When glacier information and photographer Tori Harp first noticed the round ice cave, she spent eight months monitoring the ice because it fashioned, envisioning a shot of an ice climber framed by the cave with the New Zealand stars within the background. However when the photographer lastly had the prospect to make the shot a actuality, a shock aurora made the shot much more epic than the unique imaginative and prescient.
Now, Harp and 24 different photographers are among the many Northern Lights Photographer of the 12 months, an annual picture contest hosted by journey pictures weblog and pictures tour host Seize the Atlas. The competition honors 25 photographers annually, giving all of the winners equal weight and the title of Northern Lights Photographer of the 12 months (although the competition welcomes each the northern lights and the southern lights).
In 2025, the solar had handed its peak within the photo voltaic cycle, but photo voltaic exercise remained robust. That led to some firsts for the competition, together with the primary successful picture to be captured with a smartphone and even a shot from the cockpit of a business airplane.
Listed below are the 2025 Northern Lights Photographer of the 12 months winners.
Tori Harp: Lights & Ice
“Because the opening of the cave fashioned, I envisioned establishing an evening shot with my pal abseiling down the mouth of the cave with New Zealand’s superb starry sky within the background,” Harp stated. “One magical night time, the whole lot lastly got here collectively! To my shock, the Aurora Australis additionally lit up the sky. I managed to seize my pal’s silhouette completely positioned within the heart of the cave’s opening, and I like how the pinky tones of the aurora distinction with the icy colours of the cave.”
Harp’s {photograph} is definitely two photographs, a 20s shot to get the sky and a 1/50 second shot to freeze the climber, captured with the Sony A7 IV, Sony 20mm f/1.8 G, and a Peak Design carbon fiber journey tripod.
Vincent Beudez: Arctic Rain
Vincent Beudez captured this shot on October twenty ninth in Norway because the corona danced overhead, utilizing an astromodified Sony A7S III and the Sony 14mm f/1.8.
“Standing beneath this auroral corona, I felt like I used to be standing in a pure cathedral with vibrant layers of shade and light-weight radiating towards me. I used to be tremendous fortunate to seize this shot, and my finest recommendation is to be affected person and do your analysis…the exhausting work pays off!”
Giulio Cobianchi: Essence of the Arctic Night time
This {photograph} is definitely 21 images, captured and stitched to create a 360-degree panorama utilizing an astro-modified Nikon Z6 II, Nikon S 14-24mm f/2.8, and a Sunwayfoto T2840 tripod.
“Throughout my final tour in September, I captured this 360° panoramic picture on the border between Haukland and Vik Seashore, the place rugged mountains meet the wild Norwegian Sea,” Giulio Cobianchi stated. “The extreme Northern Lights and the brilliant moonlight softened the Milky Manner, however the mixture of all these components within the Arctic sky felt completely magical — simply because the Lofoten Islands at all times do.”
Nikki Born: Frozen Silence Beneath the Lights
Nikki Born had imagined capturing the frozen bushes of Riisitunturi beneath the aurora for years, however thick clouds plagued her the complete week of the journey. Simply as she was about to surrender, a break within the clouds got here, and he or she captured this {photograph}, a single picture captured with the Canon EOS R6 and the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 and a Gitzo GT2545T tripod.
“This night time was the expertise of a lifetime: the dream shot I had longed for and a second that phrases can hardly describe. Photographing the Northern Lights calls for endurance and persistence, however after they lastly seem, time stands nonetheless, and nature reminds you simply how superb our world may be,” Born stated.
Pablo Ruiz: Sueños en Eystrahorn
“Capturing a panorama with reflections and auroras that transfer so shortly is sort of tough. It was the {photograph} of my desires, so I arrived within the afternoon to arrange the angles and choices for the night time. Clear skies and little or no wind seemed good for capturing reflections within the totally different swimming pools.”
Pablo Ruiz captured this panorama with two rows of eight pictures utilizing the Nikon D810, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8, and the Artcise C80 carbon fiber tripod.
Virgil Reglioni: Twisting Flip
By day, Virgil Reglioni looked for the superbly formed iceberg. By night time, he labored with the ship’s crew to discover a spot that might assist maintain the boat regular as he framed the aurora, highlighting this glacier in Greenland, captured with a 1.3-second shot on the Sony A7C II, 15mm Laowa 2.0, and a Rollei tripod.
“Behind each picture lies a deliberate course of — a fusion of coordination, timing, and technical precision carried out from a ship navigating a few of the harshest circumstances on Earth,” Reglioni stated. “Photographing the aurora over the ice is rarely about luck; it’s the results of preparation, teamwork, and expertise. From the ship’s bridge to the digicam deck, each motion is rigorously deliberate to provide the lights their very best stage.”
Petr Horálek: Aurora Comet Lemmon
“Capturing two beautiful pure phenomena in a single shot was an exhilarating expertise, Petr Horálek stated of this shot of Comet Lemmon with the aurora over Sweden. “The comet and the aurora seemed to be in a type of dance, giving us an incredible present that I’ll keep in mind ceaselessly.”
He captured the shot with the Canon EOS Ra and a Sigma 50mm f/1.4.
Roi Levi: Corona Blast Aurora Geomagnetic Storm
This 360-degree panorama – a sew of 21 pictures – exhibits the starburst form of the auroral corona over Iceland, captured with an astro-modified Sony A7S III and the Sigma Artwork 14mm f/1.4.
“Kirkjufell is one in every of Iceland’s most iconic mountains, and witnessing the aurora right here was a one-of-a-kind expertise,” stated Roi Levi. “With the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfalls within the foreground, this picture is a dynamic illustration of the sweeping auroral corona.”
Ralf Rohner: Speechless
Clouds usually stop photographers from capturing the aurora, however this shot exhibits the aurora above a sea of clouds. As a business pilot, Ralf Rohner says it is views like this which are the reward for lengthy and sometimes monotonous hours. He captured this shot over the Hudson Bay in Canada with an astro-modified Canon EOS R and a Sigma 28mm f/1.4 Artwork lens.
Mari Jääskeläinen: The Northern Crown
The aurora paints a unique and sometimes unpredictable sample throughout the sky, so Mari Jääskeläinen was shocked when the shot she had been envisioning had the proper aurora swirls to match. She captured the picture with the Sony A7 III, Sigma 14mm f/1.8, and a Manfrotto BeFree Superior tripod with a Benro B2 ball head.
“In my thoughts, I think about the Northern Lights creating a transparent, vivid inexperienced spiral to the northern sky, simply above the bushes, so the foreground would match completely into the body. I couldn’t imagine my eyes when the auroral arc began taking the precise form I had solely dreamed about for therefore lengthy! Excellent reminder of how lovely these delicate auroras may be!”
Andres Papp: Neon Dusk
The colours within the sky match the colours on the bottom, because of illuminating the rocks with a UV gentle torch to focus on the minerals on this shot by Andres Papp.
“The problem was balancing the whole lot—an publicity of about 5 seconds to maintain the aurora construction sharp and managing the UV spill so it didn’t look synthetic. What retains me coming again to Northern Lights pictures is that this mixture of science and magic: you research forecasts and KP indices, however the actual reward is when the sky does one thing surprising, and also you’re ready to seize it in a single, colourful body.”
Jeff Cullen: Gibson Steps Aurora
This beautiful shot of the southern lights over Victoria, Australia, is the proper instance of endurance and timing the aurora with a transparent path in a partly cloudy sky. Jeff Cullen drove the hour to get to this shot, regardless of predictions of clouds and solely a minor photo voltaic storm, bringing with him his Canon 5DS and Samyang 14mm f/2.8.
“This picture exhibits the magic that occurred that night time; I used to be completely amazed and astounded that such a weak aurora forecast introduced me such a superb present. Ethical of the story: Go and shoot! There’s nothing to lose, however the best nature pictures to achieve.”
Sadeq Hayati: Nightscape
Smartphones have come a great distance in low-light capabilities, as this shot by Sadeq Hayati of the “Artic Henge” in Iceland with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely illustrates.
“The triangular stone gateway is a main spot for viewing the aurora, and I photographed it simply as a colourful show of pink and inexperienced lit up the sky. I stood beneath the arch to supply a way of simply how small I felt on this second…all this pure magnificence unfurling earlier than my eyes was an expertise I’ll treasure ceaselessly.”
Daniel Mickleson: Guardians of the Aurora
Daniel Mickleson captured this shot of a uncommon aurora on the west coast of New Zealand with the rock formations known as the Three Sisters and Taranaki Maunga within the distance, utilizing the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 II.
“After capturing my first aurora through the Might 2024 storm, I used to be hooked. Travelling a number of hours from my dwelling to this particular location, I hoped the forecasts could be appropriate. Even with a close to–full moon, the highly effective show shone throughout the sky. I may see the beams dancing overhead — a really spectacular sight.”
Jesús Garrido: One Autumn Night time
Colours within the sky combine with the autumn colours on the bottom on this shot by Jesús Garrido, captured in Sweden with the Sony A1 and Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM.
“I drove to a bit of bay of Lake Torneträsk in Abisko, a spot I like as a result of it’s often quiet and shielded from the wind. Just a few moments after arriving, the Northern Lights began to maneuver slowly throughout the sky, after which immediately they started to bounce. Pink tones rose on the southern horizon whereas the lake remained completely nonetheless, reflecting each single factor that was taking place above me.”
Sara Aurorae: Celestial Fireworks on New Years
This shock New 12 months’s Aurora over Australia caught Sara Aurorae abruptly, however she shortly reached for her Nikon Z7 II and Nikkor 20mm f/1.8 S.
“The spectacle arrived with out warning, giving me solely moments to achieve for my digicam. Although the foreground could also be plain, I don’t thoughts it, because the strains of bushes on the proper lead your eye to the beautiful gentle present within the sky. This {photograph} holds one thing far higher — a reminder that even in life’s easiest scenes, magic can discover us once we least count on it.”
Mathew Browne: Llangrannog Aurora
“I used to be overjoyed to seize this otherworldly Northern Lights show on the rugged Ceredigion coast of West Wales. The village of Llangrannog isn’t identified for its celestial shows; it’s higher identified for its seashore, dramatic cliffs, and the statue of St. Crannog, who stands watch over the shoreline, stated Mathew Browne.
Browne captured this shot with the Sony A7R IV and Sony 12-24mm f/4 lens.
Martin Giraud: Aurora Bouquet Above Godafoss
This panorama by Martin Giraud is a sew of 40 totally different photographs so as to spotlight the aurora over Iceland’s Godafoss with out rendering the waterfall as a black silhouette.
“Regardless of promising aurora forecasts, the day was cloudy, and after sundown, the clouds didn’t appear to clear. We took a brief break within the van to heat up and wait. As soon as night time fell, a miracle occurred: the sky utterly cleared up.”
Marc Rassel: Aural Cinnamon Roll
This shot of the aurora over Fairbanks, Alaska, highlights a formidable spiral of lights, captured by Marc Rassel with the Canon EOS R5 and RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM.
“The aurora’s charged particles journey alongside Earth’s magnetic subject strains, which aren’t at all times fastened. On this case, a geomagnetic storm had them twisting, bending, and oscillating throughout the sky. The lights fashioned a formidable aerial spiral – it jogged my memory of a cinnamon roll!”
Douglas Thorne: Fjordland Aurora and Lupins
This six-image panorama by Douglas Thorne exhibits the aurora over lupine and a creek in New Zealand, captured with the Sony A7 IV and Venus Optics 15mm f/2 lens.
“This specific shot was taken at my second location for the night time, as my first cease had barely any lupins exhibiting. I spent fairly a while strolling up and down this space to search out this composition, and in the long run, it was properly price it. I like the way it exhibits the mountains, creek, forest, and lupins all along with a coherent shade scheme.”
Nikola Vukotić: Alone Beaneath the Dancing Sky
Nikola Vukotić had solely seen the aurora for the primary time the day earlier than taking this picture throughout a visit to the Lofoten Islands, captured with the Sony A7 IV and Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G and a Manfrotto BeFree Superior tripod.
“That night, I discovered myself on Skagsanden Seashore nearly by chance, planning solely to seize the sundown. However as the sunshine light, the sky got here alive with shade, utterly towards the forecast that promised solely clouds. The aurora danced in shades of inexperienced and pink, and the seashore was nearly empty. In one in every of my frames, I later seen my pal Luka standing nonetheless beneath the sky, absorbed in the identical marvel.”
Travis D. Amick: Auroral Reflections
A big coronal mass ejection introduced a powerful aurora show to Idaho on this shot by Travis D. Amick, captured with the Sony A7 IV and Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 with a Peak Design journey tripod.
“I ran all the way down to the pond to get this specific shot of the colourful pink flares intertwined with the colours of the aurora reflecting off the tranquil pond. Inside minutes, the substorm subsided, and the aurora as soon as once more receded to only a glow on the horizon. The aurora calls for endurance and meticulous planning, however it’s price it for these fleeting moments of awe.”
Victor Lima: A Cathedral of Inexperienced Rising over Skógafoss
Victor Lima’s first intuition viewing this scene was to concentrate on the waterfall, however because the photographer realized the aurora was creating an ideal arch over the mountains, he swapped out for a Rokinon 12mm f/2.8 fisheye on his Canon EOS R6 and stepped into the stream created by the waterfall so as to add much more symmetry to the shot.
“On nights like this, Iceland feels otherworldly. The aurora unfolded in completely layered arcs, portray the complete valley with shades of emerald whereas the waterfall echoed beneath the glow. The reflection on the frozen shallows accomplished the symmetry, making the entire panorama appear like a portal to a different world.”
Marina Prol: Ven, Vidi, Vici
“Veni, Vidi, Vici. I got here, I noticed, I conquered. That’s what I assumed on my first night time in Lapland, Finland, on 19 February 2025,” Marina Prol stated. “After ready so lengthy for this second, seeing my first Aurora Borealis like this actually left me speechless. The colours, the dance, and simply the sheer magnificence— I used to be so overwhelmed that I didn’t even really feel the -18ºC!”
Prol captured this shot in a single publicity utilizing the Sony A7 IV and the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM and a Benro Mach 3 tripod.
Ollie Taylor: Northern Lights over North Greenland
The aurora aligns with the cracks in a frozen lake above the Arctic Circle in Greenland on this shot by Ollie Taylor. Taylor used an astro-modified Sony A7 III, the FE 14mm f/1.8 lens, and a Gitzo tripod, taking one shot to show for the lake and one other to show for the sky.
“After ready just a few hours and determining compositions, a small band of vibrant Aurora lights danced throughout the sky, displaying vibrant purples in good alignment with my composition. This {photograph} captures the scene so properly – the thick, textured ice sheets and the brilliant greens and reds highlighted by the purple tones of the starry sky.”
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