Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis Pictures

The northern lights, also called the aurora borealis, are created when highly charged particles from the Sun strike the Earth’s magnetic field. Depending on how high above the ground they are, these northern lights will appear in different shapes and colors. Our northern lights photo gallery gives you a window on this natural wonder, with images from Alaska and Iceland. All our Aurora Borealis pictures are available for stock licensing. Northern Lights Images are also available as prints.

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Aurora Borealis Forms Curtain Pattern Over Wiseman AlaskaArctic Circle light display - A vibrant display of lights shines over Wiseman, Alaska during the peak time of the year to view the Aurora Borealis. This natural light display, also known as the Northern Lights, is produced by solar wind particles in earth's magnetic field. Here, an auroral curtain pattern fills the sky with waves undulating back forth with varying light intensity. This magnificent light display occurred during moonrise over the Smith Creek Dome, Midnight Dome Peaks.

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Glowing Yellow Tent Set Up Under Aurora BorealisCamping under the stars - A lone adventurer braves the cold to witness the beauty of the Northern Lights glimmering throughout the night in the far reaches of Alaska in early Spring.
The brilliant light show was being viewed near the remote town of Wiseman, Alaska where average low temperatures in January hover around -21 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Northern Lights Above Skogafoss Waterfall In IcelandSkógafoss might be Iceland’s most famous waterfall, but you’ve probably never seen it quite like this before. The aurora borealis adds an ethereal magic to the scene.

Skógafoss is no stranger to stunning light shows. During the day, its huge volume of spray produces big rainbows.

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Northern Lights Over Kirkjufell IcelandThe Northern Lights display their beautiful colors over Kirkjufell Mountain in Northern Iceland.

Located on Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula, Kirkjufell, or Church mountain stands 463m above sea level.

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Tent And Northern Lights On The Koyukuk River In AlaskaThe Koyukuk River was the site of an offshoot from the Yukon Gold Rush of 1898. The rumor of gold in the Koyukuk drew prospectors from the lower 48, but many of them turned around when they learned just how cold it actually gets in Alaska. You can still find their abandoned boats along the river.

Even in these warmer times, it’s already cold enough in October to camp on the river safely.

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The Perfect Spot For The Northern LightsThe Middle Fork Koyukuk River in Alaska provides the perfect location for us to photograph the northern lights. The lights themselves are magnificent, but to capture to reflection off the water makes everything more surreal.

The Koyukuk flows south through Gates of the Arctic National Park, the least visited in the entire American system. Only about 11,000 people arrive every year.

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Kirkjufell Waterfall With The Aurora BorealisThe Aurora Borealis displayed over the Kirkjufell waterfall on Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula.

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Northern Lights Pattern Forms Over Mountain PeaksAurora Borealis shines over mountains - A unique northern lights pattern emerges over the Arctic Circle in Northern Alaska during early Spring above the tree-lined hills and snow-packed peaks. The aurora forms bands during periods of moderate-to-high solar activity and is most visible during times during the equinox, in early Spring and Fall, when the earth is farthest north or south of the sun's equator.

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Northern Lights With Star Trails Illuminate Mountain PeaksNorthern lights time lapse - This photo was taken on a 35 minute exposure, during the Aurora Borealis in Alaska's Arctic Circle. The image includes the Northern Star, and the surrounding stars take on a circular dimension as the earth rotates. The mountains lighted under the brilliant sky are the Smith Creek Dome and Midnight Dome Peaks.

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Seljalandsfoss Waterfall With Northern LightsThe famous Icelandic waterfall of Seljalandsfoss with the spectacular Northern Lights overhead during a night photography session on location. Formed by a volcanic glacier which created the river that flows from this "foss" (Icelandic for "waterfall"). The name of this waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, literally means "selling the land waterfall."

Here the amazing Aurora Borealis light show is seen in the night sky above. Iceland is not only known for incredible waterfalls, such as this 197 foot phenom, but also incredible viewing of the Aurora.

Northern Lights and Waterfall photography shot during night session in Southern Iceland.

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The Northern Lights Display Vivid Green Lights Above Trees And MAurora Borealis lights up the night sky - Rays and curtains of colored light paint the horizon above the Smith Creek Dome and Midnight Dome Peaks in the far north region of Alaska known as the Arctic Circle.

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Aurora Borealis Gleams Over Mountain PeaksRadiating night sky - Intense rays of light radiate through the night sky over the Smith Creek Dome and Midnight Dome Peaks just outside the tiny town of Wiseman, Alaska. The auroral rays line up along the earth's magnetic field, and can be several hundreds of miles long. Most auroras occur in a band known as the auroral zone but can expand to lower latitudes during geomagnetic storms

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Aurora Borealis Shines Over Wiseman CabinLights over Wiseman - The Aurora Borealis shimmers spectacularly over a home in Wiseman, Alaska, The tiny town, with a population of about 14, was founded by gold miners. The closest major city is Fairbanks, Alaska, which sits about 260 miles south.

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Circular Shaped Northern Light Forms Over Mountain PeakCelestial circle of light - A wavy circular formation of light appears over the Smith Creek Dome and Midnight Dome Peaks in the far north region of Alaska. The Northern Lights are comprised of blue, green and red light. Other colors, such as pink and purple, can be found in different combinations of altitudes within the auroral curtain.

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Moon Rise With Northern LightsThis shot of the Northern Lights was taken from the Ski Land Resort outside Fairbanks, Alaska. In addition to stunning night skies, Ski Land boasts the highest-latitude chairlift in North America.

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North Lights At Wiseman AK On The Middle Fork Koyukuk RiverLocated in the Brooks Range, Wiseman, Alaska had a population of just 14 in the last U.S. census, making it the perfect place to get away from light pollution and see the Aurora Borealis.

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Northern Lights Above The Water In AlaskaThe vast expanse of the Aurora Borealis can be captured by visiting Wiseman, Alaska. The environment allows for beautiful compositions with the northern lights. The nighttime is the perfect time to experience the awe of the Aurora Borealis along with the scenic views Alaska has to offer.

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Northern Lights Over Kirkjufell Mountain IcelandThe Northern Lights puts on a show over Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall on the Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula.

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The Aurora Borealis From Wiseman AlaskaA view of the Aurora Borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights from the Arctic Circle in Wiseman, Alaska. The Aurora Borealis can predominantly been seen from the Arctic or Antarctic regions. Aurora comes from the Latin word for "dawn" because auroras were thought of as the first light of dawn.

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The Green Glow Of The Aurora BorealisThe Aurora Borealis as seen from the Arctic Circle of Wiseman, Alaska. Auroras occur in the auroral zone which is between 10 and 20 degrees from the geomagnetic poles at all times. The Aurora Borealis can be best seen at night against a dark sky in Arctic or Antarctic areas. But it has been seen in other areas as well.

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A Cessna Aircraft Illuminated By The Auroa BorealisThis Cessna aircraft glows under the northern lights in Wiseman, Alaska. The glow of the Aurora Borealis creates a magnificent scene for and object in the landscape beneath it.

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Historic Wiseman Trading Company With Aurora OverheadPhoto of the Wiseman Trading Company in Wiseman, Alaska, a historic log building dating back to 1910. Though it’s now abandoned, the Company served the surrounding mining towns for 40 years until it closed in 1950.

You can’t buy dry goods there anymore, but it’s a great place to snap pictures -- especially on bright nights.

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Aurora Borealis Creates Green And Purple HuesNorthern light display - A vibrant green and violet light show dazzles visitors at Wiseman, Alaska in early spring. Altitude effects the colors with blue violets and reds occurring low in the atmosphere. Bright green colors are strongest between 60-150 miles (100-240 km) above the earth. Ruby reds occur above 150 miles or 240 km.

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Green Aurora Curtain In Northern AlaskaThe northern lights, or aurora borealis, occur when charged particles from the Sun strike gases in Earth’s atmosphere. The color of the aurora depends on which type of gas the particles hit.

Green, the most common northern lights color, comes from ions striking oxygen 60 miles up in the sky.

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Northern Lights At Marion Creek In AlaskaThis photo of a stunning aurora borealis was taken at Marion Creek Campground, a Bureau of Land Management site near Wiseman, Alaska.

Wiseman is located along the Dalton Highway. Running from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay, the Dalton was originally built to service the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline. It’s now a popular destination for aurora-watchers and extreme road trippers.

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The Awe Inspiring Aurora Borealis In Wiseman AlaskaThe magnificent sight of the Aurora Borealis glows above the trees in Wiseman, Alaska. The silhouette of the trees puts the expanse of the night sky in perspective for everyone to see. The lights dance in the sky as darkness falls.

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The Glow Beyond The ChairliftThe glow of the Aurora Borealis behind the chair lift in North America. This photo was taken outside of Fairbanks, Alaska in the Skiland ski area.

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The Vast Length Of The Aurora BorealisThis image shows just how vast and long the lines of the Aurora Borealis are.

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Waves Of Light Illuminate Night Sky Above MountainsSolar activity lights the night - The sky fills with celestial waves of light above the wilderness of Alaska. Patterns formed by the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, take many forms including curtains, rays, bands and glowing blobs.

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Green Ribbons Of The Aurora Borealis Above TreesAurora Borealis ribbons - Stunning ribbons of undulating particles unfold over the trees and mountains in Northern Alaska. The display is created by charged particles colliding with atoms in the high-altitude atmosphere.

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Illuminated Under The Aurora BorealisHere we see the Aurora Borealis above the Marion Creek outside of Wiseman, Alaska. The green glow of the northern lights illuminate the silhouette of the landscape below.

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Illuminating AuroraThe vibrant swirls of the Aurora Borealis illuminate the icy waters below.

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Northern Lights And Starry SkyThis image shows us the stars beyond the Aurora Borealis. Many of the exoplanets orbiting those stars have aurora displays of their own.

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Northern Lights Dance On Mountain TopsLights dance over mountain tops - The lights of Aurora Borealis appear in the night skies over Alaska. The bright, glittering displays in the sky occur when gaseous particles collide. They are visible on many nights in areas close to the North Pole.

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Northern Lights Glow And StarsThe glow of the Aurora Borealis is reflected on the Middle Fork Koyukuk River in Wiseman, Alaska. The stars glisten throughout the night sky along with the glow of the northern lights.

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Aurora Borealis Dancing Through The NightThe Aurora Borealis also known as the northern lights can be seen dancing through the sky in Wiseman, Alaska.

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Green Aurora Borealis In AlaskaThe Northern Lights are caused by the sun flinging charged particles toward the Earth’s magnetic field at high speeds. A wide variety of factors determines the colors and shapes that appear, especially altitude of the lights and chemical composition of the atmosphere.

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Illuminating The Landscape With The Northern LightsMarion Creek outside of Wiseman, Alaska is just one of the magnificent locations we go to capture the landscape illuminated beneath the northern lights.

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Northern Lights On Koyukuk River In AlaskaThe red light from the tent contrasts with the sweeping green Northern Lights in the sky.

The Koyukuk, now a Wild and Scenic River, was a focal point of the Yukon Gold Rush in 1898.

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Dancing Northern Lights Glow Green Over Mountain PeaksAn unearthly display - The bright dazzling lights of the Aurora Borealis dance in the night sky above the mountain peaks near Wiseman, Alaska. In the southern latitudes there is a similar phenomenon called the Aurora Australis.

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