Sunset & Night Long Exposures

That's a photography expression ... believe me, any other type of exposure is not something you want to see!  :D

It all started with a forecast of Aurora Borealis - and this dramatic view from our deck yesterday morning:

(please click to enlarge the images!)

There was similar drama going on above Mt Garibaldi throughout the day, so I thought I'd try for some longer exposures at sunset. The closest we got to sunset colours was this ...

... and that was minutes before the clouds slammed down over the mountain!

After about an hour of standing in freezing wind, hoping that the clouds would break up, they finally started to give the mountain back to us:

As darkness fell, the focus shifted from sunset, to capturing the "dragging" clouds and the indigo sky of alpenglo, then to stars, followed by a (very faint and forlorn) hope of aurora borealis!

Lessons learned:

- Need a shooting location further out of town ... once darkness fell the light pollution definitely impacted my efforts in a negative way!

- Need to find a sturdier qrp (plate that connects camera to tripod) to further minimize the impact of wind on long exposures - can you say camera shake?! I know it's in a box somewhere ...

- Need to investigate a remote shutter release device ... the 2 second delay mechanism doesn't cut it!

- If I want to capture Aurora Borealis, I'm going to have to stay up late or get up in the wee hours, when they're more likely to be putting on a show! I'm definitely not a night-owl!

Thanks, as always, go to my ever-patient and supportive hubby for his company - and the cup of Timmy's hot chocolate!

Until next time ... have a great week!
Tanya