The Northern Lights

Lofoten, January 2017

Some years ago a friend introduced me to the Banff Mountain Film Festival.  The festival tours the world and visits my home town of Bristol in the Spring of each year.  Its an enjoyable selection of short films celebrating the outdoors.  If outdoor adventure and mountain culture is your thing I can heartily recommend going.  One year there was a short film from some guys surfing big waves in the far North at the dead of Winter.  I don't now have the details of that film but what I do remember is leaving totally inspired to find and visit that place.  A similar short film from the amazing photographer Chris Burkard is on YouTube: WATCH ME.

Aurora, Sakrisoy, Lofoten

That place turned out to be Lofoten, a chain of islands protruding from Norway at 68 Degrees North and earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit.  Compared to the UK, Norway is an expensive country, so to maximise the time available I joined a group led by Tom Mackie.

I hadn't seen many photographs of Lofoten up to that time and it really felt like the place was almost virgin photographic material.  Some of that was deliberate as I didn't want to seed my mind with what others had done before - I wanted to see the place with a freshness.  I guess I was a little disappointed when it turned out that there where many other photographers there too.  Some of the most popular spots where crowded!  But go a little of the track and, yes, there was huge reward for those willing to expend some effort.  Its a place to which I will be returning in the not too distant future. ;-)

When planning the trip, I knew the Aurora Borealis (the northern lights) may be visible but it wasn't at the forefront of my mind.  I've had the lucky opportunity to experience the Aurora Australis (the southern lights) on several occasions when I over-wintered at 75 Degrees South in Antarctica.  On that first night, having eaten and being somewhat tired after a days travel, those little particles ejected by the sun slammed into our planets upper atmosphere and put on a light show to welcome our arrival.  That's what it felt like anyway! ;-)    The aurora is a magical experience which everyone should see at least once.  It can't be easily described, its just something you have to experience.  Its a hugely soul satisfying, calming experience.  The movement of the lights over beautiful landscapes is wonderful.

Andy