The compilation is always published in December to coincide with the Northern Lights season and the end of the year, and it is aimed at inspiring and sharing the beauty of this natural phenomenon.
This year’s list includes images that were taken around the world, with a number of Australian locations making the cut - including the Gibson steps in Victoria and Lake Toolondo in the Grampians.
The images were captured by Aussie photographers David Tanis and Baillie Farley, respectively, with Australian photographer Josh Beames also featuring in the shortlist.
“Gibson Glow” – David Tanis, Victoria, Australia. There was a lot of anticipation for this special night, as everyone knew it would be a spectacular event. This gave photographers plenty of time to prepare. I wanted to create something unique, focusing on framing and the foreground. I chose Gibson Steps, away from city lights, as my location. The beach was crowded with photographers and onlookers because the aurora would be visible to the naked eye. I started shooting on the beach but later moved to a cave at the beach’s end, where I had planned to capture the Milky Way rising within the frame. Although the aurora dimmed slightly, the cave was familiar, and I knew exactly where to position myself. Suddenly, vibrant beams appeared, visible to the naked eye, creating a magical moment for everyone.
This year, as we reach the solar maximum of the current solar cycle, the Northern and Southern Lights have been more active than ever, illuminating skies in unexpected places where they’ve rarely—if ever—been photographed.
Some examples include images from Arizona, California, Spain, the Chilean Patagonia, Namibia, Madeira Island, and locations as far South as Tenerife at 28º North Latitude.
“Lake Toolondo Aurora” – Baillie Farley, Lake Toolondo, Australia. In the early hours of the morning, Lake Toolondo was transformed into a light show. A massive solar storm illuminated the sky with bursts of red, orange, and pink, dancing above the still waters. The colors reflected off the lake, creating an almost mirror-like effect that felt surreal to witness. The dead trees along the shoreline stood silhouetted against the night sky as the aurora rippled and shimmered, turning the entire scene into something out of a dream. It was one of those moments that felt like pure magic. I spent the rest of the night at the location, capturing several images and a timelapse until dawn broke.
The Northern Lights season ranges from September to April in the Northern Hemisphere and from March to September in the Southern Hemisphere. The best time to see and photograph the Lights is during the fall and spring equinoxes because of the orientation of Earth’s axis.
According to Capture the Atlas, the quality of the image, the story behind the shot, and the overall inspiration that the photograph can provide are the main factors for selecting the images every year.
Dan Zafra, editor of Capture the Atlas, curates these photos throughout the year. He looks not only for images taken by some of the most renowned photographers but also for new talents and new locations where Aurora images are rare.
You can see a selection of the finalist images below.
“The Red Aurora Wall” – Vincenzo Mazza. Iceland. This photo was taken during the massive aurora show that occurred on the night between October 10th and 11th, 2024. I’ve witnessed countless aurora displays in my life, but this one had possibly the most intense red color I’ve ever seen. It was so vivid that it was clearly visible to the naked eye.“Magic of the North” – Josh Beames, Iceland. I’ve dreamed of capturing this shot for years, and this year, everything aligned perfectly! During my annual Iceland workshop, our group witnessed the sheer power of nature as Iceland’s most recent active volcano erupted just days before. After spending hours shooting and soaking in the incredible scene, we started to wrap up and head back to the car. Then, to our amazement, the Northern Lights began dancing across the sky! I quickly launched the drone, sending it on a mission to capture this wild spectacle.“Looking North” – Lynsey Schroeder Arizona, USA It’s not every day that the Northern Lights make it as far south as Southern Arizona! I’ve been captivated by the aurora ever since I first saw it in Iceland in 2018, so when I heard there was a chance to witness it here, I didn’t hesitate to grab my gear and head into the desert with a couple of friends. My expectations were low, but the show completely exceeded them! As soon as we stepped out of the car, we could clearly see a pink glow on the horizon, occasionally pulsing with shimmering pillars as the night went on. I achieved a photography goal I never imagined I’d accomplish: capturing the aurora shining over the beautiful saguaros of the Sonoran Desert.“Cosmic Explosion” – Uroš Fink, 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.“Sky and Ice” – Henry Frakes, Aspiring National Park, New Zealand. On this night, we were expecting one of the strongest solar storms of 2024, and with the vast, dark skies of the South Island of New Zealand, it was the perfect opportunity to make the most of it. As someone passionate about both the night sky and climbing, I had always wanted to capture climbing under the stars. We carried our ice climbing gear up the track and onto the glacier—a perfect spot for climbing, easy access, and, being so remote, an ideal location for photographing the aurora.“Coronation” – Roksolyana Hilevych, Dolomites, Italy. That day, after a storm of mixed snow and rain, the sky fortunately cleared after 8 p.m. (about an hour after sunset). As I walked to my location, I could already see red hues peeking through the clouds. The adrenaline and excitement were so overwhelming that I hardly noticed the cold and strong wind, which never let up during the night at 2,450 meters above sea level. I ended up taking 840 photos from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., hoping to capture the perfect moment. This photo was taken around 1:30 a.m., during the second peak of the aurora, the strongest ever, which lasted only a few seconds.“Aurora Australis” – Marc Adamus, Patagonia Fjords, Chile. I’m not sure if an aurora had ever been recorded in Patagonia before, but we got incredibly lucky on the night of May 10, 2024, when a G5 storm hit. We were camped on an iceberg beach, deep in the wilderness of the Patagonia Fjords, when the incredible display unfolded.“A Historic Night: Northern Lights at Étretat” – Julien Looten, Normandy, France. This rare G5 solar storm was observable across France at mid-latitudes, a region unaccustomed to such displays. For two years, I traveled regularly to the cliffs of Étretat (latitude 49.43), several hours from home, hoping to capture the aurora over this iconic landscape. After many unsuccessful attempts, my perseverance was finally rewarded. 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.African Savanna Under the Lights of Southern Aurora” – Egor Goryachev, Spitzkoppe, Namibia. Everyone remembers that May night when the Northern Lights were visible across Europe and America. Unbelievably, I had the chance to witness them in Namibia, near the Tropic of Capricorn. Early in the night, the eastern sky was clear, where the Milky Way was set to rise. Seizing the opportunity, I prepared my gear for a 50mm panorama. As I worked through the layout of the Milky Way’s core, I noticed a red spot on the horizon. Over the next few hours, it grew into a massive red explosion, illuminating much of the sky. The glow persisted throughout the night as the Milky Way shifted westward, forming a morning arch. The southern sky glowed red and orange, with the Milky Way rising through the vibrant hues. For the first time, I realized I had captured a Southern Aurora. It was a moment of pure joy.“Aurora Mill” – Tobias Thäle, Libenha, Germany. This night will remain unforgettable. Between May 10th and 11th, a massive solar storm struck Earth with incredible force. It was triggered by a large sunspot area and an X-class solar flare (magnitude 1.0) accompanied by a full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME). A total of three CMEs reached Earth, interacting and amplifying each other.“Sky Fire” – Tom Rae, Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park, New Zealand. The Milky Way arches over the dramatic landscape of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, captured during a rare G5 geomagnetic storm in May 2024. This aurora display was one of the most breathtaking sights I’ve ever witnessed—a magical evening watching the lights dance across the crystal-clear sky. The excitement was shared by everyone under the stars, as this aurora was potentially the strongest in a century.“Celestial Reflection” – Max Trafford, Dartmoor National Park, United Kingdom. This was my second encounter with the Northern Lights, and what an unforgettable experience it was. After a long day at work and a steady stream of Aurora alerts on my phone, I left at 5 p.m., grabbed my camera gear, and headed to the darkest spot I knew. With no phone service, I wasn’t sure if the high activity would last through the night, but I remained hopeful and began capturing photos. Almost immediately, the green glow on the horizon erupted into a stunning display of vibrant lights. I couldn’t believe my eyes!
Capture the Atlas is a travel and photography blog that helps others plan their trips and improve their photography. Their main focus is landscape and astrophotography, and their articles include photography guides, tutorials, and inspiration.
