or two later this year as well as some deep sky stuff. Interesting it is. Cheers for the great info.

[@attrell]

Thank you!!!

[@GenaF]

Thanks. I'm on a nikon d3500 . Hoping to get some aurora pics tonight

[@attrell]

Have fun!

[@mirzadanishbaig]

Hello from Calgary :). Great video! Some of these same tips apply to getting the Milky Way as well.

[@attrell]

Thank you! I also made a video just for Milky Way!

[@t4sturm]

Just found out about videos. I subscribed. Please keep making more. I also watched the iPhone photographer video. Awesome

[@attrell]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@bobstamand9430]

Thanks very much very informative!!

[@attrell]

Glad it was helpful!

[@GhazaliAziz]

Thanks for the tips. Hope I can catch one

[@attrell]

I hope so too!

[@CruisingwithChooChoo]

Also you mentioned in the beginning of the video that you don’t have to photoshop it . So are the photos you used unedited? And were they shot in RAW? Thanks once again.

[@attrell]

Hello, I use Lightroom and adjust contrast, highlights, straighten etc. ANd yes I shoot in Raw.

[@kymberleybeal1886]

Awesome

[@attrell]

Thank you!

[@CruisingwithChooChoo]

I had the opportunity to shoot the aurora for the second time last night. It was a strong aurora and I’m using a Canon T5i with a Samyang 14mm F2.8 manual focus lens. I turned on live view and focused on the moon because it was big and bright but when I uploaded my photos to my laptop I found that the stars were blurry. Also I’m live view away from the stars, and facing the aurora, my screen was pitch black so it was really a shot in the dark!! I also shot RAW plus L and I see that most of the RAW photos are lighter than the JPEGS although in some cases, the opposite was true. I tried different shutter speeds and ISOs and ended up with the 10 second 1600 ISO most of the time. In some of your photos, the buildings appear lighted. Were you pointing a flashlight at it? How do you know what you’re shooting at when the live view is black? Do you point the flashlight to illuminate things in the foreground? Should you light the foreground or leave it dark? If I purchased the M50 would I be able to get sharp stars? Thanks so much for this tutorial. I’ve learned a lot from you but it’s a long learning process to shoot beautiful auroras. If you had my T5i with the Samyang lens and you were frustrated about not getting sharp stars, would you trade in your gear for the M50? Can you still use the Samyang with it? And would you use it or just use the kit lens? Sorry for so many questions! These are things I’m considering.

[@attrell]

Yes I did use a flashlight on those, I made a video called Painting with light you might be interested in watching. I use the flashlight to see what I am shooting first, then turn it off when I shoot. The M50 would be a huge improvement yes, it is a fantastic camera in low light. Turn on focus peaking if you get this camera, it will help you manually focus perfectly. I would use the kit lens, or consider the 22mm lens that is made to use with the m50.

[@shivangibarthwal237]

Hi thanks for ur help I hv a canon rebel eos t3i. And I hv lense 50mm-250 can I take northern lights pics from it

[@attrell]

Yes but the 18-55 kits lens would be easier.

[@gwinaz6022]

Can you give some suggestions if photographing the Aurora from the deck of a moving cruise ship? Sony SLT-A77 (APS-C), Sony DT 1.8 35mm or Tokina 2.8 11-16. Thanks!

[@attrell]

, Sony DT 1.8 35mm

[@gwinaz6022]

Thank you! and thank you for your very helpful videos.

[@nastassjaverster9874]

I have a Canon 6D mark ii. My best lense is a 50mm 1.4. I shoot in manual. My lense is on MF set to infinty. I am struggling to get foreground subjects to be sharp. Any tips?

[@attrell]

Your foreground must be a certain distance away when you use that lens. According to the focal distance calculator, at 1.8 everything must be 76 feet away from you. www.photopills.com/calculators/dof

[@nastassjaverster9874]

@@attrell thank you for the information

[@debbirobson8323]

Which would be best lens for aurora photos from these lenses please. I have a Nikon DS3200 with a 35 (f1.8), 18-55 and a 18-300 lens. Thank you

[@attrell]

18-55mm with lens open to see most sky.

[@mohammadsazzadhossain4777]

I really face difficulties to adjust the manual focus...I think to me it is the biggest challenge.

[@attrell]

Try this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2HSeIR4l5qNa5Y

[@rnatokross8746]

thanks very informative, any tip for an android phone Samsung s8 plus,

[@attrell]

Don't get a cheap tripod, the wind will shake it! Thank you!

[@anjita-6]

How to shoot fast moving auroras? I think 5 seconds on 1600 iso with f2.8 is good. But I’m confused how 5 seconds look? Is it 5” or 1/5 ?

[@attrell]

5 seconds. 2 would be better if you can get bright enough

[@anjita-6]

@@attrell what about interval? If I shoot at 5 or 2 secs time lapse depending on aurora, do you think for 5 secs I need interval of 7 seconds between each pic? Also since it’s a time lapse and I wanted a 10 seconds in 24 fps, I can only choose one shutter speed so thinking of 5 seconds. What do u suggest? Please let me know about the interval as well. As this would be my first time. Thank you again.

[@joshgogus8712]

im shooting with a canon rebel t6 with 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 kit lens (better one on the way) but anyways it will not let me go below 5.0 aperture no matter what i do. Currently stationed in alaska and new to shooting the lights. i know the higher focal length i go the higher the fstop will go. Even at 18(infinity focus) it will not go below a 5. Is there a setting i possibly activated that prevents this? is lens damaged? i have cleaned contacts so far. Not sure what else to check. Thank you for informational video and hopefully a response.

[@attrell]

COuld be lens issue, but maybe try resetting your camera to factory settings. There is a reset option near the end of your menu. If that does not fix it, then your lens needs to be replaced.

[@RGAstrofotografia]

Maximum of the Mars and Moon Conjunction with 167x zoom at Rio de Janeiro in 2020/10/03 @ @iIhY

[@RGAstrofotografia]

Maximum of the Mars and Moon Conjunction with 167x zoom at Rio de Janeiro in 2020/10/03 00:38 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYjCaqKYbM58nrs

[@gypsyrose1958]

No links below, Chris

[@attrell]

Sorry! All links added now.

[@RichardCockerill]

any tips on a tripod under $100

[@attrell]

McBains had some really good ones for $99 last year. The one good one under $100 I found on amazon is this one. IT has great legs but I find it a little more work to get sturdy. I use it in my class and for my Osmo. amzn.to/2C27oEg

[@itsjmr8079]

Did all the settings and when I took a picture it was just white picture

[@attrell]

It overexposed. Should work when it is darker.