This year, as we reach the solar maximum of the current solar cycle, the Aurora Borealis have been more active than ever.
So much so, that these cosmic beauties have been gracing skies in unexpected places where they’ve rarely - if ever - been photographed. Indeed, this year's collection includes stunning photos from such unlikely places as England, Spain, France and Croatia.
2024 marks the 7th edition of The Northern Lights Photographer of the Year, showcasing the most extraordinary images captured across the globe. Here are a handful of OGN's favourites.
Istria, Croatia. "On the night of the Perseid meteor shower, I was treated to a multi-course menu of the night sky. I captured the Milky Way arch with Orion, the Aurora (a first for me), the Zodiacal light, and the Perseid meteors. As if that wasn’t enough, the sky gifted me with one of the most stunning greenish airglows I’ve ever seen. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the close conjunction of Jupiter and Mars, right along the path of the Zodiacal light. In the center of the panorama is the Cap Marlera lighthouse, built in 1880 at the southeastern tip of the Istrian Peninsula."
Dartmoor National Park, United Kingdom. "The green glow on the horizon erupted into a stunning display of vibrant lights. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I quickly adjusted my camera settings to capture this once-in-a-lifetime event in a panorama. For nearly two hours, I was immersed in the experience, my face lighting up with a smile the whole time. Witnessing such an incredible spectacle in the UK made the sleepless night absolutely worth it!"
Normandy, France. "This panoramic image captures a sky filled with vibrant auroras stretching 180 degrees from the southwest to the northeast. The display includes hues of pink, violet, and blue, with a green band near the horizon. The Milky Way and Cygnus constellation are visible in the upper right, while light pollution from Étretat creates a faint green glow. The majestic cliffs in the foreground and another photographer to the left completed this extraordinary scene."
Bauska, Latvia. "On that night, I had originally planned to photograph the Perseid meteor shower, but the aurora forecast also looked promising, though it wasn’t my main focus at the time. I took a few photos of the stars, and then I noticed a pink glow in the corner of the sky. It was the aurora! I pointed my camera toward the southwest and took my best shot. The weather conditions were perfect, with fog adding to the atmosphere. Around midnight, the aurora display became truly stunning."
Asturias, Spain. "Seeing the Northern Lights with such intensity in Asturias is a dream come true. I remember talking with friends years ago, saying, “All we’re missing are the auroras…” And that day finally arrived!"
Wyoming, USA, May 10, 2024. "Aurora forecasts promised an incredible display, so I drove to Devils Tower, Wyoming, to witness the event. The solar storm delivered, reaching a historic KP9, with auroras visible worldwide. As the vibrant lights danced overhead, my father was undergoing emergency surgery two thousand miles away in Maine. It was a surreal night - awed by the celestial beauty above, yet grappling with worry for my dad. The aurora offered a strange sense of comfort amidst the turmoil, grounding me in the moment as I captured this incredible phenomenon. My father, a photographer for over 50 years and the person who introduced me to this art, thankfully survived surgery and recovered after several days in the ICU."
If you would like to see more of these incredible images, head to The Northern Lights Photographer of the Year.
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