Hi, I don't know if this is the right community but I think you are among the most knowledgeable in the world.
Last month I was in Bodo and the app told me that I had a high probability of seeing the Northern Lights.
The sky was completely cloudless, but unfortunately the city had its lights on and I had no opportunity to go outside the light pollution.
However, at one point I saw 'beams' with the sky slightly more green than blue. I took the picture with the camera and the beams were much better to see, although obviously there was not enough light to see the aurora.
What I am wondering is: why is this happening? Are the photos we see with the beautiful colours not so wow in reality?
Attached is a photo, I know they look like clouds but I assure you they were not, also my phone isn't good
by fabisreal
5 comments
Sorry to say, but these are clouds. I’ve seen the northern lights plenty of times, and this ain’t it.
The northern lights definitely gets as spectacular in real life as you see in some photos. Photos can be enriched with editing of course, but it definitely gets insane sometimes. You just haven’t seen it, or you have seen a very weak aurora.
The aurora app predicts chance to see it. If it says there’s a high chance, it could still be a very weak aurora.
Unfortunately these are just clouds yeah. We just had clouds so no luck for me.
Pictures you see posted, often use 3 – 10 shuttertime to capture much more light then what the eye can see.
On the other hand, if you get to a sufficiently dark place, and the aurora is strong, you can get a spectacle unlike anything a camera can capture. With huge beams of light shifting and dancing, traveling all over the sky from horizon to horizon, or cascading like a waterfall out of a single point in the sky.
I have been lucky to see many northern lights in different places in Scandinavia. Many of them have been very beautiful and magical. But nonetheless they always seem to look over the top every time I take a photo with my phone! Same with both samsung and iphones..
I was out camping last weekend and had a nice auroroa above my tent. The aurora was really nice, but the photo just made it look extreme! Very bright green – but did not match what I could see with my eyes at all.
The photos we see with beautiful colors are still really wow in reality, but the photos usually pops the colors even more. When you see a bright northern light you will know it, and not have to ask about it 🙂
The aurora can appear and disappear quickly, so whenever there is a high chance I recommend going to some really dark place, bring som hot chocolate, make a fire, and just enjoy the outdoors!
You’re so cute, thank you all. Can’t wait to come in Norway again 🥹