Arctic Dragon: Iceland's Aurora Borealis Meets Ancient Stones
Behold the "Arctic Dragon," a spectacular capture of the aurora borealis gracing the skies above the Arctic Henge in Raufarhöfn, Iceland. This stunning image, taken by Carina Letelier Baeza on February 25, 2023, has captivated viewers, with many drawing parallels to the fantastical landscapes of the popular video game, Skyrim.
Behind the Lens: Capturing the Magic
The photographer utilized a Nikon D810A camera with a 14 mm f/1.8 lens, pushing the limits with an ISO of 6,400 and a 2.5-second exposure to freeze the celestial dance of the aurora.
A Multi-Frame Masterpiece
This breathtaking image is not a single shot but a panorama composed of eleven individual frames. The meticulous process involved merging these frames using PTGui Pro. Post-processing in Photoshop was crucial, with StarXterminator employed to isolate and enhance the stars and the aurora. Further refinement in Camera Raw brought out the vibrant colors, brightness, and contrast, before the stars were reintroduced and the image was reframed into a striking 5:4 aspect ratio.
A Celestial Spectacle
The resemblance to scenes from "Skyrim" was immediate for many, with comments humorously placing the location in in-game realms like Sovngarde or Winterhold. This shared appreciation for the epic and the magical highlights the universal appeal of natural phenomena.
This image was also recognized as one of the shortlisted entries for the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 competition, a testament to its artistic merit and technical execution.
Explore more of Carina Letelier Baeza's incredible work and even order a print of this "Arctic Dragon" through the provided links.
