It’s rare to get such strong northern lights on my doorstep. Here’s my photo guide to an unforgettable week of aurora here in Trondheim.
In just two weeks, I’ll be stepping aboard Ambassador's Ambition for the first in my new season as a guest speaker on northern lights cruises. This week, I had the perfect warm-up, and I didn’t even have to leave my apartment.
A northern lights display here in Trondheim isn't unusual, but it's certainly far from an everyday occurrence either. To my knowledge there are no northern lights tours operating here, because it's not far north enough to guarantee regular sightings.
So imagine my surprise this week when I saw aurora from my apartment balcony not just once, but on four consecutive days.
One of those evenings produced one of the most vivid overhead displays I’ve ever seen, and certainly the best I’ve ever witnessed from home.
Curtains of green light danced high above our house, with even the flickering purple edges visible to the naked eye.
What a Treat for a Visitor
What made this run of aurora borealis even more special coincided with my friend Sean visiting from England. He'd never seen the aurora before so seeing his reaction was almost as enjoyable as seeing the lights themselves.
On the best of the nights, the display built to a dazzling peak as the lights formed a crown directly overhead.
Green rays burst outward from a single point above the city, creating this rare ‘corona' effect. It was a breathtaking reminder of just how powerful nature can be.
Phones Away!
I’ve seen the northern lights many times now, so I tend to focus on capturing the display on camera while encouraging others to put their phones away and just look up.
I know it sounds obvious, but your eyes need time to adjust to the darkness, and bright phone screens are the enemy of night vision. Once you’ve been outside a while, the lights often appear far stronger to the naked eye.
That’s the same advice I give during my northern lights talks on cruise ships. Everyone wants the perfect photo, but in my opinion the memory of what you actually see is far more valuable.
Unless you have great camera gear or one of the latest smartphones, your photos probably won’t match what you hope for. In trying, you might miss the best moments altogether.
Northern Lights Cruises
If you’d like to hear more of my northern lights tips in person, you can join me aboard Ambassador Cruise Line and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines this winter.
Cruises are one of the best ways to see the northern lights. There's never a guarantee, but the further north you sail, the darker the skies become, and the greater your chances of witnessing this natural wonder.
Cruises give you time ashore in selected destinations and, importantly, time at sea away from artificial light.
I’ll be speaking on a series of northern lights cruises exploring Norway’s Arctic coast, sharing stories from my life in Norway, travel tips, and tales of the myths and legends of Norway. See you there?
If you can't join one of those cruises but you're still keen on planning your own northern lights adventure, I also offer travel consulting calls. I've helped people from all across the world plan once-in-a-lifetime road trips, cruises, rail journeys, and more.
