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Fairbanks Trip

another_mikey
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p.1 #1 · Fairbanks Trip

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:

1) Closeup with 70-200 f/4 L IS:

2) The weather came in quickly. This is an HDR shot form slightly farther down the road

3) A wider view (also HDR)

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.

4) Both red an green initially...

5) Then great greens...

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

6) First light

7) Unknown Glacier

Nov 02, 2009 at 04:00 AM

bshamilton
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p.1 #2 · Fairbanks Trip

Splendid images, Mike. I especially liked the 2nd, 3rd and 6th. Spectacular scenes.

Barry

Nov 02, 2009 at 04:06 AM

redsoxdesign
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p.1 #3 · Fairbanks Trip

Fabulous Mike, I'm starting to think we need to head up to Alaska!
cheers Andrew

Nov 02, 2009 at 04:11 AM

another_mikey
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p.1 #4 · Fairbanks Trip

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

Nov 02, 2009 at 04:39 AM

rpope
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p.1 #5 · Fairbanks Trip

Beautiful series. I especially like #2. Good job with all of these.

Rich

Nov 02, 2009 at 02:05 PM

Henry W
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p.1 #6 · Fairbanks Trip

Quite a travelogue. Great photos.

Nov 02, 2009 at 02:43 PM

David Leask
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p.1 #7 · Fairbanks Trip

Fabulous shots Mike! You lucky person! #2 and #5 are the money shots for me

David

Nov 02, 2009 at 08:16 PM

another_mikey
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p.1 #8 · Fairbanks Trip

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!

ML

Nov 03, 2009 at 01:30 AM

Brenton Biggs
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p.1 #9 · Fairbanks Trip

Wonderful series!!! That most have been an amazing trip!!! I really enjoy 4 and 5!!!

Nov 03, 2009 at 02:28 AM

another_mikey
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p.1 #10 · Fairbanks Trip

Thanks Brenton

Nov 03, 2009 at 05:30 AM

Dpic_arctic
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p.1 #11 · Fairbanks Trip

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.

Nov 05, 2009 at 06:41 AM

another_mikey
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p.1 #12 · Fairbanks Trip

Dpic,

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.

ML

Nov 05, 2009 at 11:41 PM

John Richter
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p.1 #13 · Fairbanks Trip

Very nice series, Mike.

Very special photos in all. Number 2 is my top choice of the bunch. Very cool.

JBR

Nov 06, 2009 at 12:11 AM


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