During the last week of October 2021, me and my friends Tomas Slovinsky, Josef Kujal, and Balazs Szarka made it happen to get in Sweden for Aurora Borealis chasing. Based in Abisko National Park, we were pretty lucky for the weather but also for COVID restrictions and so we could travel a bit around for clear skies. Most beautiful aurorae appeared in the sky just the first night we had clear skies–in fact, we travelled for it in far Tromsø, Norway, where our friend, legendary photographer and cinematographer Adrien Mauduit was our guide. And I will never ever forget that night, October 26th/27th… Loooong way up north to Tromsø for better skies me and my friends were quite pessimistic to see any aurora this year anyway. The sky was just moonlighted by never setting Moon that night. Adrien Mauduit was full of higher expectations and never let us think we come back without any aurora experience. And he was just right. Long hours with no aurora changed at a sudden in one of the most spectacular natural performances I have ever seen. Even the photographs cannot fully mediate the personal experience.
Strong Aurora over Arctic Ocean
Amazed by Aurora over Arctic Ocean
Since time immemorial, the Aurora Borealis has been associated with various cultural and historical references, often considered a symbol of change. In the Nordic countries, they are often a symbol, appearing in songs, poems, and books. But seeing the Aurora Borealis is not such a problem, despite the current pandemic situation, traveling to Scandinavia is quite hassle-free. That’s why It is in vain that the Aurora Borealis is called the celestial symphony. Here you see me as an avid “listener” before that breathtaking orchestral performance on the shores of Lake Torneträsk another night, October 29th/30th.
Amazed Aurora Chaser
Wide Aurora Sightnings
Sky of Aurora over Torneträsk Lake
Eventually, here is also a short timelapse video of the two nights with full experience of the dynamics of the aurorae. For images but also the timelapse, used Canon Ra and Canon 6D, Samyang 12mm (f2.8), Samyang 14mm (f2.8), Samyang 24mm (f2.2) and Sigma 35mm (f2.2), ISO 2000-4000, vary exposures (between 4 and 8 sec.), taken from tripod.
Timelapse: Aurora Borealis 2021
Enjoy also Virtual Reality
Enjoy the virtual reality moment of captivating Aurora Borealis of Oct. 30, 2021, as seen from Torneträsk lake, Sweden. The best about aurora is that they are just so dynamic. And so, for photographers, this is also the worst as taking a panorama like this requires quite a quick response of the photographer on what is going on in the sky. My first experience of that so far so I hope you like it anyway. The feeling you may take from the image is not far from how I was amazed when watching it. Just epic!
