- Aurora Borealis
- Blue Hour
- calm
- Center Framed
- Cold
- Dark
- full body
- holding each other
- ice
- lower thirds
- night
- northern lights
- simple
- Stars
- Wide
- Winter
The story behind the image
I give photography workshops in Iceland, so I am quite familiar with what the country has to offer location wise. But coming up to Jökulsárlón in the evening and having the northern lights over it for a session is just incredible. This place never fails to amaze me! Even after seeing it many times. It was one of the highlights of our wedding photo mission for sure. Absolutely epic conditions, and what a spot right?!
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I didn’t really give any directions, I hardly do that when I am out shooting these wedding shoots. I try to capture the couple in the moment. On the go, just taking things as they come and how they are. Luckily these guys were really good in posing themselves, and we both knew we were after the same kind of photographs.
When the Northern Lights started dancing I did tell them to hang around the waterfront of the lake for a while. So I could move around and snap several shots. They were really good in standing still in order for me to work out the perfect shot.
What did you say?
Hey guys, just hang out down here by the lake while I go find my composition up there. Enjoy the moment, keep each other warm and I’ll let you know if there is anything else I need you to do
Tone of Directions
Calm
Composition
This is a straight forward composition, and it works very well here. The couple in the middle and the ice and the lights do the rest for the image. I made sure to show a little more sky compared to the foreground because of the present Northern Lights. In conditions like this, any comp was going to be special. And this straight forward shot really shows that.
framing
Lower Thirds
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
The Northern Lights were bright enough for me to see my subject, the couple through the viewfinder and live view of the camera. I used manual focus to dial in focus. Autofocus will be tricky in these dark conditions.
Focus Mode
Manual Focus
Focus POints
Single Point
Focused on
The couple
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
3 Seconds @ f/3.5 ISO3200 WB-Auto
The way the EXIF is written out follows the common photographic method (with the inclusion of White Balance at the end). Here it is broken down:
Shutter Speed @ Aperture ISO White Balance.
Light & Weather
I had to use the available glow/light that came off of the Northern Lights in the sky and work with a long exposure in order to get the right exposure. Since the light was so low, it didn’t really matter how I placed my couple.
Light Type
Natural Light
Time of day
Night
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
I have edited the RAW image in Lightroom, not using any presets. Bringing some clarity to the lights. Lifting the shadows around the couple and the ice. And adding some overall contrast to the image. Also used some noise reduction to tackle some iso noise.
Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom Classic
Preset Used
None
Challenges
The only thing that was a bit of a challenge was the cold, the couple started to get quite cold for obvious reasons as time passed.
Solutions
I asked my couple to keep each other warm as much as possible, and in between shots encouraged them to head to the car for a moment to help with the cold.
Location
Location Name
Jökulsárlón
Location aDDRESS
Jökulsárlón, Iceland
Loation Type
Lake
Country
Iceland
Knowing where to go at what time of the year and day is key. Especially in Iceland where you dream of these kinds of shots. Knowing these things beforehand really made this shot possible, with a good dose of luck still for sure.
