It’s photography at its most illuminating.
The 25 best Northern Lights images of 2025 have been revealed, and three Americans are among the winners.
They feature in this year’s Northern Lights Photographer of the Year contest, run by travel photography blog Capture the Atlas, which aims to “bring the remarkable natural spectacle closer to audiences around the world,” and inspire exploration of the regions where auroras — caused by sun particles colliding with atmospheric gases — are seen.
Marc Rassel, who’s based in Minnesota, was honored for his spellbinding image of an auroral display over Fairbanks in Alaska.
Commenting on his photo, he said: “A geomagnetic storm had the aurora’s charged particles twisting, bending and oscillating across the sky. The lights formed an impressive aerial spiral – it reminded me of a cinnamon roll.”
He added: “But this show wasn’t just for me – this beautiful light show happened while guiding a mother and daughter who were making a ‘bucket list trip’ to Fairbanks to see the Northern Lights for the first time together.
“Hearing their raw excitement and joy, and seeing those two experience a moment of pure awe together, made this night that much more special.”
Tori Harp, from Washington state, was recognized for her mesmerizing picture of a friend dangling by rope at the entrance to an ice cave in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, New Zealand, with the Aurora Australis glowing in the background.
Tori, who’s based in New Zealand, commented: “I originally found this ice cave, called a moulin, eight months prior to setting up this shot. Glaciers are a very dynamic environment, so I kept going back to monitor the changes. As the opening of the cave formed, I envisioned setting up a night shot with my friend abseiling down the mouth of the cave with New Zealand’s amazing starry sky in the background.
“One magical night, everything finally came together. To my surprise, the Aurora Australis also lit up the sky. I managed to capture my friend’s silhouette perfectly placed in the center of the cave’s opening, and I love how the pinky tones of the aurora contrast with the icy colors of the cave.”
The third American that made the cut was Travis D. Amick, who’s based in Sun Valley, Idaho.
The judges were wowed by a photograph he took in Ketchum, in his home state.
He described the stunning image as showing “an explosion of color,” with “vibrant red flares intertwined with the colors of the aurora reflecting off a tranquil pond.”
Other winning images included a photograph of Northern Lights over Hudson Bay, Canada, taken by Swiss pilot Ralf Rohner. He described his photo as showing “curtains of light dancing across the heavens, painting the darkness with vivid greens and purples.”
Other locations featured on the list include Iceland, Norway, Finland, Greenland, Sweden, and the UK, as well as Australia and New Zealand, where the displays are known as Aurora Australis.
The collection brings together 25 photographers representing 15 different nationalities.
Capture the Atlas said: “Each year’s selection prioritizes image quality, the story behind the shot, and the inspiration that each photograph conveys. The article serves not only as a resource for photographers looking to photograph the Northern Lights, but also as a way to bring this remarkable natural spectacle closer to audiences around the world.”
Want to create your own celestial photos?
The ideal window for Northern Lights pictures is between February and October, while the Southern Lights are active between January and November. The most dazzling shows in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres take place between May and June.
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