Northern Minnesota photographer Mark Ellis was up early on April 14th, but it wasn't to get an early start on last-minute tax preparation. Instead, he was taking photos for this aurora time-lapse. Ellis describes his technique:
Transitioning from snow storms in the day and overcast skies in the evening, the clouds cleared for several hours in the very early hours of April 14, 2013 revealing the stars and aurora. The darkness of the sky was enhanced by an essentially moonless night. Moving bands of fog crisscrossed the snow covered lake. The air temperature was 20°F (-7°C) and the camera and lens required careful protection from frost buildup. The unprotected tripod became fully covered with thick ice crystals by the end of the image collection process.Transitioning from snow storms in the day and overcast skies in the evening, the clouds cleared for several hours in the very early hours of April 14, 2013 revealing the stars and aurora. The darkness of the sky was enhanced by an essentially moonless night. Moving bands of fog crisscrossed the snow covered lake. The air temperature was 20°F (-7°C) and the camera and lens required careful protection from frost buildup. The unprotected tripod became fully covered with thick ice crystals by the end of the image collection process.
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