Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2022 Releases 25 Most Dazzling Auroras: From Alaskan Ice Caves and Beyond

Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2022 Releases 25 Most Dazzling Auroras: From Alaskan Ice Caves and Beyond
Courtesy of David Erichsen
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Now in its fifth year, the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year competition, hosted by travel and photography blog Capture the Atlas, has released 25 of its best photos of aurora borealis from hundreds of dazzling entries.

The winning images were taken from locations across the world, the winners representing 13 different nationalities, and were announced in December to coincide with peak northern lights season. Capture the Atlas editor Dan Zafra was on the lookout for pictures, from both renowned talent and new photographers, that portray this breathtaking natural phenomenon in novel and interesting ways.

Top entries exhibited this chromatic spectacle in places ranging from Denmark to New Zealand, from Finland to Greenland to Russia, and even from inside a collapsed Alaskan glacial cave.

"Red Skies" by Ruslan Merzlyakov. (Courtesy of Ruslan Merzlyakov)
"Red Skies" by Ruslan Merzlyakov. Courtesy of Ruslan Merzlyakov

Danish photographer Ruslan Merzlyakov’s “Red Skies,” taken in Nykøbing Mors, Denmark, depicts the “absolutely insane red pillars” of the auroras that graced the skies over Limfjord, just a 3-minute drive from his house.

Merzlyakov, who has been photographing the night sky for over 10 years, told Capture the Atlas, “Many think that Denmark, being placed far away from the general northern lights activity, is not an ideal place to see the aurora. This might be true, but there is always hope for magic during the darkest months of the year ... the happiness you feel when watching the sky glow like this in your hometown is unforgettable.”
"Michigan Night Watch" by Marybeth Kiczenski. (Courtesy of Marybeth Kiczenski)
"Michigan Night Watch" by Marybeth Kiczenski. Courtesy of Marybeth Kiczenski

Marybeth Kiczenski’s “Michigan Night Watch” was an opportunistic shot taken from Point Betsie Lighthouse in Frankfort, Michigan, after the photographer made the most of a favorable aurora forecast.

She said, “I was greeted with quite heavy winds but a beautiful sunset and warm weather. It was super busy since it was a Friday, and there were good conditions for auroras. It was fun to make some new friends, and we chatted while waiting for Lady Aurora to make an appearance.”

At about half past eleven, the light show began.

“We cheered. We clapped. This is what makes all of it worth it!” Kiczenski said. “Afterward, we packed up and drove the three hours back to Martin, Michigan, to start work for the day. Ah, the life of an aurora chaser!”

"Chasing the Light" by David Erichsen. (Courtesy of David Erichsen)
"Chasing the Light" by David Erichsen. Courtesy of David Erichsen

David Erichsen’s “Chasing the Light” was the realization of a childhood dream. Taken from Castner Glacier, Alaska, Erichsen’s surreal shot captures an aurora seen from inside a glacial cave and was the product of a two-hour midnight hike in below-freezing temperatures under storm-cleared skies.

“As I made my way out to the cave, my walk quickly became a full-on run as I saw the sky split open with magnificent color,” Erichsen said. “Sadly, the ice cave collapsed on itself a couple months ago, which just shows that you have to chase every opportunity before it’s gone.”

What’s not pictured, he said, are the several nights he wandered out to the cave in sub-freezing temperatures waiting for “just a hint of green to dance through this frozen window,” but struck out.

"Inception" by Giulio Cobianchi. (Courtesy of Giulio Cobianchi)
"Inception" by Giulio Cobianchi. Courtesy of Giulio Cobianchi
"Magical Forest" by Elena Ermolina. (Courtesy of Elena Ermolina)
"Magical Forest" by Elena Ermolina. Courtesy of Elena Ermolina

Other winning photos portray the majesty of the northern lights against vast starry expanses and a plethora of natural landscapes. It’s hard to choose a favorite.

Zafra is already welcoming participants to join in next year’s competition. The best time to see the lights is between September and April in the Northern Hemisphere, or between March and September in the Southern Hemisphere. Owing to the tilt of the Earth’s axis, the best time to take photos coincides with the fall and spring equinoxes.

"Nugget Point Lighthouse Aurora" by Douglas Thorne. (Courtesy of Douglas Thorne)
"Nugget Point Lighthouse Aurora" by Douglas Thorne. Courtesy of Douglas Thorne
"Towering Ice" by Virgil Reglioni. (Courtesy of Virgil Reglioni)
"Towering Ice" by Virgil Reglioni. Courtesy of Virgil Reglioni
"Auroraverse" by Tor-Ivar Næss. (Courtesy of Tor-Ivar Næss
"Auroraverse" by Tor-Ivar Næss. (Courtesy of Tor-Ivar Næss
"An Explosion of Color" by Vincent Beudez. (Courtesy of Vincent Beudez)
"An Explosion of Color" by Vincent Beudez. Courtesy of Vincent Beudez
"Spirits of Winter" by Unai Larraya. (Courtesy of Unai Larraya)
"Spirits of Winter" by Unai Larraya. Courtesy of Unai Larraya
"Under a Northern Sky" by Rachel Jones Ross. (Courtesy of Rachel Jones Ross)
"Under a Northern Sky" by Rachel Jones Ross. Courtesy of Rachel Jones Ross
"Queen of the North" by Pierpaolo Salvatore. (Courtesy of Pierpaolo Salvatore)
"Queen of the North" by Pierpaolo Salvatore. Courtesy of Pierpaolo Salvatore
"Polaris Dream" by Nico Rinaldi. (Courtesy of Nico Rinaldi)
"Polaris Dream" by Nico Rinaldi. Courtesy of Nico Rinaldi
"Captain Hook" by Mattia Frenguelli. (Courtesy of Mattia Frenguelli)
"Captain Hook" by Mattia Frenguelli. Courtesy of Mattia Frenguelli
"Nordic Quetzal" by Luis Solano Pochet. (Courtesy of Luis Solano Pochet)
"Nordic Quetzal" by Luis Solano Pochet. Courtesy of Luis Solano Pochet
"Reflections on the Ice" by Lena Pettersen. (Courtesy of Lena Pettersen)
"Reflections on the Ice" by Lena Pettersen. Courtesy of Lena Pettersen
"Explosions of the Sky" by Kavan Chay. (Courtesy of Kavan Chay)
"Explosions of the Sky" by Kavan Chay. Courtesy of Kavan Chay
"The Light Upon Kerlaugar" by Jannes Krause. (Courtesy of Jannes Krause)
"The Light Upon Kerlaugar" by Jannes Krause. Courtesy of Jannes Krause
"Bridge to Dreams" by Jabi Sanz. (Courtesy of Jabi Sanz)
"Bridge to Dreams" by Jabi Sanz. Courtesy of Jabi Sanz
"Emerald Howl" by Itai Monnickendam. (Courtesy of Itai Monnickendam)
"Emerald Howl" by Itai Monnickendam. Courtesy of Itai Monnickendam
"The Fjord Guardian" by Filip Hrebenda. (Courtesy of Filip Hrebenda)
"The Fjord Guardian" by Filip Hrebenda. Courtesy of Filip Hrebenda
"Green Balls" by Jose D. Riquelme. (Courtesy of Jose D. Riquelme)
"Green Balls" by Jose D. Riquelme. Courtesy of Jose D. Riquelme
"Northern Lights over Dramatic Lofoten Peaks" by David Haring. (Courtesy of David Haring)
"Northern Lights over Dramatic Lofoten Peaks" by David Haring. Courtesy of David Haring
"Elves’ House" by Asier López Castro. (Courtesy of Asier López Castro)
"Elves’ House" by Asier López Castro. Courtesy of Asier López Castro
"Magic Night" by Anastasia & Aleksey R. (Courtesy of Anastasia & Aleksey R)
"Magic Night" by Anastasia & Aleksey R. Courtesy of Anastasia & Aleksey R
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