Northern Lights over Halifax, West Yorks

Phil-D · 8 Oct 2015

I feel very lucky and privileged to have witnessed and captured this spectacular display over Halifax last night. It was by chance that we looked outside just at its peak at 9.30pm

I've also posted a couple in Photos for Pleasure, but thought I'd put a couple up in here

All C&C welcome, thanks for looking

Northern Lights over Halifax by Phil Dyson, on Flickr

Northern Lights taken from Norland, Halifax by Phil Dyson, on Flickr

petersmart · 8 Oct 2015

Great shots - and a couple of shooting stars (unless they're aeroplanes lol).
.

Phil-D · 9 Oct 2015

petersmart said:
Great shots - and a couple of shooting stars (unless they're aeroplanes lol).
.

Thanks Peter, definitely aeroplanes

Me² · 9 Oct 2015

Can't say they're easily distinguishable from the light pollution. I'd say normally avoid man-made light rather than shoot directly over it for Aurora shots.

edz · 9 Oct 2015

didnt realise you'd be able to see them with the light pollution going on, well captured mate

dan_yell · 9 Oct 2015

What could you see with naked eye?

Steve B · 9 Oct 2015

Come clean Phil, you were using those cheap graduated filters again

Seriously, well done, just a bit envious as they never reach this far south.

Phil-D · 9 Oct 2015

Me² said:
Can't say they're easily distinguishable from the light pollution. I'd say normally avoid man-made light rather than shoot directly over it for Aurora shots.

Tom, when you live near Halifax and you look out the back door, you don't expect to see the Northern Lights, I'd agree, no light pollution would have been excellent, but I had to take what was given......and very privileged I feel too .......can you distinguish them better in the photo below?

.......no crop, SOOC

edz said:
didnt realise you'd be able to see them with the light pollution going on, well captured mate

Thanks Ed

dan_yell said:
What could you see with naked eye?

I could see this, it was clearly visible with the naked eye, hand held @ 8seconds, resting on a fence post because my tripod was in the car :banghead: I'd sent the wife to run and get it.....but I couldn't wait

This is the jpeg SOOC

D7K_4535 by Phil Dyson, on Flickr

Steve B said:
Come clean Phil, you were using those cheap graduated filters again
Seriously, well done, just a bit envious as they never reach this far south.

.......thanks Steve

Dave Semmens · 9 Oct 2015

Jeez - you can't win on here can you. Yeah Phil - get yourself to bloody Iceland next time and stop messing around all that light pollution stuff

Great shots - well spotted and well taken

Buck · 10 Oct 2015

Great stuff Phil

Shame I missed it - I bet it was a sight to behold and I know what you mean when you say "privileged"

Derek_W · 10 Oct 2015

It had to be a decent display to be brighter than the light pollution.

Phil-D said:
Thanks Peter, definitely aeroplanes

I wonder if they are aircraft as I don't see any flashing lights giving a dotted line. I've taken some night photos with similar trails and I thought in mine it might be satellites causing those lines.

jakeblu · 10 Oct 2015

Me² said:
Can't say they're easily distinguishable from the light pollution. I'd say normally avoid man-made light rather than shoot directly over it for Aurora shots.

No, there not going to win any awards or be published in National Geographic but the phenomenon is easily distinguishable above the light pollution.

@Phil-D I'm jealous mate, would love to have seen them, considering the difficulties, well captured.

Phil-D · 11 Oct 2015

Dave Semmens said:
Jeez - you can't win on here can you. Yeah Phil - get yourself to bloody Iceland next time and stop messing around all that light pollution stuff

Great shots - well spotted and well taken

Thanks Dave, comments appreciated

Buck said:
Great stuff Phil

Shame I missed it - I bet it was a sight to behold and I know what you mean when you say "privileged"

Thanks Adrian, we were lucky to see it, stepped out the back door at the exact right time :banana:

Derek_W said:
It had to be a decent display to be brighter than the light pollution.

I wonder if they are aircraft as I don't see any flashing lights giving a dotted line. I've taken some night photos with similar trails and I thought in mine it might be satellites causing those lines.

Cheers Derek, it certainly was bright, if I hadn't seen it with the naked eye I wouldn't have been running for the camera .......and the missus running for my tripod

Definitely aeroplanes, zoomed in you can see the flashing lights

jakeblu said:
No, there not going to win any awards or be published in National Geographic but the phenomenon is easily distinguishable above the light pollution.

@Phil-D I'm jealous mate, would love to have seen them, considering the difficulties, well captured.

Thanks Steve, much appreciated

I do welcome all C&C on my images. I knew these were never more than record shots. Some of the images we see on here of the Northern Lights are absolutely superb, but for me and Lynn (my missus) to see it with the naked eye and get a few grab shots, it was quite special