Its actually 11 years...This is a spankingly good question - i was up in north norway last year and while did get some snaps to remind me they dont do it justace.
Something i didnt know is that the cycle of lights goes in an 8 year fluctuation. I think now is near the 'bottom' of the curve in relation to the amount and frequency of their occurance. There are some really good websites run from a canadian university but that cover all northern activity and forecast very accurately the time locations and the intensity.
I tried on loads of exposures, closest I got was a green tinge... I was in the middle of a frozen lake, zero light pollution tripod, remote shutter release and still no joy meh
Its actually 11 years...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle
Yes activities near the minimum now. I saw an article saying that its actually slightly delayed in climbing back up but can't find the link now.
It's actually a combination of a seven year cycle and an eleven year cycle which depend on the earth's wobble and movement around the sun.
Check out the thread on needing a real map rather than GPS.
Also, do you always take a tripod out with you or do you fudge it when you need a long exposure at dusk/dawn?
Many thanks folks, all the advise will be put into use.
I hope the Canon G9 and gorilla pod combo does the trick, although will have to rest it on the rucsac to get a stable platform on which to rest the pod.
Wayland: very useful advise, many thanks; didn't think of using the histogram and overexposing the exposure. Should i dial in an exposure time, or leave it to the camera?
Whilst conducting Cold Weather Amphibious Warfare Training within the beautiful Fjords of Northern Norway, 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle, HMS Ocean's photographer was able to capture this stunning image of the Northern Lights shimmering above the Helicopter Carrier's Flight Deck.