What I witnessed on March 22nd, 2018 was impossible to photograph and difficult to explain. Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) literally moving all over the place in the sky in different colours and in different directions. It was a 360° view that words are not good enough to explain. People will ask for photos but the truth is you can’t shoot a moving target.

Amid the majesty of night,
What splendid vision strikes my eyes,
In glory bursting on the sight,
Forth from the northern skies?

STEPHEN GREENLEAF BULFINCH

I asked Mikko, my guide.. so how is it like when it’s the big thing? A little bit broken hearted again because the storm prediction had failed so far. He struggled to give me an answer and said how fast they move in the sky and the fact that no photo explains it and you have to see it. He also said how unlikely it is and how only 5% of people doing this kind of trip are that lucky. We were on our way back to the city and then we saw it.

I’m not talking about the “normal” lights we had seen already -even those were pretty good compared to average ones in the horizon- for those I will have again very cool pics.. I’m talking about that movement you see maybe in documentaries or Discovery Channel.

We were 9 people from China, Japan, France, Mexico and of course our Finnish guide.. The international expression wooow! was inevitable and repeated time after time for several minutes. I was also smiling when I heard “oh la la” from the French couple, a little cliche but soo awesome. Everywhere you looked in the sky, something was moving so fast!! Of course watching the northern lights without fast movement is super cool too (and then you can take nice pictures) but the real, indescribable and magical dance they can make.. is beyond any logic!

Few people know that long before my relationship with Finland started .. I dreamed about watching the Northern Lights, and as a person living in America I researched for places in Alaska and Canada.. but it was just that, a dream that deep down the harsh and sometimes too analytical me knew it was really difficult putting all the elements together: limited holidays in Mexico, the need to plan way in advance a very expensive trip to Alaska, who would be willing to travel with me, then the dependency to the weather and the aurora strength which is in the end what matters. The Northern Lights don’t care about your perfect plans and budget. So, something for the “rich” or the lucky bastards who get to try once and see them big time (aghh those guys 🤣)

I was so happy and my heart was still jumping when I was on my way back to Helsinki just a couple of hours later literally, that I started drafting my experiences so far from the perspective of Aurora herself 😉 You can choose how the Aurora voice sounds like when she is talking to me 😉

My dates with Lady Aurora so far

Ivalo, Finland (January 2016) This is me, not what you expected huh? You need to get to know me first, patience. Have fun with the huskies, reindeers and beautiful snowed trees around you. Happy birthday Nataly!

Reykjavik, Iceland (April 2016) I can be strong and show you my corona form.. but I’m not in the mood for dancing. You broke your camera because Iceland is so damn windy? Ohhh darling, in the end it remains in your memories, that’s even better! Enjoy the glaciers and this beautiful country!

And by the way, I know you were on a budget but try to avoid this big buses, you will do much better on your own or small groups of people who actually care about me and understand the importance of darkness. Using flash to photograph me and bother everyone else? Dear Lord, I don´t know how you manage not to punch these people!

Rovaniemi, Finland (March 2017) Normal day after your intrepid.. (ehem… stupid) idea of sleeping in an ice hotel this time, but look at the milky way and all those hundreds of stars shining so brightly. And you brought this super professional photographer with you? Let’s take an epic photo! It’s not only about me but the rest of the nature and the art of photography. Everyone you know will be impressed!

Tromso, Norway (September 2017) -she stood me up- So you travelled last minute for this? Ohhh honey, you are one day late, didn’t you read I was expected earlier this week? Now I’m tired, sorry to be mean but enjoy the fjords, they are stunning too! This will teach you the basics of geo storm chasing, it can result into epic stories but it can also cause you some frustrations. If you really want to call yourself an Aurora hunter, it´s inevitable you learn how to deal with such feelings. Tromso is a good consolation price needless to say!

Rovaniemi, Finland (March 2018) – The night that originated this blog.

I will give you something that will make you cry! You are again booking a last minute flight since the magnetic storm and the weather look promising.. but I´m still playing hard to get! (sorry…) By the time you think.. ohh not again and it was nice to see you but not in the greatness form you are aiming for, then I´ll do my magic! Disco night!

I am one of your most memorable nights in your entire life (what a privilege!) and from now on, nothing will be the same. Something inside you has changed and you´ll do anything in your power to repeat at least to certain extent the experience. You´ll become the person your friends and colleagues refer to when someone is asking bout the Northern lights, trust me. I certainly don´t need your help to be famous, but I appreciate it.

P.s. you know when booked your flight literally in the middle of the night when you went into carpe diem mode? ….. Spoiler: you made a mistake when choosing your return date, you will find out at the airport 😉 but the adrenaline you still feel will not go anywhere and you will just laugh about it with the Finnair team when you have no other choice than booking a new flight!

A video recorded that night by our guide Mikko Lanto explains it better than me!

Kittila, Finland (March 2019) This time you are here mainly to visit the Game of Thrones ice hotel, and if there is any chance to see me it´s a bonus (I´m offended…) Again not in the mood, but I can create a moderate green background with spectacular star background.. the type of sky you can only enjoy when you are in a secluded and non-polluted place like northern Finland. The GOT hotel was really cool though! I´m glad you enjoyed that and the snowfall.

Levi, Finland (September 2019 ) After all this time you learned something very basic but useful: Autumn is a great time to visit! I have a reputation to show off on short notice around the equinox, and it´s not so cold yet so it´s much more bearable to wait for me outside. You should do this more often! This time I will perform nicely and you´ll get to have your first photos with reflections on the lake as you wanted! I became stronger when you were no longer in the “perfect” spot though, I just love teasing you! You still love me and I know know it..

Utsjoki, Finland (November 2020) Travelling is very restricted at this point but you can always travel within Finland to see a new place and try to see me again!! (you girl never give up, don´t you?) Welcome to the Aurora Holidays family! They are very passionate about me and I compensate them regularly by showing off since they live closer to me! You don´t know it yet but you will fall in love with this corner of Finland and the Aurora Holidays family lead by Tiina Salonen. Those pretty cabins in the middle of nowhere facing the Norwegian fells across the Teno River are something special to experience! Remote work in the morning, aurora party in the evenings, sounds like plan! Great picture by Rayann Elzein by the way!

Inari / Utsjoki, Finland (September 2021) Your last attempt so far, this time combining Ruska season with your own camera! (good choice Nataly!) When you go to Utsjoki of course I will be there, in Inari…. meh maybe for a short time, but the autumn colors you will see during your stay will blow your mind! More reflections on the water and your first ever selfies with me!! I´m noticing less visitors compared to normal times… something about corona? Wait what? the only corona that should matter is the one I produce, but whatever. I´m still happy to be around for those permanent northern residents and crazy people like you who keep coming back!

Utsjoki, Finland (November 2022) You have not come see me in over year? Is everyting ok? These days I´m planning to wear a very elegant dress, with such pretty colors but they are not for everyone to see. In fact with this dress and the sun behaviour, people expect me to dance. I will go to the dance floor indeed and will be there, will dance but not the entire night. Still I will keep you up since I am there and I am moving, but most importantly, my dress is so beautiful if you play attention! It is much fancier than many other nights!

By the way, I loved your pictures of me! It was definitely worth the camera.

To be continued… hopefully! If you came this far, thank you very much for reading my personal stories!