2024 Travelers' Choice
About Backcountry Journeys
Why Choose Backcountry Journeys
If you're considering a photography tour, hear why Backcountry Journeys delivers the best experience in the industry.Frequently Asked Questions
If you're new to photography tours, or new to BCJ, you can find our common travel questions here.Fitness Levels
Our trips vary on physical intensity, and by reviewing our fitness levels, you can find out which trips may be more challenging, or aligned more closely with your comfort level.Meet The Crew
We've built an amazing team of experienced guides, and dedicated office staff that elevate your travel experience. Get to know their backgrounds, and hear their stories.Gift Certificates
Give the gift of photo adventure! We offer gift certificates that can be applied to any of our upcoming tours.Loyalty Program
We reward our frequent photo adventurers with exclusive discounts on amazing photography tours.Contact Us
If you need to get in touch with our office staff, or have additional business inquiries, you can find our information here.Stay Up To Date On All Things
Backcountry Journeys
Backcountry Journeys
Our Photography Community
Our Webinars
Our regularly hosted webinars provide photography instruction from our own guides on a wide range of topics.Our Education Portal
Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.Community Testimonials
We're proud to foster an amazing group of photo travelers, and here you can find their stories from their past adventures.Resources For Photographers
About Our Company
Resources For Photographers
About Our Company
The Enchanting Northern Lights
Published August 31, 2021
We call them the Northern Lights. These lights of the northern hemisphere, or, the ‘dawn of the north,’ enchant us all.
Some see images of the lights and wish for a chance to catch a glimpse ‘one day.’ Others are lured to the various outpost bailiwicks where the lights become visible in a tidal wave-like storm of color in the clear, jet black night sky. They come to bear witness. They come to photograph the display. They come to feel the electricity and the wonderment the Aurora silently provides.
Some see images of the lights and wish for a chance to catch a glimpse ‘one day.’ Others are lured to the various outpost bailiwicks where the lights become visible in a tidal wave-like storm of color in the clear, jet black night sky. They come to bear witness. They come to photograph the display. They come to feel the electricity and the wonderment the Aurora silently provides.
Various cultures across time have legends that help explain the lights. Cave paintings in France – thought to date back 30,000 years – have illustrations of the event. In medieval times, the occurrences of auroral displays were seen as harbingers of war or famine.
The Menominee Indians of Wisconsin believed the lights marked the location of manabai’wok -or giants – who were the spirits of great hunters and fishermen.
The Inuit of Alaska believed the lights to be the spirits of the animals they hunted: the seals, salmon, deer and beluga whales.
The Menominee Indians of Wisconsin believed the lights marked the location of manabai’wok -or giants – who were the spirits of great hunters and fishermen.
The Inuit of Alaska believed the lights to be the spirits of the animals they hunted: the seals, salmon, deer and beluga whales.
In 1616, the astronomer Galileo used the name “Aurora Borealis” to describe them, taking the name of the mythical Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for wind of the north, Boreas.
The science behind the aurora is an interesting tale as well. The lights come from collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere.
While Earth is constantly being bombarded with debris, most of the time the planet’s magnetic field will deflect rays and particles, including those from the sun.
The science behind the aurora is an interesting tale as well. The lights come from collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere.
While Earth is constantly being bombarded with debris, most of the time the planet’s magnetic field will deflect rays and particles, including those from the sun.
Particles discharged from the sun travel 93 million miles toward Earth before they are drawn toward the magnetic north and south poles. As the particles pass through the Earth’s magnetic shield, they join with atoms and molecules of oxygen, nitrogen and other elements, resulting in the glittering presentation of colored light in the night sky.
Variations in color are due to the type of gas particles hitting one another. The most common, a sort of pale yellowish-green, is produced by oxygen molecules located about 60 miles above the earth, so not all that high up there, right? All-red auroras (which are very rare), are produced higher up at heights of up to 200 miles! Nitrogen produces blue or purplish-red aurora.
So, what are the considerations when looking to photograph the Northern Lights? Let’s look at three we find most important: planning, gear, and technique.
Planning
Clear skies, dark nights and prime location make Fairbanks, Alaska, one of the best places in the world to view the Northern Lights. While the light shows can be spectacular in other places like Iceland, Denmark or Finland, we look to Fairbanks’ clear night skies and its location directly under the Aurora Oval as the number one place to photograph the Aurora. It’s second to none.
We time our Ultimate Northern Lights tours so that we are in Fairbanks during the best months of the year to photograph the Aurora. Although predicting the Aurora is fickle, statistically March and October are the best months.
Planning
Clear skies, dark nights and prime location make Fairbanks, Alaska, one of the best places in the world to view the Northern Lights. While the light shows can be spectacular in other places like Iceland, Denmark or Finland, we look to Fairbanks’ clear night skies and its location directly under the Aurora Oval as the number one place to photograph the Aurora. It’s second to none.
We time our Ultimate Northern Lights tours so that we are in Fairbanks during the best months of the year to photograph the Aurora. Although predicting the Aurora is fickle, statistically March and October are the best months.
Gear
You’re going to want a camera capable of shooting great images at higher ISO levels. Most modern digital cameras can, but check yours out prior to heading up to the arctic! Full frame sensors will give you the best quality in concert with that high ISO. The wider angle lenses are best because they will give you enough “reach” to capture as much sky (and landscape) as possible.
Since you will be photographing in the dark you’ll be working with sometimes longer exposures and shutter speeds. A good tripod is essential for this photographic situation, as it is with most landscape photography. A remote shutter will also be nice in order to eliminate the potential for vibration from pressing the shutter.
You’re going to want a camera capable of shooting great images at higher ISO levels. Most modern digital cameras can, but check yours out prior to heading up to the arctic! Full frame sensors will give you the best quality in concert with that high ISO. The wider angle lenses are best because they will give you enough “reach” to capture as much sky (and landscape) as possible.
Since you will be photographing in the dark you’ll be working with sometimes longer exposures and shutter speeds. A good tripod is essential for this photographic situation, as it is with most landscape photography. A remote shutter will also be nice in order to eliminate the potential for vibration from pressing the shutter.
Technique
When photographing the Northern Lights you’ll want to use a wide-angle lens. This lets you capture both the landscape and the sky in one shot. When the Northern Lights are strong you’ll also notice that they stretch all over the sky and it’s impossible to capture all of it in one image, unless you use a wide-angle. During nighttime photography, you want to use an open aperture such as f/2.8 to allow enough light to reach the sensor.
The shutter speed depends on the strength and movement of the lights, so this will be pretty dynamic (lots of changing, moving parts) while in the field. You’ll want to consider your shutter speed versus ISO so that you don’t lose detail if the lights are changing quickly, which can create some blur if your settings are a bit off.
When photographing the Northern Lights you’ll want to use a wide-angle lens. This lets you capture both the landscape and the sky in one shot. When the Northern Lights are strong you’ll also notice that they stretch all over the sky and it’s impossible to capture all of it in one image, unless you use a wide-angle. During nighttime photography, you want to use an open aperture such as f/2.8 to allow enough light to reach the sensor.
The shutter speed depends on the strength and movement of the lights, so this will be pretty dynamic (lots of changing, moving parts) while in the field. You’ll want to consider your shutter speed versus ISO so that you don’t lose detail if the lights are changing quickly, which can create some blur if your settings are a bit off.
We offer world-class travel photography
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
Get Our Trip Catalog
Receive a trip catalog that highlights all of our upcoming photo tours and workshops.Schedule a Trip Consultation
Meet with a photo experience coordinator, and experience a personal touch to your booking experience.Trip Calendar
View our trip calendar and filter upcoming departures by interest or seasonality.Webinars
Our regularly hosted webinars provide photography instruction from our own guides on a wide range of topics.Education Portal
Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2025
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2025
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.