In the land of the Northern Lights

[browser]

Can anyone advise the background music in particular the piece played when Joanna Lumley was watching the Northern Lights towards the end of the programme broadcast last Sunday?

[Ethel]

It is Solveig's Song from Peer Gynt by Grieg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWLLp7pMSN4

[browser]

Thanks. Never expected such a quick reply!
I thought it was from Peer Gynt but the version I have on LP is nowhere near as beautiful as that on the programme, perhaps it was enhanced by the images on screen! Thanks again.

[mata hati]

What a lovely programme that was! Joanna Lumley is so unpretentious! She was like a small child when whe was actually watching the lights.
We also enjoyed her journey following in her grandmother footsteps that was on a few weeks ago.
Please do more Joanna

[rcl1]

I too really enjoyed the show, right up until the end when they completely CGI'd the Northern Lights. Very disappointed as i was looking forward to seeing the real thing. Feel cheated.

Glad she got to see them though, cameras probably couldn't pick it up .

[Ethel]

Are you sure there was CGI?

Standard 25p/50i HD cameras wouldn't be able to capture the Northern Lights - as you saw they only just about gave slightly (though not that bad for the light level) grainy pictures of Joanna. If you had used image intensifier technology you'd have ended up with even noisier pictures - and possibly in B&W.

The shots of the Northern Lights looked to be much longer exposure stills (possibly captured over a second or so, rather than the 1/25th second exposure you'd need for 25p capture) with Joanna trying to stand as still as possible (you could see her wobbling a bit) - which ensured we got amazing quality (probably taken with a decent digital SLR that delivers very high res stills) in full colour. Didn't seem to be CGIed or heavily composited though - and it looked as if they were showing the stills for approx the same duration as they were exposed for - to give something approaching "real time" motion (albeit at a low frame rate) with mixes between the stills (as you saw Joanna moving very slowly)

Think it was the best solution - the photography of the lights was stunning - far better than many standard stills I've seen.

[Ethel]

Discussion on this astronomy forum

http://www.popastro.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p =64412&sid=01e4a7e4f5922e1c5701e5a9f8628056

[pips1]

Ethel, you are so informed, I love reading your responses. I would love to be as knowledgeable as you. I feel so ignorant in comparison - this is meant sincerely by the way.