Camera troubles can’t cloud auroras

Thanks to a massive solar flare, the lights in their splendor were out again, filling the night sky with green, glowing sheets and pulsing ribbons of light dancing in the frigid cold. This time, I was ready.

Or so I thought.

My tripod, boots and other cold-weather gear was ready. My new camera instructions were printed, and I was ready to implement my battle plan.

As the aurora began to do its thing, I hurriedly put myself together and stepped into the dark.

The view was stunning. Green, glowing, shape-shifting coils and sheets of light lit the night sky.

I set up my tripod and camera (the little thing was swamped by the tripod, but it held fast and I worked it to a good angle and turned it on). I was trying everything to get a good shot with this little digital wonder.

It takes great pictures — in daylight. Nighttime shots, however, have always been something of a pain. I took some shots and hoped for the best. I couldn’t see the tiny screen without my glasses, which were inside. After 20 minutes, I packed up and went back in to warm up.

Indoors and feeling the warmth creep back in, I turned the camera on and grabbed my glasses. But when the little screen flickered to life it revealed — nothing but black. OK, so much for the camera’s nighttime settings. I tried aperture settings, followed by shutter settings, followed last, but not least, with its custom settings. I dinked and played with them all, hoping that one or more of them would work.

Four times I bundled up and headed back into the night.

The results?

You guessed it, nothing but black. How I wish for my old SLR camera.

I chock this up to operator head space and what is obviously a plot to drive me insane by the makers of the digital camera.

My old camera was a breeze and all manual. Give me a roll of 400 ASA film, set the aperture wide open, the shutter speed to its slowest setting and I could get some real good pictures. Besides, it wouldn’t be swamped mounted to my tripod.

But time and the years wore the thing out. Too many gimmicks, an old man with little clue, and the results are nothing but black.

I have not given up on my goal to photograph the wonders of the northern lights. I just need a little more luck on this subject. OK, a lot more.

For now, I am content to just watch the wonders of the northern lights unfold before my eyes and leave the camera behind … for now.

Wasilla resident Daniel D. Grota retired from the U.S. Army after more than 21 years of service.