The Northern Lights..
The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis do not need an introduction I suspect. This is one of those natural phenomena that most of us wish to see at some point in our lives. Many people travel to Iceland just to get a chance to see the Northern Lights. It was certainly one of the things I hoped to see when I got here. Getting to see this spectacular light show is a bit hit and miss. It’s very much weather dependent, clear and dark skies are needed along with plenty of solar activity.
I visited Siglufjörður in the far north of Iceland yesterday and was lucky enough to witness this amazing light show. Here are a couple of the pictures I was able to take.. more to follow I hope.. I’m off hunting the Aurora again tonight. A little more locally to Reykjavik this time.. :-)
24mm f/2.8 331 sec. ISO-100
24mm f/11 180 sec. ISO-100
Click on the images for a clearer, sharper view..
Cornwall Photographic 
Magical Adrian!
November 22, 2014 at 7:59 pm
Thank you Chris! :-)
November 22, 2014 at 11:43 pm
Oh, fabulous Adrian! I’m so pleased for you – you must have been chuffed to bits!
November 22, 2014 at 8:00 pm
I was Sue, thank you. The weather can be so bad this time of year with so much low cloud but keeping a close eye on various weather websites, satellite images etc, I could see that if we went pretty much as far north as you can go in Iceland, we might get some clear skies and thankfully we did. :-)
November 22, 2014 at 11:42 pm
Awsome!
November 22, 2014 at 8:08 pm
Thank you, it is an awesome phenomenon to see. :-)
November 22, 2014 at 11:41 pm
You Welcome!
November 23, 2014 at 7:25 am
It’s beautiful, very nice shot – I ‘love to live it really! good Sunday
November 22, 2014 at 8:23 pm
Thank you Pat, I hope you do get to see the Northern Lights yourself one day. Enjoy your Sunday! :-)
November 22, 2014 at 11:40 pm
Adrian, WOW! You are having excellent luck on your trip. Luckily, you are one amazing photographer who is sharing your experiences with us through the lens. Powerful!!
November 22, 2014 at 8:43 pm
Thank you Marina, you’re too kind. I have been having a lot of luck with the weather and last night with the Northern Lights. This is a good time of year to see them but the weather is generally not too good. A lot of low cloud is normal. We got a break, litereally! :-)
November 22, 2014 at 11:39 pm
Keep the good vibes rolling in Iceland. You’re riding a fabulous wave so far! So happy for you and am delighted you’ve seen the Northern Lights!
November 23, 2014 at 10:48 pm
Thank you so much Marina. The days just keep getting better.. ! :-)
November 24, 2014 at 6:53 pm
I did click, and am bowled over by how absolutely beautiful these two images are, Adrian. The colours are out of this world. Good luck in Reykjavik tonight. :)
November 22, 2014 at 8:47 pm
Thank you Sylvia. It’s quite a spectacle to see. :-)
November 22, 2014 at 11:37 pm
Wonderful! Congratulations on your talent.
November 22, 2014 at 10:03 pm
Thank you Isable! :-)
November 22, 2014 at 11:36 pm
Nice! And, it’s interesting to see how much the stars move during the exposure.
November 22, 2014 at 10:45 pm
Thank you Mike! Yes, it’s a clear reminder we’re on the move. :-)
November 22, 2014 at 11:36 pm
Nice!!!
November 23, 2014 at 12:50 am
Thank you Sam! :-)
November 23, 2014 at 6:34 pm
Lucky, lucky you! Not to take anything away from your excellent shots. I love the emerald glow in the first one, and a reflection. You were definitely in the right place at the right time.
November 23, 2014 at 12:57 am
Hi Jude, It was very lucky. The weather has been pretty horrible all around but I’ve been dodging it, with amazing success for the most part. Heading up north was definitely the right thing to do. I got to see a great deal more of the country and and the Northern Lights to boot. Marvellous! :-)
November 23, 2014 at 6:36 pm
Are you hiring a car then so as to move around? When you get back you’ll have to write a post about photography in Iceland – where to go, getting around, staying there. I’d love to go, but bit nervous of doing it independently though it does seem the best way to travel there.
November 23, 2014 at 11:07 pm
I have been renting a car and keeping a very close eye on the Icelandic Met Office site and Satellite images to plan my days. Independent travel definitely has its advantages. :-)
November 24, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Absolute magic!
November 23, 2014 at 12:57 am
Thank you Norma! :-)
November 23, 2014 at 6:37 pm
Something else I want to someday see. I really like the captures, especially the first, with the aurora reflecting in the water.
November 23, 2014 at 2:15 am
Thank you Emilio! I saw the Northern Lights once in Scotland when I was a student but they were quite weak. Friday night the Aurora forecast was active and with clear-ish skies in the north, it was quite a show.
November 23, 2014 at 6:58 pm
Amazing stuff, Chilli. How wonderful you were able to catch these.
November 23, 2014 at 7:19 am
Thank you so much Gunta. I was very lucky! :-)
November 23, 2014 at 7:02 pm
Awesome and magical Aurora Lights ChillB … you’ve even caught star trails in the reflections … wow
Worth your epic journey to the far northern regions .. the minutes waiting for these long exposure shots must have been tantalisingly exciting …
What a time you’re having … * marvejols :-) xx
November 23, 2014 at 9:44 am
Aww Poppy, It was an amazing night. Driving through sleepy fishing villages sprinkled with the harshest of frosts in between the longest tunnels I’ve ever travelled through to find a gap, just 500 yards or so between tunnels, with a layby where we stopped for a breather and there they were, the Northern light, a stream running down to the sea and these awsome mountains. It doesn’t get much better than this! :-)x
November 23, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Incredible shots ~ love the first one with the clear foreground and the lights reflecting off the water. Tremendous! Safe travels Adrian!
November 23, 2014 at 9:54 am
Thank you Randall. It was a pretty special night all in all. Quite an epic drive to get to the very north of Iceland from Reykjavik, given the single lane mountain roads, but it was so worth the journey to experience the Northern Lights like this.
November 23, 2014 at 7:08 pm
Amazing…you are making me think of taking a trip up to Alaska early next year to see if I could experience the lights!
November 25, 2014 at 4:02 am
Thank you Randall. That would really be a trip worth experiencing and after China, your sense of being alone in the wilderness and the amazing feeling that that is will be all the more enhanced. Not seeing another soul for hours and hours. It really is very refreshing! :-)
November 26, 2014 at 6:10 pm
Amazing color in the sky, great shots. I hope to one day see this in person
November 23, 2014 at 10:00 am
I hope you see them one day in person too Julie. Thanks for your comment! :-)
November 23, 2014 at 7:09 pm
Really lovely pics. So brilliant you saw them x x x
Sent from my iPad
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November 23, 2014 at 1:48 pm
Thanks Mum, it was a real treat! Tell you all about it when I’m home! :-)
November 23, 2014 at 7:10 pm
Beautiful … and I am jealous! I was in Iceland at the end of Sept. We tried to capture the northern lights on a 3 different nights. Our cameras registered some but they were not strong enough to make a picture worthy of posting. I understand the chances are best in the winter months.
November 23, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Thank you Denise. The chances are definitely higher in the winter I understand. The weather can make things a little tricky. There have been a lot of very overcast skies and rain around Reykjavik the whole week I’ve been here. I had to travel to the far north to find the clear skies. I think the Northern Lights Tours from my Apartment building have been cancelled every night so far, given they can only travel a few hours out of town.
November 23, 2014 at 7:13 pm
Beautiful, Adrian…and what a treasure to be able to see it in person.
November 23, 2014 at 2:25 pm
It was indeed a treasure Scott! Thank you! :-)
November 23, 2014 at 7:13 pm
magically beautiful!
November 23, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Thank you Soli! :-)
November 23, 2014 at 7:14 pm
Magical… Just like Iceland!
November 23, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Thank you. I’ve definitely fallen in love with the place in the last week. I know I’m going to be back. In fact I think I’ll book my flights now.. :-)
November 23, 2014 at 7:15 pm
I think that is possibly one of the best images of the Northern Lights I have seen……just fantastic Adrian.
November 23, 2014 at 3:54 pm
Thank you so much Mark! It was such a treat to see the Northern Lights and then to have a couple of pictures turn out OK, that was the icing on the cake! :-)
November 23, 2014 at 7:17 pm
They are so beautiful! I’d love to see them some day.
November 23, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Thank you Laura! I hope that you do. :-)
November 23, 2014 at 7:18 pm
You’re welcome :)
November 23, 2014 at 7:33 pm
Beautiful! Very envious
November 23, 2014 at 4:21 pm
Thank you Hannah. It’s one of those things I’d always wanted to see and coming to Iceland seemed like a good way to go about it although it’s always a bit hit and miss with the weather and the strength of the Aurora. I was very lucky! :-)
November 23, 2014 at 7:19 pm
I’m glad you got to see the Northern Lights! Beautiful pictures, too. Last year we were able to see Aurora Borealis even in southern parts of Finland, although normally you can only spot the show in the very north.
November 23, 2014 at 7:06 pm
Thank you very much Anna. They are a beautiful sight. :-)
November 23, 2014 at 8:09 pm
Oh I’m so glad the lights danced for you! I love the reflected light in the stream too :-)
November 23, 2014 at 9:03 pm
Thank you Sarah. I was hoping before I came.. I’m feeling pretty lucky right now! :-)
November 24, 2014 at 6:52 pm
Luck is a big part of capturing the northern lights but it’s the skill that creates the artwork! I dream of seeing them one day but hubby-to-be really doesn’t do cold ;-)
November 24, 2014 at 9:07 pm
Thank you Sarah! I’m not so keen on cold either Sarah but it’s surprising what Marino wool thermal underwear can do for you! ;-)
November 26, 2014 at 6:01 pm
Ha ha! Not a bit scratchy?
November 26, 2014 at 6:55 pm
Surprisingly not Sarah, very comfortable indeed! :-)
November 26, 2014 at 7:15 pm
Well if the promised snows do fall this winter I might have to look into getting some ;-)
November 26, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Not cheap but well worth the extra Sarah and when you’re not mobile, it’s even more important to keep warm as you know! :-)
November 26, 2014 at 7:31 pm
I certainly do!!!
November 26, 2014 at 7:56 pm
This is fantastic.Hope i can discouver it one times
November 23, 2014 at 10:59 pm
I hope you see the Northern Lights too sometime Lou. Thank you so much!
November 24, 2014 at 6:53 pm
could i using this photo to my facebook’s cover? it is a beautiful scenery i ever seen :)
November 24, 2014 at 2:21 am
Thank you very much for asking. I’d be flattered if you used the image. I hope you enjoy it! :-)
November 24, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Oh wow!! How amazing!! May the weather be clement so you can continue to feast …. : ))
November 24, 2014 at 5:49 am
Thank you so much Therese! :-)
November 24, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Nope – I’m really not jealous! :D
November 24, 2014 at 12:02 pm
:D
November 24, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Magical first shot, Adrian. Exposure absolutely spot-on. You lucky man!
November 24, 2014 at 5:05 pm
Thank you Andy. It was a pretty special night all in all. The end of an incredibly long day of photography, it really was the icing on the cake! :-)
November 24, 2014 at 7:06 pm
What a spectacular show!
November 28, 2014 at 8:15 pm
It was indeed Patti! Wonderful to see. :-)
November 28, 2014 at 10:38 pm
Glorious! That’s all I can say.
November 29, 2014 at 10:25 pm
Thank you Dave, it was quite a sight!
November 30, 2014 at 8:44 am
The richness in the color is fabulous. So is the rest of the image;)
December 1, 2014 at 7:34 pm
Thanks again Elena. It was all quite startlingly beautiful! :-)
December 1, 2014 at 8:42 pm
Wow! I love these long exposures. Beautiful work, as usual.
December 13, 2014 at 5:15 pm
Thank you Jim! :-)
December 13, 2014 at 6:04 pm
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