The magic of the night
Norway’s Arctic Circle is one of the prime locations in the world to enjoy the Northern Lights. An unparalleled natural display of supernatural green streaks, arches and ribbons that dance energetically across the night sky; occasionally exploding with a multi-coloured fanfare of red, yellow, pink and violet that can last minutes or no more than seconds. The aurora borealis is Mother Nature at her very best and although she can be unpredictable, when she makes an entrance we’ll be there to ensure that you capture every moment.
Wildlife
Northern Norway is one of the most diverse wildlife watching destinations in Europe. Moose, reindeer, arctic fox, whales, orca, Eurasian lynx and birds of prey to name a few. Our ‘No Limits’ photo expedition includes seasonal excursions to a traditional Sami reindeer farm (October 2017) or a day husky dog sledding (February 2018). Both activities are wonderful and provide great photo opportunities. Additionally, we’ll spend a morning on an eagle safari watching majestic birds of prey hunt.
Travel with professionals
The difference between a good trip and a great trip can often be the trip leaders. Expedition leaders, photo pro Terry Steeley and full-time aurora chaser Chris Nation are committed to delivering an unforgettable experience. Friendly, energetic, passionate, entertaining, knowledgeable, engaging, interactive and flexible are just a handful of the qualities Terry and Chris bring to the Chasing the Light ‘No Limits!’ Photography Expedition, and past guests tend to agree.
“Joining ‘Chasing the Light’, the Norwegian Northern Lights photo expedition with Terry Steeley and Chris Nation was the best decision I could have made. The trip was incredible, a photographer’s dream! Impeccable attention was paid to every detail, ensuring that both the photographic aspect, as well as the accommodations were perfect in every way. I had non-stop fun, saw the most incredible sights every day and got all the best photo opportunities. Most importantly, from the very moment I was picked up at the airport, it felt like a family trip with old friends. I would highly recommend booking this trip of a lifetime to absolutely anyone!” — Cole Ippoliti, 2017 guest
“The photo adventure with Aurora Addicts exceeded all my expectations!! Terry and Chris worked really hard to make us comfortable during the 7 day tour. A typical day included capturing the sunrise, the beautiful Landscape of Norway, hunting Sea Eagles, sunset and the Northern Light show at night. A photo adventure you will not forget!!” — Frank Haeussler, 2017 guest
“We really couldn’t have asked for more out of our week ‘Chasing the light’ with Terry and Chris. Beautiful locations, clear skies, and breathtaking Aurora activity 7/7 nights with a great group of people left us with wonderful memories and spectacular photos to take home! — Micah Gentry, 2017 guest
Activities
Eagle safari
The incredibly photogenic white-tailed sea eagles are an absolute highlight of this trip. Departing early in the morning, we’ll climb aboard the generous sized RIB and cruise around the islands searching for the majestic birds. However, be prepared and keep your cameras close to hand. These giants of the sky come very close as they search for a bite to eat and are a treat to photograph. Expert guidance will be available before boarding the boat to ensure that you maximise the photo opportunities from safari.
Following our boat trip, we’ll return to the charming harbour to be served a delicious hot fish soup and home-made bread. The view from the harbour is alway incredibly impressive and there’ll be sufficient time for photos before and after our trip.
Husky farm and dog sledding
Few Arctic activities are more exhilarating than being pulled through the wintry wilderness by a team of dogs that were born to run! A full day’s adventure, you’ll receive expert instruction and will soon be mushing your own dogsled team! Runs on the sled will provide an ideal moment to shoot GoPro video footage. Later on we’ll appreciate the opportunity to photograph fellow husky sledders in the thick of the action.
Lunch is provided for this activity. Refreshments are available through the day in the house when you feel the need for some warmth!
Location:
Base of operations for our ‘Chasing the Light’ Arctic photography workshop will be the Lofoten Islands and Vesterålen, 230km inside the Arctic Circle. These sites have been selected as they provide the best opportunity to visit numerous locations in the shortest amount of time. This flexibility is a huge advantage for Aurora chasers. It gives us access to both coastal and inland areas and the upper-hand against constantly changing weather conditions. A few of the places we intend to visit:
Andøya
This rugged and gorgeous weathered island stretches far North, and presents beautiful scenes of both the spectacular landscape and the local wildlife, ranging from sea eagles and whales to reindeer and moose. The island is ideal for a circular tour, allowing us to see imposing lighthouses, one of the longest beaches in Norway, Andøya Rocket Range, a rocky peninsula that just begs for a camera to be pointed at it and some amazing old buildings.
Langøya & Nyksund
The twists and turns on the road to Nyksund are amongst some of the most interesting we’ll travel during our week. Boasting photo opportunities on almost every kink, the journey offers dramatic coastline views and interesting buildings along the route. Almost entirely deserted during the winter months, Nyksund is a charming fishing village perched on the far west coast. It’s an ideal place for some great ghost-town photos as well as being a great location to capture the forces of nature as waves crash against the rocks on the harbour perimeter.
Gullesfjord & Kvæfjord
This photography journey travels along the coast road of Gullesfjord followed by a short ferry journey across the fjord then a journey alongside the frozen strawberry fields of the island of Kvæøya. Reaching the tip of Kvæøya we will walk a short distance to the rocky beaches to take in the panoramic view across the fjord. Depending on the weather conditions, a campfire lunch by the water’s edge is planned here too.
Lofoten Islands
During our time in Lofoten, we will visit the diverse landscapes of Henningsvær, Reine, Hamnøy, Haukland, Utakleiv & Gimsøya. These destinations are considered some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, majestic mountains, deep fjords, squawking seabird colonies and long, surf-swept beaches. Lofoten’s beauty is simply staggering.
Aurora Chasing
Experience the thrill of the chase as we go in search of the enchanting Northern Lights. Weather permitting, each night we will identify the best locations for seeing and photographing the Aurora Borealis. The night time chases will normally start around 19:00 and finish around midnight. However, be prepared, sometimes they last longer and if the Northern Lights want to play, so do we.
Location:
Arctic Circle, Norway
Accommodation & Food
All of the accommodation is on a sharing basis. For the nights in Vesterålen, we have rented a private house on the scenic fjord. Whilst staying in Lofoten, we will share twin & triple bedroom apartments converted from fishermen’s houses in the picturesque village of Henningsvær.
Breakfast and evening meals are included. Breakfast will be self-service. Cooked evening meals will be served in our accommodation. You will have the opportunity to buy lunches each day during the trip.
Photography experience Level:
Suitable for people of all levels. Guidance and tuition available.
Included
All accommodation, airport transfers, minibus transportation throughout the trip, Sea Eagle safari, Dog sledding photography tuition, expert guides, all breakfasts and evening meals.
Not included
International and domestic flights, lunches, travel insurance.
Dates
4 February, 2018 – 11 February, 2018
Places available
3/6 spots remaining
Bookings
For flight details and to book online, click here.
Trip Leaders
About Terry Steeley
Award-winning nature photographer Terry Steeley, has a wealth of experience in leading trips and teaching small groups. An expert behind the lens and the computer, Terry has been an Adobe Influencer for many years, sharing both Photoshop and Lightroom post-processing ‘know-how’ with people worldwide. Highly respected, his enthusiasm, energy and commitment are limitless making him perfect to lead this incredible adventure.
About Chris Nation
Chris has over 12 years experience in chasing and photographing the Northern Lights. A seasoned traveler around Norway, Sweden and Finland, he is an expert in logistics, planning and manoeuvring around the often unpredictable weather. Committed to exploring the green night sky, many of his award winning photographs have been used online and in print. The Aurora Addicts ‘family’ featured in the BBC Brian Cox science documentary Forces of Naturewhich was aired on BBC1, PBS and ABC1 in 2016.
