Chasing Aurora Borealis on Iceland
A report and a practical guide
Many photographers dream of capturing an iconic polar landscape with a dazzling display of northern lights in the background. Yet, few actually achieve this goal, and it is not just because we have to travel to the far north (or south for that matter); the very nature of the aurora is quite elusive and requires a significant amount of luck to witness. I just returned from a short trip to Iceland, and this is my report, which may help you understand what to expect on such a trip and how to prepare.
Traveling to Iceland is usually not cheap. The country, for all its beauty, lacks any significant means of public transport and is thus rather inconvenient for a solo traveler. The best way to explore it is by renting a car, which means you need to find traveling companions to share the costs of rental and fuel. Thus, it is not a solo trip anymore.
To reduce my costs, I booked a trip with an agency, which somewhat lowers the price but reduces the amount of freedom to move around at whim. Luckily, this trip included aurora hunting in its program, and our guide was enthusiastic enough to wake up at 1 AM and drive through the…