Lights in the darkness Photographing the aurora

Wilderness photographer Valtteri Hirvonen - who spends nearly half the year in darkness in his native Finland - reveals how he found new inspiration in the Northern Lights

- Valtteri Hirvonen

Photography is not just my profession, it's also my hobby. In Finland, we spend nearly half the year in darkness, so during the winter months I wanted to find a way to continue pursuing photography in my personal time. Like so many other photographers, I had to find ways of working creatively with what is within reach, and that's what ultimately inspired me to shoot the night sky. Luckily, Finland is a great place for it. There are so many forests and amazing places where you have great visibility of the stars and, of course, wonderful displays of the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights.

Shooting the night sky makes you forget about time. On my work shoots there are usually a lot of people and a sense of hustle, but with astrophotography, I am out in nature on my own, or with one other friend. I love being in nature, especially at night. It's so silent and creates serene, peaceful moments.

I also love that it forces you to be totally present in the moment. Living in Finland, I've seen the Northern Lights a number of times, but it never loses its charm. The appearance of the aurora all happens very fast, so you get a huge adrenaline rush, rushing to get the shot because it could well all be over within seconds. You also don't know how the images will turn out, because each display will reveal different colours, shapes and forms. That makes it all the better. When we shoot in darkness, we're shooting blind so the best thing about it is the fact that you're creating images you can't normally see with the naked eye. Only a camera can capture the long exposure, among other features, and that's what makes these moments magical - the end result is always a surprise.

High-end kit not required