I was able to get back to AK again as part of our satellite launch support team (original trip was in 2007). Weather was amazing - much warmer than normal, and mostly clear too. Had a drive down into Denali park prior to launch, a lucky sighting of aurora one evening, and some spectacular stuff out of the window of the plane of the flight back home.
Any C&C most welcome!
Drove along the southern side of the park, and got a few shots with Denali mostly in view:
The aurora came out of nowhere one evening when I was trying to just shoot the Milky Way. I was so excited, I didn't really set my ISO right, so these are a bit noisy, but still have some good color to them.
My flight home left at 7 am, and Wow, what a view! Of course, shooting through the plane window REALLY messes with the color and contrast, but these hopefully give you an idea anyway
Thanks Barry and Andrew! Yes, even from my relatively limited exposure to Alaska (Fairbanks, Prudhoe Bay, and around Denali NP, in 2 short trips) I can highly recommend it. This time we were just a bit late for the peak of the trees, but on my last trip, you absolutely couldn't look in any direction without seeing changing aspens. Definitely a camera friendly place
Thanks everyone! It really was a great trip. The guy I traveled with is also into photography, so that made it extra special. It also didn't hurt that our satellite launch was a success
Thanks again for all the feedback, I really appreciate it!
Really great shots, Michael. I have been around those areas before a few times, but never in fall. The autumn foliage is beautiful. You're aerials are great too. It must have been neat to experience the Aurora, but the photos are too noisy . I guess you've learned for next time, the hard way.
Thanks for the comments! Yes, I was a bit frustrated on the aurora shots. One of the issues that contributed to the problem was I had turned my LCD display up all the way earlier in the day, and forgot to turn it down. So I thought my exposures were bright enough when I was seeing them go by on the display 9and stupid mistake #2, I was not looking at the histogram, which would have showed me my erroneous assumption). Of course, in order to not trail the stars too much, it is nice if you can keep exposures a little buit short as well.
But as you say, next time I will attempt to get my ISO settings lower, and live with any of the other side effects.
. I guess you've learned for next time, the hard way.