Singer captures gorgeous images of the northern lights

Frøydis Dahlheim is a trained singer and teaches singing in an arts school. In addition, she sells images and works part time as a photo guide. It was actually by accident she became a photographer back in 2014. She had signed up for three painting classes, but picked up a camera instead when the organizers cancelled the courses. Later, she was introduced to Instagram and she intuitively understood that this was a media where she could express herself creatively.

She tells DIYP, “I have always been fascinated by the northern lights, and the desire to capture this phenomena moved me to purchase my first real camera.”

She now uses the Canon 5D Mark IV and the Canon 16-35mm for night photography. The aurora season lasts from the end of August to the beginning of April in the northern parts of Norway, she informs us.

We asked Frøydis how it feels to stand under the northern lights and what motivates her to capture it:

The feeling of standing alone in the forest, on a beach or on a mountain under the northern lights is magical. To see the northern lights dance across the sky and at the same time brighten up the landscape, as if it is in the middle of the day, is a mighty experience. This feeling of being a part of a larger whole makes me humble and proud of living in this arctic landscape. To simultaneously being so fortunate as to capture the aurora with a camera and try to recreate the moment is something that brings me great joy! I am given the opportunity to show the entire world this beautiful phenomena, and at the same time I am allowed to be creative and use this side of myself.

Motifs and mountain tops

It is important to her that she incorporates the northern lights into the landscape as a whole. Frøydis explains, “I am very fortunate having access to many different motifs where I live. It may be a river, a small pond with reflections, a beach, a forest with snow-capped pines or a mountain top.” She also wants to convey a sensation or feeling to the viewer.

She says that if she were to pick to a favourite motif that would be to take images from a mountain top. “I love the steep mountains we have around here, and it is an amazing feeling to stand alone on a peak seeing the aurora dance.” Mountain peaks have provided her with the most spectacular images in her portfolio, and the most memorable experiences.

Darkness

Frøydis is not afraid of the dark, even though she felt rather uncomfortable about it in the beginning. She is mostly out alone and has learned how to handle it. She explains:

Even though I now and then have these feelings of anxiety darkness is a part of the experience. It makes everything more exciting. Not least, it gives me a feeling of mastering. To be out alone in the darkness is a part of the adventure.