Capture the Atlas has unveiled the eighth edition of Northern Lights Photographer of the Year, a curated collection of the 25 exceptional aurora images captured in 2025. Published each December to coincide with peak aurora season — which runs September through March — the showcase highlights the natural wonder of the Northern and Southern Lights through the lenses of talented photographers around the world.
In what proved to be an exceptional year for aurora activity, the 2025 edition features awe-inspiring shots taken from diverse locations such as Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Greenland, Alaska, Idaho, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand by photographers of 15 different nationalities. It was a special year, with powerful geomagnetic storms producing vivid displays that extended far beyond the usual polar regions, offering rare photographic opportunities in unexpected places — even from high-altitude commercial flights, and even from the lenses not of complicated camera equipment, but smartphones.
‘Lights & Ice’
By Tori Harp in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, New Zealand
Tori Harp captured her friend abseiling into a glacier cave just as the Aurora Australis ignited the sky. After 8 months of planning and returning to this dynamic ice moulin, the perfect moment arrived.
‘Arctic Rain’
By Vincent Beudez in Tromso, Norway
This image captures a fleeting auroral corona during a geomagnetic substorm. “Standing beneath this auroral corona, I felt like I was standing in a natural cathedral with vibrant layers of color and light radiating toward me,” said Beudez.
‘Essence of the Arctic Night’
By Giulio Cobianchi at Haukland Beach, Lofoten Islands
Shot as a 360 panoramic during autumn when the Milky Way returns to Arctic skies, this panorama balances moonlight, mountains, sea and vivid aurora. The double arc of stars and light creates a timeless Arctic atmosphere.
‘Frozen Silence Beneath the Lights’
By Nikki Born in Riisitunturi National Park, Finland
After a week of cloudy weather, Born hiked through snow and silence to photograph Riisitunturi’s famous frozen trees under exploding green auroras. “Nature reminds you just how amazing our world can be,” said Born.
‘Sueños en Eystrahorn’
By Pablo Ruiz at Eystrahorn, Iceland
Ruiz planned this complex panorama in advance, waiting through shifting winds and moving light. When the aurora peaked, the reflections, mountains and stars aligned for the shot he had dreamed about for years. “It was a great joy to witness and capture such a moment,” said Ruiz.
‘Twisting Turn’
By Virgil Reglioni in Scoresbysund, Greenland
Captured from a ship among icebergs, this photo reveals how preparation and teamwork aboard an Arctic vessel made it possible to frame the aurora with a glowing, sculpted iceberg beneath the Greenland sky. “Each frame became a balance between nature’s raw power and the patience of observation,” said Reglioni.
‘Aurora Comet Lemmon’
By Petr Horálek at Skaulo, Sweden
As comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) appeared in October 2025, Horálek headed to Sweden to host an astrophotography workshop, capturing the icy visitor and the Northern Lights above a lake. “The comet was so bright that we could see it with our naked eyes,” said Horálek.
‘Corona Blast Aurora Geomagnetic Storm’
By Roi Levi at Kirkjufell, Iceland
Using 21 stitched images, Levi presents a full auroral corona erupting above Kirkjufell — Cathedral Mountain — in Iceland during the March equinox. Captured during a G2 storm, the photograph balances iconic landscape and dramatic celestial energy.
‘Speechless’
By Ralf Rohner over Hudson Bay, Canada
Flying at 35,000 feet over Canada, pilot Ralf Rohner captured curtains of light unfurling above the clouds while on a lonely night shift at the controls. “There are rare nights when the sky rewards you for all that fatigue and isolation,” he said.
‘The Northern Crown’
By Mari Jääskeläinen in Pyhäjärvi, Finland
A spontaneous trip to a nearby lake rewarded Jääskeläinen with a green spiral of aurora above the trees — exactly the composition she had long imagined. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when the auroral arc started taking the exact shape I had only dreamed about for so long,” said Jääskeläinen.
‘Neon Nightfall’
By Andres Papp at Türisalu, Estonia
On a quiet Baltic beach, a sudden aurora storm brought lime and magenta curtains to the sky. Papp illuminated shoreline rocks with UV torchlight, creating a surreal composition of fluorescence, stone and sky.
‘Gibson Steps Aurora’
By Jeff Cullen in Victoria, Australia
After nearly turning back due to clouds, Cullen witnessed a powerful Southern Lights display at the iconic Gog and Magog sea stacks. “I was absolutely amazed and astounded that such a weak aurora forecast brought me such a brilliant show,” said Cullen.
‘Nightscape’
By Sadeq Hayati at Raufarhöfn, Iceland
Shot with a Samsung phone in Pro Mode, this photo captures northern Iceland’s iconic Arctic Henge beneath vivid red and green auroras. It marks the first smartphone image ever featured in this collection.
‘Guardians of the Aurora’
By Daniel Mickleson in Taranaki, New Zealand
A powerful Southern Lights display framed by sacred Māori landscapes. The Three Sisters and Taranaki Maunga act as guardians beneath ancestral skies glowing with pink and green.
‘One Autumn Night’
By Jesús Garrido at Lake Torneträsk, Abisko, Sweden
Just before Sweden’s lakes froze for winter, Garrido found a peaceful bay reflecting vivid red auroras. “Red tones rose on the southern horizon while the lake remained perfectly still, reflecting every single thing that was happening above me,” said Garrido.
‘Celestial Fireworks on New Years’
By Sara Aurorae at The Otways, Australia
Under New Year’s skies, Aurorae captured an unexpected bloom of the Aurora Australis. With friends nearby and trees silhouetted in the frame, the photo radiates joy, color and cosmic celebration. “The lines of trees on the right lead your eye to the stunning light show in the sky,” says Aurorae.
‘Llangrannog Aurora’
By Mathew Browne in Wales, U.K.
In a rare display for West Wales, Browne captured the aurora above Llangrannog’s dramatic cliffs. This rugged coastal scene, normally known for the statue and for sunsets, glows with celestial light in an unforgettable moment.
‘Aurora Bouquet Above Godafoss’
By Martin Giraud at Godafoss, Iceland
At Godafoss, northern Iceland’s “waterfall of the gods,” Giraud waited through clouds for a miracle. The sky cleared, and waves of pink, green and purple aurora illuminated the ancient landscape.
‘Auroral Cinnamon Roll’
By Marc Rassel in Fairbanks, Alaska
“Suddenly, it exploded into one of the most intense auroral displays I’ve ever seen,” said Rassel about this image of a spiraling aurora over Alaska taken while guiding a mother and daughter on a bucket-list trip. “Seeing those two experience a moment of pure awe together made this night that much more special.”
‘Fiordland Aurora and Lupins’
By Douglas Thorne at Cascade Creek, New Zealand
Wandering through New Zealand’s Fiordland to find blooming lupins, Thorne finally located the perfect spot to take images of an all-night aurora. “I love how it shows the mountains, creek, forest, and lupins all together with a coherent color scheme,” said Thorne.
‘Alone Beneath the Dancing Sky’
By Nikola Vukotić at Skagsanden Beach, Lofoten Islands, Norway
On his first Arctic journey, Vukotić stumbled onto Skagsanden Beach as the sky exploded with green and red. The quiet beach, unexpected lights and presence of a friend in the middle distance of the shot made it unforgettable — he was only there to photograph the sunset.
‘Auroral Reflections’
By Travis D. Amick in Ketchum, Idaho, U.S.
A sudden CME impact triggered a red aurora substorm over Idaho, so Amick raced to a quiet pond, capturing a rare red flare reflected in the still water. “Within minutes, the substorm subsided, and the aurora once again receded to just a glow on the horizon,” said Amick.
‘A Cathedral of Green Light Rising Over Skógafoss’
By Victor Lima at Skógafoss, Iceland
The mighty Skógafoss waterfall in Iceland is an iconic destination for aurora photographers. Lima composed this panorama with a fisheye lens to capture Skógafoss under layered green arcs, with waterfall reflections and symmetry giving the scene an otherworldly atmosphere.
‘Veni, Vidi, Vici’
By Marina Prol in Lapland, Finland
On her very first night in Lapland, Prol witnessed a vivid green aurora swirl above a snowy cabin. Her dream shot came to life. “Seeing my first Aurora Borealis like this honestly left me speechless,” said Prol. “It felt like we were living in an enchanted fairytale.”
‘Northern Lights Over North Greenland’
By Ollie Taylor in Greenland
After scouting a frozen lake and waiting for hours, Taylor captured a rare purple aurora aligned perfectly with ice textures. “After waiting a few hours and figuring out compositions, a small band of colourful Aurora lights danced across the sky, displaying vibrant purples in perfect alignment with my composition,” said Taylor.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
