Introduction

The Arctic Aurora Chase is a 10 day photography expedition in the heart of the northern Scandinavian winter centered around the Northern Lights. During a total of eight nights we will chase for the best weather, best locations and discover stunning landscapes in order to perfectly capture this amazing natural wonder. At the same time you will learn about all aspects of the chasing process, from weather and Northern Lights forecasting to photography.

Northern Lights

During the dark months of the year the Northern Lights are visible almost every night in northern Scandinavia. At times dimm, as a faint arc low above the horizon, at other times bright, colorful and dancing right above. They occur high above the earth’s surface where the solarwind interacts with the thin atmosphere and our planet’s magentic field.

Weather

The biggest challenge in being able to see the Northern Lights is the weather. Ideally you will need to find a place with as few clouds af possible, the clearer the better. With constantly moving, large, weather systems it takes a certain skill to read the different forecast models to determine the best driving direction for the best location.

Location and Landscapes

Once we set out in a direction we will start looking for locations and landscapes. As photographers we are always looking for the unique touch the Northern Lights can bring to an amazing landscape.

Campers

Our two campers will provide us with all the flexibility we need to be able to follow the clear nights and explore different routes and locations without the need for long late night drives. They will take us across the borders of Finland, Norway and Sweden, serve as our warm accommodation and be the base from which we will plan and embark on our nightly adventures. In addition, they make it possible to camp as close as possible to the best locations and on top of that, we’ll be perfectly on time for sunrises.

More than just a picture

During our workshop we will take you along in all aspecs of coming to that one ultimate Northern Lights picture. There will be a wide range of topics that will be addressed and we will do our best to educate you on as many as possible. It’s the ultimate chance to sharpen your skills.

Photography

The expedition is aimed at experienced photographers, we assume you are familiar operating your camera, filters and making a good composition. We will aim to support you in expanding your skills especially related to photography at night and in the heart of winter.

Northern Lights Forecasting

You will become familiar with the science behind the Northern Lights and you will explore various aspects that underpin this amazing natural phenomonon. We will have all week to talk about the sun and it’s inner workings, the solarwind, Earth’s magnetic field, the upper atmosphere and the interaction between all these topics. By combining all this information you will be able to make your own Northern Lights forecasts and fully participate in the chase process.

Location, location, location

Even though Northern Lights are practically always there, they are not always visible. One big part of the workshop is to learn to read the (long term) weather forecast and plan your route accordingly. Also taking light pollution, terrain (landscape) and the Northern Lights forecast into account.

Surviving the extreme cold

The tour takes place in the coldest part of the extreme, but beautiful, arctic scandianvian winter. We will assist you in picking clothes that will help you survive these conditions where a layered approach will allow you to stay warm at all times. Our two campers are heated and will be a warm and cozy retreat after a night out in the cold.