18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Northern lights dancing near Tromsø, Norway

In January of 2020, I travelled alone to Tromsø, Norway with the dream of glimpsing the elusive northern lights, otherwise known as the aurora borealis. Capturing this shot was an insane experience that I will never forget! And I'm happy to report that I did see them! However, what many people don't realize is that the northern lights appear significantly clearer and more saturated in photos than they do to the naked eye. Luckily, I was able to discern a faint green hue, which was good enough for me!

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2020
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: Tromsø, Norway
Copyright: © Molly Bookner