Freezing cold business… you never wear to many layers!
To see the Aurora Borealis you need clear skies, which means cooler conditions. Be prepared, you'll need plenty of layers, hat, scarf, gloves and warm boots and also a lot of luck.
Aurora forecast app will tell you at what time you'l have the best chances according to the KP Index which range from 1 to 9. 1 being the lowest and 9 being the maximum and a promise of a huge fireworks display.
Tonight, the forecast is 3 KP, so far the highest I've seen on my app and clear skies around 1 am.
After a full day of constant rain, horizontal rain, with no real photo opportunity, it's time to take the chance on the aurora.
1.00 am, the alarm rings and I really have to kick myself hard to get out of the warm and comfy bed to go out in the miserable, cold, gloomy and windy night.
I am now fully dressed, the cosmonauts suit on, all my layers on, I set up my camera directly on the tripod with the right settings. I walk out in the nature to get away from lights.
I shoot some blanks to see my settings and start the wait.
After 1 hour in the chilly darkness, suddenly, there it comes, the Aurora is dancing in the sky, like a green ribbon agitated by a gymnasts, it swirls and spreads, it's magic!
I fight with my tripod, it's so high in the sky I can't reach it… But then it goes down on the horizon and I'm lucky enough to get some nice shots.
I will stay out till 3.30 to see more. The clouds are coming in. And I can see some lights but very faint.
