Hunting the Northern Lights: Rovaniemi, Tromso and Iceland

[bPeteb]

Your northern lights photos are just outstanding! We loved Iceland so much. Clearly we have to go in winter next time!

 

[Lynda2475]

Curious whether the lights were as amazing to watch live or only really visible when using a long exposure on a camera?

And did anyone manage photos from a phone?

 

[bPeteb]

Curious whether the lights were as amazing to watch live or only really visible when using a long exposure on a camera?

I know the question is about the northern but we could clearly see the southern lights (amazing) as we were leaving Antarctica without a camera. The only thing our photos did was add purple. The naked eye only sees green.

 

[ADLhighflyer]

Your northern lights photos are just outstanding! We loved Iceland so much. Clearly we have to go in winter next time!

Thank you so much! Really appreciate your comments! Absolutely loved Iceland and would happily go back tomorrow if I had the chance (and budget!)

Curious whether the lights were as amazing to watch live or only really visible when using a long exposure on a camera?

And did anyone manage photos from a phone?

The Northern (and Southern) Lights when strong can easily be seen as like a whispy cloud like formation in the sky with the naked eye (if faint, no guarrantees without the use of a camera/phone). When they move quickly in the sky, they are very easily seen and are both amazing and majestic to watch and admire. I felt at times that I may have been able to see a touch of red/purple during some of the strong+fast displays, but can't recall exactly what colour it was - only that it wasn't white/grey when I was in Tromso.

Others on tour did manage to capture the lights via their phone. Not sure what app's or settings they used as I was focussed on using my Canon.

 

[Captain Halliday]

The Northern (and Southern) Lights when strong can easily be seen as like a whispy cloud like formation in the sky with the naked eye (if faint, no guarrantees without the use of a camera/phone).

This is something I wish I knew before I went to Rovaniemi!

Five nights we sat out in the cold miles out of town. The various Apps all said the Aurora was shining brightly and we saw nothing.

On the last night, very disappointed and having basically accepted that we wouldn’t see the lights, we were about to give up.

A group of three jumped out of a car and started reeling off photos of whispy grey clouds. “What are these jokers so exited about?” I asked Mrs H.

Looking over their shoulder the digital screen of the camera was lit up bright green!

Turns out the show had been on for several nights, but with the naked eye it just looked like very light cloud cover.

I went from being elated at having seen them, to feeling misled and ripped off by the ultimate tourist scam.

Four years later I’m almost recovered from the disappointment but keen to go back and try again… now that I know what we’re looking for.

 

[jastel]

It totally depends on Aurora strength. As said bright lights easy to see, faint lights camera only.
Modern phones are getting better and may be able to get pix these days but you will still need a tripod and time exposure ability in the settings I would think. Pointing your iphone at the sky and letting off the flash wont work.

I had gone away from my older heavy film camera setup due to similar quality normal digital pix, and was using a (then) modern digital point and shoot the first time...I got nothing. Next trip new digital SLR and tripod and got good pix. Yes it harder to haul around but worth it if you want the memories.

If you are on a tour most guides are fairly knowledgeable about settings and will help if you have no clue.

 

[drron]

I got all my aurora pictures on my trusty Sony HVX90 without a tripod. Yes other people got better shots but even folks with much more expensive gear got much the same as mine.

 

[ADLhighflyer]

Day 2 on tour centred around the Snaefellsness Peninsula. We headed westbound from the hotel with the first major stop being Kirkjufell, one of the most photographed places in Iceland. Could only imagine what seeing the Northern Lights here would be like!





Next, a lunch stop in the town of Olafsvik with a nice lunch at Sker Restaurant where a very nice fish meal was served.




On the way to Vatnshellir Cave


Once lunch was finished, we arrived at our next stop of Vatnshellir Cave where we had a look 35m underground and approx. 200m inside the cave at the nice lava formations from over the many years and then proceeded to the coast for some amazing pictures.

 

[ADLhighflyer]

Continued...

 

[ADLhighflyer]

That night, conditions were looking good again for Northern Light spotting. We had another lecture on the Northern Lights to give us some better understanding and hoped that they would appear again.

Later that night, the Northern Lights Wake-up call came through around 11:30pm and it was a rush back outside to see what we could see….



Northern Lights Scorecard: 6/7

 

[ADLhighflyer]

After another amazing night of light spotting, Day 3 beckoned as the tour this time went eastwards toward the Golden Circle of Icelands tourist treasures.

On the way to Thingvellir NP


First stop was Thingvellir NP which was the site of the Iceland Parliament before it was transferred to Reykjavik

 

[ADLhighflyer]

Next if was onto Geysir’s geothermal fields for a bit of – well, Geysir spotting! We also got the chance to taste some classic Icelandic Bread (or course with some Icelandic Vodka!).


This was followed by the short drive down to Gullfoss, which is a truelly magical double waterfall.


One the way back to the hotel, stopped by at Fridheimar to stop and admire Icelandic Horses and how they also grow their local tomatoes all year round

 

[ADLhighflyer]

We had only just arrived at the hotel for the night, when I realised that there were the Northern Lights (again!) outside even before dinner. I quickly rushed out and grabbed a few quick pictures


That night, no Northern Lights wake-up call was offered however I had noticed that the lights have re-appeared around 10pm. Again, headed outside and looked northward in what was a really windy night. Headed back inside around 11pm feeling very happy!




Northern Lights Scorecard: 7/8

 

[ADLhighflyer]

After another successful night of Northern Light spotting, Day 4 rolled around quickly. We had a quick stop to visit one of aviations biggest foes – the volcano of Eyjafjallajokull.



Our first major stop was the amazing Lava and Volcano Exhibition Centre which I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Iceland. It gives a very good picture of the many earthquakes and volcanic activity around Iceland and also shows live activity as well.

Next we stopped at Skogafoss Waterfall which is also one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland and approx. 60m high.




Shortly after lunch, we headed down the road to a local museum that showed many artefacts from Icelands past and several turf-built houses.





Mid afternoon, we arrived at the famous Black Lava Beach at Reynisfjara, which is also a common spot for tourists. Interesting fact that the waves here are quite dangerous due to the currents coming directly from the Atlantic Ocean

 

[ADLhighflyer]

After another amazing day, we later arrived at our hotel where yet again light conditions were looking good. With a quick look before bed, the lights appeared again!



Northern Lights Scorecard: 8/9

 

[ayebee]

wow - you are doing amazingly well on hit rate for active nights!!

We enjoyed Iceland in August which we enjoyed enormously, but long days and no auroras.
Our northern lights trip was to Yellowknife in Canada in 2014. We spent a week there including a couple of nights at Blachford Lake lodge. We had one night at Blachford that was impressive, and another night in Yellowknife that was truly gobsmacking, but other nights it was just traces.

 

[Pushka]

After another amazing day, we later arrived at our hotel where yet again light conditions were looking good. With a quick look before bed, the lights appeared again!

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Northern Lights Scorecard: 8/9

Brilliant

 

[ADLhighflyer]

wow - you are doing amazingly well on hit rate for active nights!!

We enjoyed Iceland in August which we enjoyed enormously, but long days and no auroras.
Our northern lights trip was to Yellowknife in Canada in 2014. We spent a week there including a couple of nights at Blachford Lake lodge. We had one night at Blachford that was impressive, and another night in Yellowknife that was truly gobsmacking, but other nights it was just traces.

I was extremely lucky in that most nights where I was available to go for some spotting that the weather was relatively clear. Getting closer to the solar maximum hasn't hurt either!

Would love to visit Yellowknife one day as well!

 

[ADLhighflyer]

Day 5 arrived and was truly going to be an amazing day – if only the weather could hold off! Can’t have everything I guess!

Today’s itinerary was visiting Vatnajokull NP and Glacier including the famous Glacial Lagoon and Diamond Beach, with an afternoon visit (optional) to an Ice Cave in a 4x4 vehicle.

The weather for most of the day was horrendous, with large gales and rain making it hard to stand up at times. Somehow, the group made the most of it with lots of pictures taken around the Lagoon and Diamond Beach.

On the way out from the hotel, we were treated to some awesome views which then became even more spectacular as we arrived as the Glacier Lagoon, even managing to capture a seal who popped up to say hello.

 

[ADLhighflyer]