First Aurora Borealis Experience
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The world transforms into an enchanting wonderland when the sky comes alive with the vibrant mesmerizing Aurora Borealis. This ethereal light is also known as Polar- or Northern Lights. The first time I saw them was from the upper deck of the German research icebreaker Polarstern, just steaming from the Central Arctic towards Svalbard. It was an overwhelming experience. I would have spent the whole night outside if it were not so cold.
Capturing Northern Lights Without Tripod
Facing this beauty made me so excited that, in the beginning, I struggled to focus on photography. Because using a tripod while a ship is moving in the rough sea doesn’t make sense, I could only count on my calm photographer’s hand to capture this light spectacle. I tried to compensate for the ship’s movement with my body. Simultaneously I tried to keep the shutter time as short as possible. The pictures are, of course, not of the highest quality, but they are still better than no pictures at all.
Polar Lights Magic Spell
Nevertheless, I was under the spell of this phenomenon and highly motivated to travel to the north to see them again as soon as possible. Not only motivated, I knew I had to go and capture them! Chasing Polar Lights can become addictive.
Mobilehome Adventure Across Sweden
Eventually, I traveled in a camper together with my girlfriend. We drove from Gothenburg to our destination in Abisko in Lappland, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle and close to Riksgränsen. It’s over 1700 kilometers, which means 24 hours behind the wheel. However, because there was no reason to rush, we enjoyed exploring some beautiful places and found appealing campsites to stay in overnight.
Abisko in Lappland
Finally, we arrived relaxed on the 4th day.
The weather forecast was promising. Only when the sky is clear possible Polar Lights would be visible. The sun activity forecast was vague as always but encouraging as well. Still, you never know precisely, and only patience and luck will lead to success.
The Perfect Campsite for Aurora Photography Adventure
The first challenge was finding a quiet place at a lake or river with an unrestricted view in a northerly direction and accessible with our mobile home. Complimentary view to the north because that’s the direction the polar light appears. Of course, it’s always nice to camp close to the water, but I also desired to capture beautiful aurora reflections in my pictures this time.
Read here about the unique Swedish “Every Man’s Right.” to roam freely in nature.
How to Discover New Camping Places
We were unfamiliar with the area, so studying maps, earth view pictures, and driving around to explore possible campsites, was our standard routine. But, being stubborn and not getting discouraged, it’s a matter of time before becoming successful. It was getting dark already as we found the perfect place to set up our camp, which is straightforward when traveling with a camper.
Warm Fireplace is the Best Photography Tool
Essential was an excellent fireplace and enough wood to keep the fire alive at night. That plan was to withstand the cold and make waiting for the Northern Lights enjoyable.
Aurora Borealis, the Unpredictable Beauty
Unfortunately, they are unpredictable, appearing and disappearing suddenly. Therefore so easy to miss when you are not outdoors and ready for photography constantly. Only because of the warm fireplace could we spend almost all night outside without missing any polar light that appears.
Cameras Sensor is More Sensitive than Humans Eyes.
The camera sensor is much more sensitive and will register a very weak aurora before it’s visible to the naked eye. Therefore, scanning the sky regularly through the camera lens is a very efficient way to recognize the upcoming auroras early and prepare the photography gear. It would not have worked with an SLR, though.
Intense Polar Lights Appearance
Fortunately, the spectacle started suddenly, transforming the Arctic landscape into a gorgeous fairyland. That was the beginning, and the sun activity remained strong the following couple of days, offering plenty of photography opportunities.
How to Plan an Aurora Photography Journey?
Of course, being in the right spot at the right time by coincidence can lead to fantastic aurora pictures. However, I prefer not only to rely on luck. With proper planning, the chances for a successful photo shoot are growing exponentially, so I recommend considering some preconditions.
The Right Position
First, good places to see an aurora show are far north in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Iceland, Svalbard, and Canada (far south if you are in the southern hemisphere).
The Right Time to Travel
Second, the time of the year is critical because the most fantastic aurora will still be invisible during daylight.
The Right Weather
The third “game stopper” is cloud coverage. Few clouds can offer an exciting ambiance, but an obscured sky will prevent you from seeing anything, even if the aurora is directly above you.
Sun Activity and Polar Lights
Furthermore, the KP index is crucial. The KP index is between 0 and 9, which shows the auroral activity’s strength worldwide. 5+, for example, is very high, and 4+ is high, while 3 is medium. I’m using an app to get this data, including a forecast for the next few days and a chance of seeing an aurora in my present location, expressed in percentages. Consider even only a 5% chance could end up with a great aurora!
Try to Capture Aurora by Yourself!
I hope you are motivated and have a zest for action now! Go outdoors and do it, and I will keep my fingers crossed for you. I would love to hear about your personal experiences.
Good luck!
To see more Aurora Borealis pictures, visit my growing SmugMug galerie.
