The aurora borealis is one of those experiences that stays with you a long time. Not just in your mind, but in your body, in your heart, in your very being. Witnessing the northern lights changes how you see the world around you. I’m always grateful and humbled by the moment. It really is that incredible.
These northern lights photos were taken across Alaska over many years of chasing the aurora, from the Brooks Range and Gates of the Arctic National Park along the Dalton Highway, to the Wrangell Mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, to the Chugach Mountains along the Glenn Highway, and plenty of places in between. Some were taken in the dead of winter at 40 below. Others on fall evenings when the skies went dark just long enough to catch the show before sunrise rolled back around.
Photographing the aurora borealis is difficult, extremely challenging, and sometimes infuriating. It’s cold. It’s dark. The aurora is fleeting, ever changing, and virtually impossible to predict with precision. It requires clear skies, which means long hours of waiting, shivering, drinking coffee, and fighting to stay awake while wondering if you’re even in the right spot. The flexibility of mobility can’t be overstated; when the skies clear 100 miles north of you, that’s where you need to be. That’s how we run our northern lights photo tours, and it’s why we get the shots.
We offer aurora photography tours in fall and spring, with custom dates available.
If you want to learn the craft on your own, grab a copy of our free How to Photograph the Northern Lights eBook.
If you enjoy these photos, sign up for the newsletter and receive regular pictures and stories. Fun stuff.
"*" indicates required fields
