Without fear of exaggeration, it can be said that the aurora (boreal or austral) is one of the largest and most fascinating natural spectacles on the planet. It is not easy to see this event live, so the work of photographers who share this experience is appreciated.
Photography and travel blog Capture The Atlas facilitates this task of delivering luminescent beauty with a collection of images Northern Lights Photographer of the Year Which is celebrating its fifth edition in this 2022.
“This year there has been a huge leap forward in quality, after two difficult years with great images traveling to the northern latitudes with all the restrictions; we also have images from 4 Spanish photographers”, explains Dan Zafra, editor – In-Chief of Capture the Atlas.
«Polaris Dream» – Murmansk Oblast, Russia.
A selection of photos are published to coincide with the northern lights season, and aim to “inspire and share the beauty of this natural phenomenon”.
This year’s collection includes images taken by 25 photographers of 13 different nationalities in countries such as the United States, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Canada, Russia and New Zealand.
Image quality, the story behind the shot and, in general, the photos’ ability to inspire are the main factors in selecting the images each year.
“Auroraverse” – Nordeisa, Noreuga.
The Northern Lights season runs from September to April in the Northern Hemisphere and March to September in the Southern Hemisphere, with the autumnal and spring equinoxes being the best times to view and photograph them due to the orientation of Earth’s axis.
Capture the Atlas editor Dan Zafra curates imagery throughout the year, featuring not only images taken by some of the world’s most renowned photographers, but also new talent and places where the Northern Lights haven’t been photographed. Images of the northern lights have been taken in unique places such as a recently collapsed glacier cave in Alaska or Denmark.
“Nordic Quetzal” – Dyrhole, Iceland.
With the new solar cycle lifting travel restrictions and increased solar activity providing great opportunities to view the dazzling Northern Lights show. “After two tough years, we are again seeing a growing number of extraordinary Northern Lights images, making this our toughest selection ever,” explains Dan Zafra.
Capture the Atlas is a travel and photography blog that publishes resources for organizing trips and learning photography. Specifically, he focuses on landscape photography and astrophotography and his articles mainly cover photography guides, tutorials, and inspiration.
«Under a Northern Sky» – Tombstone Mountains, Yukon, Canada.
«Michigan Night Watch» – Faro de Pointe Betsy, Frankfort, Michigan
“Nugget Point Lighthouse Aurora” – Nugget Point Lighthouse, New Zealand.
«Towering Ice» – Scoresby Sund, Greenland.
“Magic Forest” – Murmansk, Russia.
“Spirits of Winter” – Parke National Riisitunturi, Lapland Finland.
“An explosion of color” – Tromso, Norway.
“Reflection on the Snow” – Troms, Norway.
“Bridge to Dreams” – Bruarfoss, Iceland.
“Inception” – Lofoten Islands, Norway.
On the Capture the Atlas website, each figure is accompanied by a technical data sheet and a brief text by the author. This is the comment, for example, of the photograph ‘Inception’ by Giulio Cobianchi:
“These are arctic nights that leave you speechless!
I decided to spend that night in the mountains with one of the most beautiful views of the Lofoten Islands. My goal was to photograph the “Aurora and Milky Way Double Arc” to add to my aurora collection. I’ve been planning this panorama for a few years, and finally, all the elements are ready.
It was not yet completely dark when I began to see a hazy Milky Way in front of me. I expected a faint aurora to appear in the opposite direction over the next hour or so, creating an arc that would fit perfectly into the composition, and it did! what a night!
The Andromeda Galaxy can be seen below the Milky Way, between two arcs. The icing on the cake is a shooting star, and above a colorful aurora is the Big Dipper, one of the most beautiful constellations in the night sky! To the north, you can still see the sunlight, which recently dipped below the horizon.”
The entire collection can be toured on Capture Atlas.
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