Last night’s Northern Lights show in Iceland brought me to tears as Lady Aurora calls final curtain on this winter season
We are nearing the end of Northern Lights season in Iceland and the green lady decided it was time for her final showcases last night! As always, the aurora surprises me with her unpredictable nature and a stunning show that lasted for hours!
Planning to photograph or watch the Northern Lights in Iceland is a bucket list item for many people, and it is not hard to see why. There is something remarkable about witnessing this phenomenon come to life before your eyes. Dancing green above icy fjords or mystical waterfalls makes Iceland the perfect destination for jaw-dropping Northern Lights scenery.
Finding them, though, can be tricky, especially since they are a phenomenon that means all the right conditions must line up. This means dark, cold, clear night skies, a good location with no light pollution, and just plain luck!
For those of us wanting to photograph them, the process begins sometimes days in advance, and it includes thinking about composition and asking some questions.
What elements do I want in the photograph?
What would make an interesting or compelling foreground?
Where can I go that has minimal light pollution?
How will I prepare for the cold?
The exciting thing about the aurora is how unpredictable it is. Sure, there are apps and tools such as the KPI index that suggest some idea of the chances. However, I have seen powerful aurora displays on nights when the KPI was forecasted to be a 2.
I also love watching the show go from faint to exploding with colors and movement—it is a rush to witness this!
There is a chance if it is clear, cold, and dark. So step outside and wait for the magic to happen! I won’t go into the details of what causes the aurora, but if you are interested in learning more, you can check out my other articles after this blog.
This night, I had been tracking a solar storm all week. Unfortunately, where I was, it was very cloudy, so no aurora was visible.
According to the forecast, there was a very good chance on one night—no cloud coverage, cold temperatures, and the tail end of a major solar storm. The recipe was right, so I began to plan for it.
I first scouted locations on the island. Initially, I wanted to attempt a lighthouse photo, but I was concerned the light would take away from the aurora, especially if it were faint. It was also a one-hour hike to this lighthouse in the snow and the dark, and it wasn’t a chance I was interested in taking. It would limit my options once I was up there, so I decided to stick closer to home base.
A few old, abandoned barns always make interesting foreground subjects, but there is too much light pollution from streetlamps and nearby homes. You want to avoid this at all costs. The darker, the better.
So, I opted instead for a short hike up a path that would take me to a viewpoint that faces all sides of the fjord. This way, if the aurora moved east, west, or north, I would have a chance! Plus, I love snowy fjords as a foreground. It gives the photo a real Nordic vibe.
Due to recent snowfall, the hike was harder than I expected. Luckily, a few of us residents had broken in the trail, and I had micro spikes, but it was still tricky in the dark.
When I began the hike, the aurora was a long stretch across the fjord and not very bright, but it was moving fast. Typically, when I see this on a clear night, it means the activity is high and it will get more colorful, and it did.
I didn’t plan for the aurora exploding right over my head, yards away from the viewpoint! Even with my camera already set up on the tripod, I couldn’t get a photograph due to its position! It was SO big and moving fast that I could have reached out and touched it!
Eventually, it split apart and gave two impressive shows in all directions. Sometimes it wasn’t easy to decide where to point the camera because the sky was dancing to the east and the west at the same time,
After about an hour, it faded, and I was getting cold. It was no longer working despite my efforts to pack extra mittens and hot water in a thermos.
After taking a few moments to watch, I began my hike, figuring I would seek out a different composition. Halfway down the hike, Lady Aurora surprised me again.
When I entered the forest, I looked up to see the aurora glowing a bright, otherworldly green. It was winding and twirling like a ribbon right above the forest! I have never seen an aurora move so fast across the sky! It was otherworldly!
I dropped in the snow and quickly set up my tripod before it was too late. I could take a few photos here, but I almost regret fiddling with my camera because it forced me to miss most of the dance.
That is the trick with the aurora. Not only is it unpredictable, but once it shows up, it is hard to find the balance between taking photographs and enjoying the moment.
List of essentials for aurora photography:
A wide-angle lens would be ideal. I use a 35-70 mm, but wider would be even better. Most landscape photographers have a dedicated 16mm.
Tripod. This is necessary since you will be shooting longer exposures, which can create camera shake without one.
Extra batteries because the cold drains them fast!
Remote shutter release is unnecessary, but this helps reduce the need for support and the time spent behind the lens. You can set up an intervalometer, sit back, and enjoy while your camera takes the photos!
Anything you may need to stay warm. I have Raynaud’s, which affects my hands the most. It is when your extremities run painfully cold, even when the rest of you is warm. It is a curse for photography, but I am finding new tricks to manage it, including glove liners, mittens, hand warmers in my pockets, and packing a hot water bottle that I sip or wear against my body. I also avoid touching my tripod with my bare hands, as this can trigger it! If you have any tips about this condition, please drop them in the comments. I’d love to know how you cope!
A sense of adventure and acceptance for what is. You may get your dream shot, or you may not. Whatever it is, it is because at the end of the day, you can still witness a real miracle of nature!
The aurora reminds me that not everything needs an explanation to be meaningful or beautiful. It is pure acceptance of the moment and the recognition of a grandeur that surpasses what you see because of how it makes you feel. Never forget to just look up!
More on Northern Lights Hunting and Photography
Experiencing Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights
Iceland’s Must See Aurora Locations
In 2021, my journey to write my first novel took me to Iceland. I was fascinated with the myths and the sagas. Since then, I have returned to the country ten times, even delivering a talk on Nordic Mythology at Midgard Base Camp. As my travels continue, I realize my personal story is developing. Reminiscent of a novel, Iceland gifted me with a plot twist that has enriched my life beyond words. Like the volcanic landscapes, lively winds, and glaciers that shape the landscapes here, the land of fire and ice has done the same for me.
May your wanderings be lucky enough to take you here.
