The 25 best aurora pictures of 2021, from light shows in Alaska to heavenly displays over Tasmania

This photograph was taken in Teriberka in the Kolsky District, Murmansk Oblast in Russia on the Barents Sea Coast. Russian Aleksey Ra, the photographer, stated that “This night was certainly special.” It was the perfect environment for photographing the Northern Lights. There was frost, snow, ice and a full moon. Although the weather conditions were difficult, the temperatures dropped to 34° below zero. However, the flames of these lights make it impossible to remember the temperature. Although I knew what photo I was looking for, extreme weather forced me to create the image in multiple stages. With the help of the moonlight the landscape was well lit and it looked balanced with the spectacular display by the aurora borealis. This combination allowed me to get the best out of the opportunity. I shot one of the shots for the background and one of the sky. This allows you to see the Northern Lights in detail while still seeing more of the background.

The incredible photo was captured at Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota. Marshall Lipp is the man behind the image. It did indeed! As it danced over my head at times, I was in awe. I was even able to take some pictures exactly the way I imagined them.

LEFT: A dazzling image taken in Iceland by Slovak landscape photographer Filip Hrebenda, who said: ‘Although the best time to see the aurora in Iceland is mainly from the fall to early spring, I took this photo in the southeast of Iceland during the late spring. Three days spent photographing volcanoes, without sleep, made me very tired. But, when my KP index rose to four, it was a relief. [the higher the number out of nine, the greater the chance of seeing an aurora]That night, I was certain I wouldn’t be going to sleep again. After finding a foreground that had colour reflections, I waited to see the aurora. All of a sudden, she started dancing exactly where I wanted – right above the mountainside! Although it had been quite a night, the adrenaline provided enough energy to get me up in the morning. RIGHT: A stunning photograph of a spectacular aurora display over Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada. Herry Himanshu was the photographer. At 1 AM, the sky was turning berserk. A friend also went out to shoot the Lights and called me. We were just having a great time. Although I got only a few hours sleep that night before heading to work the next day, it was a full day of buzzing from the aurora.

Marc Adamus took this mesmerizing image in Alaska. Marc stated that it was one of the most beautiful experiences but one of most challenging to photograph. The temperatures are frequently below zero and the difficulty of navigating the crusty, easily broken snow on snowshoes without a flashlight makes it difficult for hiking and composition. The shot I took was set up at the end of the twilight. It was hours later that the light started dancing overhead, so I returned to the scene several hours later.

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand – with a stunning aurora makeover. Larryn Rae is the photographer behind this photo. This lakeside spot was the perfect location. As soon as sunset fell, the aurora began to appear. In the following hours, the sky became a dazzling display of colours with the incredible pillars dancing across it in the most spectacular displays I’ve ever seen. This night, the aurora was my favorite night sky phenomenon and it was absolutely amazing.

Jeroen van Nieuwenhove captured this amazing photo of the aurora over Iceland’s Geldingadalir Volcano. He called it the ‘holy grail’ of Icelandic photography.

LEFT: This eye-catching image was taken by John Weatherby on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland while he was co-leading a photography workshop. He explained that even though it may sound clichéd, an aurora display is so beautiful, no matter how many times you see them. Each aurora has a unique shape and moves at different rates. RIGHT: A sensational light show over the Lofoten Islands in Norway, captured by Frank Olsen. He stated that he had all his shots of the aurora and moonlight as well as the snow-covered mountains lined up for the night. After the Northern Lights began to run, I got out the car and started photographing a wild show throughout the evening. I’ve been photographing all my life. My first film-based SLR was purchased at 16 and my first digital photograph was taken in 1997 by a borrowed camera. My first aurora photograph was taken in 2008. Since then, more than 3 million Northern Lights photos have been taken.

Michigan native Marybeth Kiczenski is the photographer behind this breathtaking image, taken in Bayfield, Wisconsin. She said: ‘I went to a location I had never been to before – which is always a gamble – but made it work somehow. Finding compositions that work in the darkness is never easy. It is incredible how much colour detail this photo has. Never have I seen purple and teal so vividly. It was like I was in a dream the whole night.

LEFT: A jaw-dropping image captured in Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon, Canada, by Joshua Snow. His comment was that this image captured my week in Tombstone as no other could. It was like being on an endless rollercoaster. I had lost my father in May, and experienced a complete mental breakdown just before I went. It is now that I have learned how to stop it and slow the pace down. The week spent in the mountains allowed me to think and heal. It also gave me the opportunity to slow down and appreciate my life and to reflect upon what I need. Sometimes it can seem impossible. Hopeless. Scary. Sometimes, even when everything seems darkest and most hopeless, you can trust that the sun will rise again. It shines brightly on me right now, it is so beautiful. RIGHT: A spellbinding image taken by Mark Jinks in Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. According to him, he took the image in one of the most intense times just before midnight. Even though the aurora is unpredictable, it can be a problem in Canada’s mid-latitudes. Space Weather Live is a useful tool that can help with predicting the Northern Lights and can also be used as a resource. You can see amazing displays by being patient and persistent. Keep warm and dress for the cold, but bring friends to make it more enjoyable.

The photographer of this stunning image is Stefan Liebermann, who was captured it in Iceland. He explained that this image captures the entire spectrum of Northern Lights from the “Vestrahorn”, an iconic location in Iceland. This was an amazing experience. This amazing display of colours was created when a strong geomagnetic storm (G3) struck earth October 31, 2021.

LEFT: Olli Sorvari took this image in Levi, Finland, and named it ‘Santa’s Cabin’. Evidently, it wasn’t easy to reach there. According to him, the experience is more memorable and important than the final results. After taking the picture of the trip, I believe it was one that will be remembered. Although it was not a difficult hike, the distance is fifty times more when you don’t have snowshoes. When I return, I will follow the ski routes. Although it was cloudy all the way, there were no Northern Lights. But I finally captured what I wanted. Before the show began, I was able to take some good shots of the winter Milky Way. This was the best part of this night. RIGHT: This snap is the work of Mike Karpov and was taken in Russia’s Arkhangelsk region. Karpov stated that he had been dreaming about taking the photo for some time. It is well-known for its curative mineral springs, as well as a church from the 18th century and new chapels. The weather in Kurtyaevo was cold and clear on the night that this photograph was taken. A thermometer was located outside of the city and showed temperatures as low as -28 degrees Celsius. There were stars and the moon above and surrounding the city. The silence was broken only by occasional crackling from the frost trees. It was soon lit by a flash that illuminated the sky. The bright light disintegrated the sky into pieces, which were scattered across it, twisting and wriggling in spirals.

Stefano Astorri captured this photo. Stefano explained, “I visited this spot in Swedish Lapland where I hoped the Northern Lights would rise right between two mountain summits. While I was at the scene, the green lady started to dance on my left as the Milkyway joined the celebration in her winter gown. It was very cold, but it soon became pure excitement. After feeling very cold, I rearranged the composition so that the photo included the red cabin. It is now a photo which actually blends twelve vertical shots at 14mm (around270 degrees), to completely cover the arches.

French photographer Virgil Reglioni captured this photo in Northern Norway. Reglioni specializes in Arctic landscape photography and night photography.

Sergey Korolev was the photographer behind this amazing picture taken in Russia’s Kola region. According to him, “At the beginning of my career when I started learning how landscape photography was done, the Northern Lights photographs were not something that I liked because they had no other elements than the Lights. It was always boring to just take photos of the sky. But, Marc Adamus’ pictures with the aurora borealis above beautiful mountain scenery impressed me. Since then, I have had a new passion – taking Northern Lights pictures where the landscape and its composition play the main role, and the sky with the aurora is in harmony with the composition. To make the shot appear alien-like, I focused my attention on the “snowmonsters” within the composition.

Amy J Johnson created this image in Alaska. She named it “Narnia”. According to her, she said that a G1 sunspot was forecasted when she visited this forest north Fairbanks in March 2021. Since years I have waited in the region for beautiful aurora displays, only to be disappointed. Although I was disappointed to miss the show, this night, I made it to my destination in time. Due to the wind and hoarfrost, the black spruce of this area of the boreal forests are covered with snow. A 2020 forest fire made it more difficult to find a pleasing composition. The temperatures at the start of my snowshoe trek into this magical scene were a balmy -21F (-6C). Sometimes the aurora was so bright, that one-second exposures could not be captured. At times like these, I tend to forget my camera, just dance for the warmth and enjoy the spectacle. For me, the best part of being an aurora photographer is when I’m alone in the wilderness and feeling euphoric under nature’s magical skies’

LEFT: Jacob Cohen took this awe-inspiring picture in Sutton, Alaska, while battling temperatures of around -10C. It was one of his most memorable light shows. RIGHT: This image, called ‘The Aurora Cave’, was taken in Norway’s Lofoten Islands by Giulio Cobianchi, who explained how it was composed: ‘This was one of the most beautiful green nights I have experienced since living in Lofoten. It was only the start of an extended night spent chasing the aurora up until dawn. Since I enjoy exploring new locations and finding unique compositions, I’ve been to this cave at all times. It is difficult to take photographs inside the caves. Although you will need to employ more techniques during the shooting phase (e.g. focus-stacking or multi-exposure), these compositions are what I love the most. They give a natural frame that gives off a three-dimensional effect.

Froydis Dahlheim captured this stunning snap in Senja in northern Norway. He said that it was a perfect image of one of his best nights in Senja seeing the Northern Lights. With stunning landscapes of snow and mountains and dancing auroras that illuminated everything, the views were breathtaking. It was truly memorable.

David Oldenhof, Tasmania captured the stunning image. According to him, Tasmania is Australia’s most southerly state. We have beautiful beaches, World Heritage rainforests and national parks that you can photograph. But, because we’re the farthest south, we can also witness some of the strongest auroras. Only three auroras have I seen, and this was by far the most stunning and long-lasting.

A breathtaking shot of an aurora above Iceland taken by Agnieszka Morowka. Agnieszka explained, “The photo was challenging because I had the need to move back and forth in order to adjust my settings depending on how strong the Northern Lights were.” Because there wasn’t enough space to accommodate my feet, the place where I stood was also difficult. I couldn’t even stand straight. I could freeze and stare at the magnificent sky as the lights went out.

Daniel Kordan captured the magical picture in Murmansk (Russia) His explanation was: “Last winter I went on a trip to the North of Russia. I drove across the Barents Sea and hiked to the “edge of the world” in the Arctic. It was full of storms, blizzards, but it also included precious interactions with Lady Aurora. I took this image on the Kolskyi peninsula, and the amazing thing about this area is that most rivers don’t freeze, even at -35C temperatures. My tripod frozen this night as I waited for the Northern Lights. It was in my wader boots and the river water up to my knees that caused the freezing. Only a hot Russian “banya” [steam room]This could be a way to help me get out of freezer.