how to photograp northern lights?

Question

Hi there! I am going to Lapland (Finland) next month and planning to see and photograp Aurora (northern lights). Unfortunatly I only have a cheaper camera (Nikon coolpix S4) with 10* optical zoom, 6 mega-pixels, lens: F=6.3-63 mm (35-mm [135] camera format equvalent 38-380 mm)
Any opinions or suggestions what settings I should do to take the best possible pictures of Aurora???
Thanks a lot.....

Answer 1

Since this is a digital camera you may have a chance despite that it is not high end.

1) Mount on tripod, or otherwise stabilize camera.

2) Disable the flash.

3) To begin, set on lowest f-stop possible - i.e. widest aperture. You may vary this a touch experimentally as you go. You may also wish vary the width of the angleof the shot, using your zoom --- the wider the angle, the more light entering.

4) Shoot a number of shots in a row using different shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/100 second (the Northern Lights sometimes show a lot of movement and sometimes not).

One of the great things about digital is that it allows you to see how you are doing as you proceed. Take advantage of that. Just keep checking results as you go and let that guide you in adjustments.

Answer 2

The camera sounds like it cannot be adjusted much itself,yet the Film you use can help alot. Use a Slow Speed and a High Speed. Old school, take two sets of shots useing the different films, this way your exposures will have a better chance of picking up different colours.
No Zoom. on first set, 2 rolls.
Modertae Zoom on 2nd set, 2 rolls
Tha Arpeture should be as wide as possible for that, get the entire effect of the displayed event. Again, use the 2 films, and have FUN!

Answer 3

Tripod required.

Set for largest apeture and use LONG exposures, from 1 second to 30 seconds.

Have some foreground in the shot to give a sense of how large the lights are.

Reflection over water is a big bonus.