25 Stunning Northern Lights Photographs Honored By "Capture The Atlas" In 2024

Yellowstone National Park, USA.

"The May 11 solar storm, one of the strongest in years, presented a perfect opportunity to photograph the aurora over my home area: Yellowstone National Park. Early in the night, I captured a few good shots, but as the storm intensified, the lights seemed strongest to the east. I started thinking of iconic Yellowstone viewpoints that faced east and dreamed of capturing the aurora over the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

The challenge was the forested canyon rim, but I remembered an east-facing viewpoint worth trying. Armed with bear spray in one hand and my tripod in the other, I hiked a mile through grizzly territory to reach the spot. Just as I arrived, the aurora erupted in a breathtaking display. With the Yellowstone River roaring below, I quickly set up and began shooting. This image is the result of that unforgettable night."

Monegros, Spain.

"My homeland, Los Monegros, has always captivated me with its unique beauty and arid, almost otherworldly landscape. On the famous night of the auroras, I hadn’t planned to go out, but a message from a friend of mine changed everything. I decided to venture into the heart of the Monegros desert. The sky promised to be clear and full of stars—perfect for capturing the Milky Way—but nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to witness.

At first, none of us could believe it; seeing auroras at this latitude seemed impossible. But before the night fully embraced the sky, we noticed something strange on the horizon. An unusual glow painted the sky with colors we had never seen in Monegros. The aurora lit up the arid, rocky terrain, creating a magical, surreal contrast.

What we experienced that night was an unexpected and unrepeatable phenomenon—a memory forever etched in my mind as one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life as a photographer."

Victoria, Australia.

"There was a lot of anticipation for this special night, as everyone knew it would be a spectacular event. This gave photographers plenty of time to prepare. I wanted to create something unique, focusing on framing and the foreground. I chose Gibson Steps, away from city lights, as my location. The beach was crowded with photographers and onlookers because the aurora would be visible to the naked eye.

I started shooting on the beach but later moved to a cave at the beach’s end, where I had planned to capture the Milky Way rising within the frame. Although the aurora dimmed slightly, the cave was familiar, and I knew exactly where to position myself. Suddenly, vibrant beams appeared, visible to the naked eye, creating a magical moment for everyone.

My shot stands out because I faced east, capturing beams at a unique angle. Due to the bright beams, I couldn’t track the Milky Way, so this composition is a single exposure for both the foreground and sky."

Normandy, France.

"This rare G5 solar storm was observable across France at mid-latitudes, a region unaccustomed to such displays. For two years, I traveled regularly to the cliffs of Étretat (latitude 49.43), several hours from home, hoping to capture the aurora over this iconic landscape. After many unsuccessful attempts, my perseverance was finally rewarded.

This panoramic image captures a sky filled with vibrant auroras stretching 180 degrees from the southwest to the northeast. The display includes hues of pink, violet, and blue, with a green band near the horizon. The Milky Way and Cygnus constellation are visible in the upper right, while light pollution from Étretat creates a faint green glow. The majestic cliffs in the foreground and another photographer to the left completed this extraordinary scene."

Tenerife, Spain.

"The night of May 10th was one of the most unforgettable moments since I became a photographer. I went to Teide National Park in Tenerife with the intention of capturing a circumpolar shot with the endemic tajines in bloom. After setting up my camera and finding the perfect composition, I hit the shutter. To my surprise, the camera screen showed a strange red color on the horizon. It wasn’t light pollution, but something I had never seen before.

Suddenly, I remembered hearing about a recent large-magnitude solar storm and the possibility of Northern Lights at lower latitudes. My heart raced as I scrolled through social media and saw others sharing photos of the Aurora from the Iberian Peninsula. I realized I was witnessing this extraordinary event from the Canary Islands. It was a magical experience that happened entirely by chance, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of it."