A Natural Phenomenon: Capturing The Northern Lights

Witnessing the Northern Lights is an otherworldly experience. Of course, waiting for it to happen can be tiring, but once it unfolds in front of you, all the effort will be worth it. When I witnessed the aurora borealis in Norway, I had to take a moment to enjoy the magical view before taking out my camera to immortalize it.

Image source:Usatoday.com

But let’s get scientific here. What causes this natural phenomenon? According to studies, the lights are formed by fast-moving electric particles that emanate from the sun that collide with particles in the earth’s atmosphere. The various gases that are part of the collision cause the burst of colors.

Now that we’ve covered the cause, there are different places in the world where you can witness this light show. An adventure to Arctic territories at the right time will allow you to see the lights, especially at night. If you want to go far north, you can go to Greenland, Iceland, or Norway. But if you want to stay in North America, Alaska and the Northwestern Territories in Canada are your best bet. For the ultimate experience, visit during the fall or winter.

Image source:Space.com

If you want to take a good shot of the aurora borealis, go to a place where you can clearly see the stars. Avoid places with pollution as it might affect the quality of your photo. Since you’ll most likely be on an expedition to look at these lights, don’t forget to bring your tripod. Use a wide-angle lens so that you’ll be able to capture the whole scene.

Once you’re there, take a few moments to enjoy the view. Each light show is unique so enjoy the moment and make good memories that will inspire your next adventures.

Hello there! Thanks for reading my blog. I’m Randall Benderson, a national park explorer, traveler, and retired photographer based in Florida. Let’s talk more about travel blog.

Travel Guide: My Favorite National Parks in Asia

Asia is such a revelation. In the past months, I made it a point to visit the continent to find the best nature spots. I wasn’t disappointed! The places were a joy to photograph and the hospitable people made my stay all the more worthwhile. Without further ado, here are my favorite national parks in Asia: 

Image Source: Planetware.com

Bach Ma National Park, Vietnam 

Nature lovers shouldn’t miss out on this place. Get your hiking shoes ready because this huge national park will surely tire you out. The stunning plants, the wildlife, the birds, and the mountain peak will make you enjoy capturing images. There’s a lot going on in this National Park so you have to be ready with your cameras. 

Khao Yai National Park, Thailand 

Even if this is the only place you’ll visit in Thailand, it will be worth it. Bears, tigers, leopards, elephants, hornbills, and more—visiting this wonderful park is like going on a training to be a National Geographic photographer. This nature reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site and aside from taking photos you can also go kayaking, hiking, and caving. It’s the ultimate outdoorsy adventure. 

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan 

The snow-capped Mt. Fuji is glorious even during the sweltering summer months. But you’ll marvel at the pink-moss covered mountain especially during spring. But aside from the famous mountain, the area is also surrounded by the Five Lakes where you can go hiking or have a picnic. It’s also worth noting that there are lots of gardens in the whole park. 

I’m sure there are other wonderful parks in Asia that I haven’t seen. But when I do, I’ll be sure to update you. Where should I go next? Sri Lanka? Taiwan? I’ll keep you posted. 

Image Source: Immivietnamvisa.com

Hi there! My name is Randall Benderson and I’m a retired photographer living in Florida. Now that I’m working on my own time, I enjoy traveling the world to discover new national parks. For updates, visit this page.