Northern Lights

I believe the aurora borealis deserves its own special category. The very first time I saw the Northern Lights happened entirely by accident – or more precisely, my camera saw them before I did. We were camping in Canada, not far from the breathtaking Banff National Park, when I tried to photograph a quiet night river framed by mountains. A strange green glow appeared along the horizon in the image. And then I realised… it was the aurora.

That summer we became fascinated by this mysterious natural phenomenon. We spotted it again – this time with the naked eye – glowing green and even shades of purple, still far away but unforgettable.

Later, while living in New Zealand, we tried to catch the southern aurora, but nature didn’t grant us that moment. Everything changed when we moved to Iceland. At the end of summer, a solar storm was forecast, and we immediately set out in search of clear skies. We expected the aurora to appear right when the forecast predicted – and surprisingly, it did. What unfolded was impossible to put into words: a powerful geomagnetic storm, vibrant and full of movement, painting the sky with dancing colours. We stood speechless beneath the swirling lights, completely mesmerised. We later learned how unpredictable the aurora truly is, which made our luck that night even more incredible. Despite a solar minimum, we saw several more shows during the winter season.

The following winter took us to Norway, beyond the Arctic Circle – a whole new level of aurora magic. Here, the lights appear far more often, sometimes directly overhead, spinning and cascading like they’re falling right onto us. The feeling is overwhelming, impossible to get used to.

People often assume that seeing the aurora many times would eventually feel ordinary – but not for me. Each appearance feels like seeing it for the first time. I still run outside like an excited child, camera in hand, every time the sky begins to glow. All those late nights are worth it the moment the lights begin to dance.

Enjoy a small gallery dedicated to the mysterious, ever-changing beauty of the Northern Lights.