From Iceland to Idaho, Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2025 Will Take Your Breath Away

Every December, Capture the Atlas reveals a magical collection that we eagerly await. The Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2025 results have just landed, and I think these just keep getting better every year.

The 8th annual contest, as always, features 25 breathtaking Aurora photos taken across both hemispheres. The scenic winning photos come from Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Greenland, even the UK. You’ll also see images from Alaska and Idaho in the US, as well as Australia and New Zealand with some Aurora Australis images.

[Related Reading: Astrophotography Explained: A Guide to Shooting Night Skies]

A Good Year for Auroras

Although 2025 marks the start of a slight decline in solar activity following the peak of the solar maximum, this past year still delivered some of strong geomagnetic storms of the cycle. That meant glowing green and pink curtains of light appeared far beyond their usual polar locations – and photographers were ready. “Some of the photos were even captured from long-haul flights,” explains Dan Zafra, Capture the Atlas’s founder.

Curated with Passion and Purpose

As with every edition, the winners of The Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2025 weren’t just selected overnight. Dan works year-round selecting the most striking and meaningful aurora shots. With this contest, as well as the Milky Way Photographer of the Year, his goals are multiple. He wants to show off technically brilliant photos, sure, but also highlight established Aurora photographers and emerging talents alike. He also tries to select the images to show unique locations where aurora images are less common.

This year’s 25 winners represent 15 different nationalities. We bring you 15 highlights from the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2025 gallery, and you can check out the rest on the contest website. And if you’re inspired to capture the Aurora yourself, Capture the Atlas offers in-depth guides, gear recommendations, and tutorials. After all, the goal of this project isn’t just to showcase incredible photos – it’s to make this experience accessible to others.

Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

“Essence of the Arctic Night” – Giulio Cobianchi

Autumn in the Arctic is the best time to capture the “double arc” of the Milky Way and the Aurora Borealis. The nights have finally turned dark again after the endless summer days when the sun never sets. The summer Milky Way is already high in the sky shortly after sunset, and the Northern Lights return to dance across the sky in bands of pink, red, violet, and green.

During my last tour in September, I captured this 360° panoramic image at the border between Haukland and Vik Beach, where rugged mountains meet the wild Norwegian Sea. The intense Northern Lights and the bright moonlight softened the Milky Way, but the combination of all these elements in the Arctic sky felt absolutely magical — just as the Lofoten Islands always do.

“Arctic Rain” – Vincent Beudez

For me, Northern Lights photography is always about capturing unique moments; snapshots of this rare natural phenomenon. This is why I never use very long exposures.

I took this photograph on October 29th, 2025, near Tromso, Norway. A few seconds before capturing this scene, there was a “wall” containing colored layers – green and red – not uncommon during a substorm. But it suddenly became unstructured when a dancing corona appeared above it. I’ve seen plenty of aurora shows in my life, but nothing like this. And it happened in a location I’ve always wanted to photograph. It’s all about perseverance!

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. I was super lucky to capture this shot, and my best advice is to be patient and do your research…the hard work pays off!

“Lights & Ice” – Tori Harp

I originally found this ice cave, called a moulin, 8 months prior to setting up this shot in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Glaciers are a very dynamic environment, so I kept going back to monitor the changes of this moulin over the 8-month period. As the opening of the cave formed, I envisioned setting up a night shot with my friend abseiling down the mouth of the cave with New Zealand’s amazing starry sky in the background.

One magical night, everything finally came together! To my surprise, the Aurora Australis also lit up the sky. I managed to capture my friend’s silhouette perfectly placed in the center of the cave’s opening, and I love how the pinky tones of the aurora contrast with the icy colors of the cave. This dream shot ended up coming out better than I had originally envisioned, and I had a great night with my friends exploring the glacier!

“Frozen Silence Beneath the Lights” – Nikki Born

This night was truly unforgettable. Capturing the famous frozen trees of Riisitunturi beneath the Northern Lights had been a dream for years.

In March 2025, we set out to make it happen, but the weather challenged us with thick clouds all week. On our final night, we hiked into the park, hoping for a glimpse of the sky. The wind was biting, and we took shelter among the frozen trees, waiting in silence. After hours of nothing, we finally gave up and began the hike back to our cabin.

Then, just as we were about to call it a night, a break appeared in the clouds. We grabbed our gear and hurried back up the Riisitunturi Hill. The moment we reached the top, the sky burst into vivid shades of green. It was an explosion of light and wonder.

This night was the experience of a lifetime: the dream shot I had longed for and a moment that words can hardly describe. Photographing the Northern Lights demands patience and persistence, but when they finally appear, time stands still, and nature reminds you just how amazing our world can be.

“Sueños en Eystrahorn” – Pablo Ruiz

Without a doubt, one of the most challenging aurora panoramas I’ve ever taken was this one at one of Iceland’s most spectacular locations.

Capturing a panorama with reflections and auroras that move so quickly is quite difficult. It was the photograph of my dreams, so I arrived in the afternoon to prepare the angles and options for the night. Clear skies and very little wind looked perfect for capturing reflections in the different pools.

Auroras were already visible in the sky during the blue hour, so I quickly headed to the spot where I had planned the composition. The wind shifted, making it difficult to capture the reflections, but the moment the sky exploded, the wind stopped, and for a few brief moments, I achieved my dream photograph. It was a great joy to witness and capture such a moment.

“Twisting Turn” – Virgil Reglioni

Behind every image lies a deliberate process — a fusion of coordination, timing, and technical precision carried out from a ship navigating some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Photographing the aurora over the ice is never about luck; it’s the result of preparation, teamwork, and experience. From the ship’s bridge to the camera deck, every movement is carefully planned to give the lights their best possible stage.

During the day, we navigated through fields of icebergs, scouting for the perfect one — a curve, a ridge, or a translucent arch to anchor the composition. Guided by how the aurora moves across the Greenlandic sky, we aligned our chosen iceberg and ship precisely, uniting earth, ice, and sky in one luminous image.

Working closely with the bridge crew, we searched for newly formed ice strong enough to hold the vessel steady. A stable platform was vital — it allowed us to capture long exposures between half a second and two seconds, every moment of stillness essential as the aurora began to dance above.

When the Northern Lights intensified, our focus shifted. We exposed for the highlights, preserving the delicate shapes of light without losing their definition. Each frame became a balance between nature’s raw power and the patience of observation.

“Aurora Comet Lemmon” – Petr Horálek

The night of 24 October, 2025, was incredible. I had just moved to Sweden, where I organized an astrophotography workshop. We headed to Skaulo, where we found an incredible viewpoint over Suotojärvi Lake.

This night coincided with the C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) Comet, which was only discovered back in January 2025. The comet was so bright that we could see it with our naked eyes, even when it was very low on the horizon.

Fortunately, I had my camera with me! I photographed the comet darting through the sky beside the bright Aurora Borealis. Capturing two stunning natural phenomena in one shot was an exhilarating experience. The comet and the aurora appeared to be in a sort of dance, giving us an amazing show that I’ll remember forever.

“Corona Blast Aurora Geomagnetic Storm” – Roi Levi

This image was captured during the March Equinox, as a geomagnetic storm structure brought a mesmerizing light show. A full-zenith Auroral Corona erupted overhead – powerful, bright pillars of light radiated across the sky, creating a stunning crown-light blast shape.

This rare phenomenon occurred on March 21, 2025, when a CME struck Earth, triggering a G2 geomagnetic storm. The shot is a 360° panoramic stitch of 21 frames, capturing the entire Aurora shape and a complete sky view. I used a Sigma Art fast f/1.4 lens to get a fast exposure and capture the pillar structure.

Kirkjufell is one of Iceland’s most iconic mountains, and witnessing the aurora here was a one-of-a-kind experience. With the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfalls in the foreground, this image is a dynamic representation of the sweeping auroral corona.

“Speechless” – Ralf Rohner

I was flying at 35,000 feet over Hudson Bay, Canada. As a commercial pilot, night flights often test one’s patience and endurance. Confined to a narrow seat, surrounded by seemingly never-changing instruments, the pilot stares into a boundless darkness and wonders what drives him to endure such long, lonely hours. The monotony can seem endless – until suddenly, everything changes. There are rare nights when the sky rewards you for all that fatigue and isolation.

Above a silent sea of clouds, cocooned within a fragile shell of metal, the pilot witnesses something extraordinary. Curtains of light dance across the heavens, painting the darkness with vivid greens and purples. In that breathtaking moment, every struggle feels justified, and words simply fail. What I couldn’t express with words, I captured in this photograph.

“The Northern Crown” – Mari Jääskeläinen

I step outside and take a look at the sky above my house. It’s time. I feel the adrenaline rush in as I gather my gear and put on more warm clothes.

Just a quick drive to the lake nearby and I’m all set up for the night! During active nights, I always follow the real-time solar wind data to predict what’s yet to come. On this night, there were no significant CMEs as far as I remember. And I was perfectly fine with that, as this could be the night when I finally get the shot I’ve dreamed about for a long time.

In my mind, I imagine the Northern Lights creating a clear, bright green spiral to the northern sky, just above the trees, so the foreground would fit perfectly into the frame. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the auroral arc started taking the exact shape I had only dreamed about for so long! Perfect reminder of how beautiful these subtle auroras can be!

“Neon Nightfall” – Andres Papp

I shot this image on a quiet, rocky beach as a strong aurora storm rolled in from the north. At first, it was just a low green arc, but it quickly erupted into vertical curtains of lime and rare magenta. To connect the sky with the foreground, I illuminated the shoreline rocks with a strong 365 nm UV light torch, which made the minerals pop and added the surreal glow you see in the image.

The challenge was balancing everything—an exposure of about 5 seconds to keep the aurora structure sharp and managing the UV spill so it didn’t look artificial. What keeps me coming back to Northern Lights photography is this mix of science and magic: you study forecasts and KP indices, but the real reward is when the sky does something unexpected, and you’re prepared to capture it in a single, colorful frame.

“Gibson Steps Aurora” – Jeff Cullen

I had been struggling to find the motivation to get out and shoot. The aurora was predicted, as were the clouds, but I decided to take the chance and drive the hour to this iconic destination. The cloud prediction was correct, but I still went down the 86 steps to the beach and crossed the sand to the Gog and Magog sea stacks. The clouds started to clear, and I was able to shoot some great images before the aurora died down. I packed up and had another nearby destination in mind.

Climbing back up the stairs, the beams were so big and bright in the corner of my eye! I ran back down to the beach and quickly set up my camera again. This image shows the magic that happened that night; I was absolutely amazed and astounded that such a weak aurora forecast brought me such a brilliant show.

Moral of the story: Go and shoot! There is nothing to lose, but the finest nature photos to gain.

“Llangrannog Aurora” – Mathew Browne

I was overjoyed to capture this otherworldly Northern Lights display on the rugged Ceredigion coast of West Wales. The village of Llangrannog is not known for its celestial displays; it is better known for its beach, dramatic cliffs, and the statue of St. Crannog, who stands watch over the shoreline.

Because sightings of the aurora in this part of Wales are so uncommon (this location lies 52 degrees north), each image I’ve captured is an intersection of preparation, great timing, clear skies, and, of course, a bit of luck. The final image is a wonderful representation of this quaint coastal village, and I love how all the elements came together. Plus, photographing the aurora on my home turf has been a career highlight!

“Guardians of the Aurora” – Daniel Mickleson

A rare aurora event lit the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island in vivid curtains of pink and green. In the foreground, the rock formations known as the Three Sisters stand as guardians of the shoreline, while the sacred Taranaki Maunga rises in the distance. Within Te ao Māori (the Māori worldview), such natural features are not just landscapes but ancestral presences, carrying the role of guardianship. Beneath the aurora, earth, sky, and ancestry converge in a moment both fleeting and timeless.

After capturing my first aurora during the May 2024 storm, I was hooked. Travelling several hours from my home to this special location, I hoped the forecasts would be correct. Even with a near–full moon, the powerful display shone across the sky. I could see the beams dancing overhead — a truly spectacular sight.

“Auroral Cinnamon Roll” – Marc Rassel

This night was one that I will be thinking about for a long time. It started just like any other high-latitude aurora, with an arc slowly moving toward the equator and rising overhead. Suddenly, it exploded into one of the most intense auroral displays I’ve ever seen.

The aurora’s charged particles travel along Earth’s magnetic field lines, which aren’t always fixed. In this case, a geomagnetic storm had them twisting, bending, and oscillating across the sky. The lights formed an impressive aerial spiral – it reminded me of a cinnamon roll!

But this show wasn’t just for me – this beautiful light show happened while guiding a mother and daughter who were making a “bucket list trip” to Fairbanks to see the Northern Lights for the first time together. Hearing their raw excitement and joy, and seeing those two experience a moment of pure awe together, made this night that much more special.

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