PHOTO COMPETITION
SWEDEN'S BEST NORTHERN LIGHTS PICTURE2023
WE PRESENT THIS YEAR'S WINNERS
The Northern Lights Facebook group together with Kamado Sumo a photo competition where we crown Sweden's Best Norrskensbild 2023!
Competition closed on March 31, 2023
WINNERS OF THE PHOTO COMPETITION - JURY'S CHOICE
It wasn't easy to choose a winner for the "Jury's Choice" among all the incredible Northern Lights images that everyone entered the competition with during March. But right from the start, the competition jury - consisting of Calle Rosenqvist and Kamado Sumo - found one image that stood out a little extra, a little more, than the others because of its atmosphere, composition and content.
- When I turn out of an intersection and look in my mirrors, I see the northern lights, so I stop and take some photos, which was a hit!" explains winner Helen Westberg from Stensele, who photographed the incredible image with her phone.
Photo: Helen Westberg
Helen - what a great picture! Congratulations from the jury, we really loved it! How did you take it?
- The picture was taken just before Bullerforsen, outside Vilhelmina Västerbotten. I had been on a winter road over a bog in Svannäs and loaded birch that was going to the terminal in Storuman. When I turn out of an intersection and look in the rearview mirrors, I see that it is the northern lights so I stop and take some photos, which was a hit!
It certainly was! What were your thoughts when you decided to get out of the truck and photograph the northern lights?
- The image was created by pure coincidence, as I said, if I hadn't looked more carefully in the rearview mirrors, I probably wouldn't have stopped right there and then. I immortalized this with my phone, an iPhone 14. I wanted to include the northern lights and the lights on the truck, and had a few weeks earlier taken a northern lights picture from behind the truck - so this time it was from the front! I also think there were nice effects with the truck's white, orange and red lights against the colors of the northern lights. Colorful!
And the northern lights, is that something you usually photograph when you are out on the road?
- I grew up outside Dikanäs, Vilhelminafjällen, so the northern lights have always been around. It is far from the nearest big city, 20-35 miles, so it feels like it is darker and easier to spot with less light that can interfere and make you miss. Feels like pretty good conditions. However, only in recent years have I become interested in photography in general, mostly wild animals and dogs. I started photographing the northern lights this winter by pure coincidence. I saw one and I just took the time to stop and take pictures. Which I now really don't regret!
We understand that. And how did you decide to compete with the image?
- Because I got such a HUGE response in the "Northern Lights" group when I posted the picture for the first time! Over 12,000 "likes"! So then I saw the competition and thought it was worth trying.
Can you reveal your best tips on how to find the Northern Lights and capture them beautifully?
- If you see one, take advantage of the opportunity! It doesn't take many minutes to get out, stop your vehicle, get off the couch and get your camera. I think there are such great tips in the group when there is a chance of the Northern Lights. Be outside when it's clear and dark. But you can do what I do, drive a truck at night ...
Do you have another favorite subject when not photographing the Northern Lights?
- Beavers!
Congratulations to Helen Westberg who wins the "Jury's Choice" and a Kamado Sumo Mini worth SEK 3 500.
WINNERS OF THE PHOTO COMPETITION - JURY'S CHOICE
It wasn't easy to choose a winner for the "Jury's Choice" among all the incredible Northern Lights images that everyone entered the competition with during March. But right from the start, the competition jury - consisting of Calle Rosenqvist and Kamado Sumo - found one image that stood out a little extra, a little more, than the others because of its atmosphere, composition and content.
- When I turn out of an intersection and look in my mirrors, I see the northern lights, so I stop and take some photos, which was a hit!" explains winner Helen Westberg from Stensele, who photographed the incredible image with her phone.
Photo: Helen Westberg
Helen - what a great picture! Congratulations from the jury, we really loved it! How did you take it?
- The picture was taken just before Bullerforsen, outside Vilhelmina Västerbotten. I had been on a winter road over a bog in Svannäs and loaded birch that was going to the terminal in Storuman. When I turn out of an intersection and look in the rearview mirrors, I see that it is the northern lights so I stop and take some photos, which was a hit!
It certainly was! What were your thoughts when you decided to get out of the truck and photograph the northern lights?
- The image was created by pure coincidence, as I said, if I hadn't looked more carefully in the rearview mirrors, I probably wouldn't have stopped right there and then. I immortalized this with my phone, an iPhone 14. I wanted to include the northern lights and the lights on the truck, and had a few weeks earlier taken a northern lights picture from behind the truck - so this time it was from the front! I also think there were nice effects with the truck's white, orange and red lights against the colors of the northern lights. Colorful!
And the northern lights, is that something you usually photograph when you are out on the road?
- I grew up outside Dikanäs, Vilhelminafjällen, so the northern lights have always been around. It is far from the nearest big city, 20-35 miles, so it feels like it is darker and easier to spot with less light that can interfere and make you miss. Feels like pretty good conditions. However, only in recent years have I become interested in photography in general, mostly wild animals and dogs. I started photographing the northern lights this winter by pure coincidence. I saw one and I just took the time to stop and take pictures. Which I now really don't regret!
We understand that. And how did you decide to compete with the image?
- Because I got such a HUGE response in the "Northern Lights" group when I posted the picture for the first time! Over 12,000 "likes"! So then I saw the competition and thought it was worth trying.
Can you reveal your best tips on how to find the Northern Lights and capture them beautifully?
- If you see one, take advantage of the opportunity! It doesn't take many minutes to get out, stop your vehicle, get off the couch and get your camera. I think there are such great tips in the group when there is a chance of the Northern Lights. Be outside when it's clear and dark. But you can do what I do, drive a truck at night ...
Do you have another favorite subject when not photographing the Northern Lights?
- Beavers!
Congratulations to Helen Westberg who wins the "Jury's Choice" and a Kamado Sumo Mini worth SEK 3 500.
THE "NORTHERN LIGHTS GROUP'S CHOICE" - HERE IS THE WINNER!
Among the 40 finalists, it was Andrés Larrota who won the hearts of voters with his image of a beautiful Northern Lights photographed in Jukkasjärvi.
- I was out trying to photograph the BROR rocket, but managed to capture this aurora instead! I was lucky to be in the right place when this big aurora suddenly appeared," he says.
Between April 5-23, more than 1600 people voted for Andrés Larrota's winning image among the 40 final images selected by Calle Rosenqvist and Kamado Sumo , in fierce competition among all the fantastic images tagged for the competition in the group Norrsken on Facebook. In connection with the win, we have contacted Andrés to hear a little more about both the picture and him.
Congratulations on the win Andrés! Can you tell us more about when you took the picture?
- The picture was taken in Jukkasjärvi on March 23rd this year, on the launch day of Esrange's rocket BROR. I was out trying to photograph the rocket, but managed to capture this aurora instead! I was lucky to be in the right place when this big aurora suddenly appeared.
It was still a successful result with a powerful northern lights - did you have any strategy for how to get a good picture once you were on site to photograph?
- By not only photographing the northern lights, but also a person looking at it, I think the feeling is enhanced. It becomes clearer how powerful the aurora is and how amazing it is to witness it - sometimes it is so impressive that you are completely speechless. I liked the image because of the tones I was able to capture, it's not often you can photograph the pink, purple and red tones.
You say you were lucky enough to be in the right place - do you have any tips to share for those chasing the Northern Lights?
- The Northern Lights can be unpredictable, so keep an eye on weather forecasts and solar activity to increase your chances of catching them. I usually use an app to know which nights to go out. Choose a night with minimal clouds and high solar activity to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
And once you're out there taking photos, how do you go about capturing a good picture of the Northern Lights?
- My best tip is to be patient. The aurora can be fleeting and can come and go quickly, so be patient and be ready to take the picture when it appears. Also, use manual focus as the aurora is often faint, and the camera may have difficulty focusing, it is best to use manual focus to get a sharp image.
Is it just the northern lights, or do you photograph other things as well?
- I like to photograph the nature and the changing seasons in northern Sweden, as well as the town where I live, Kiruna, and its surroundings. I moved to Kiruna from Colombia six years ago, and when I experienced the beautiful nature and seasons here, I bought a camera and started taking photos. In Colombia, winter and especially the northern lights are very exotic and I wanted to show my family and friends who were still there how amazing it is in the north of Sweden. After starting to publish my photos on Instagram, I have now gained many Colombian followers and also started a small photo company called Nordlig Photo.
Photo: Andrés Larrota
Congratulations to Andés Larrota who wins the "Norrskensgruppen's choice" and a Kamado Sumo Junior with accessories worth SEK 6,000.
See more photos from Andrés on his Instagram:
@nordlig.photo
WINNERS OF THE COMPETITION - THE NORTHERN LIGHTS GROUP'S CHOICE
Photo: Andrés Larrota
Among the 40 finalists, it was Andrés Larrota who won the hearts of voters with his image of a beautiful Northern Lights photographed in Jukkasjärvi.
- I was out trying to photograph the BROR rocket, but managed to capture this aurora instead! I was lucky to be in the right place when this big aurora suddenly appeared," he says.
Between April 5-23, more than 1600 people voted for Andrés Larrota's winning image among the 40 final images selected by Calle Rosenqvist and Kamado Sumo , in fierce competition among all the fantastic images tagged for the competition in the group Norrsken on Facebook. In connection with the win, we have contacted Andrés to hear a little more about both the picture and him.
Congratulations on the win Andrés! Can you tell us more about when you took the picture?
- The picture was taken in Jukkasjärvi on March 23rd this year, on the launch day of Esrange's rocket BROR. I was out trying to photograph the rocket, but managed to capture this aurora instead! I was lucky to be in the right place when this big aurora suddenly appeared.
It was still a successful result with a powerful northern lights - did you have any strategy for how to get a good picture once you were on site to photograph?
- By not only photographing the northern lights, but also a person looking at it, I think the feeling is enhanced. It becomes clearer how powerful the aurora is and how amazing it is to witness it - sometimes it is so impressive that you are completely speechless. I liked the image because of the tones I was able to capture, it's not often you can photograph the pink, purple and red tones.
You say you were lucky enough to be in the right place - do you have any tips to share for those chasing the Northern Lights?
- The Northern Lights can be unpredictable, so keep an eye on weather forecasts and solar activity to increase your chances of catching them. I usually use an app to know which nights to go out. Choose a night with minimal clouds and high solar activity to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
And once you're out there taking photos, how do you go about capturing a good picture of the Northern Lights?
- My best tip is to be patient. The aurora can be fleeting and can come and go quickly, so be patient and be ready to take the picture when it appears. Also, use manual focus as the aurora is often faint, and the camera may have difficulty focusing, it is best to use manual focus to get a sharp image.
Is it just the northern lights, or do you photograph other things as well?
- I like to photograph the nature and the changing seasons in northern Sweden, as well as the town where I live, Kiruna, and its surroundings. I moved to Kiruna from Colombia six years ago, and when I experienced the beautiful nature and seasons here, I bought a camera and started taking photos. In Colombia, winter and especially the northern lights are very exotic and I wanted to show my family and friends who were still there how amazing it is in the north of Sweden. After starting to publish my photos on Instagram, I have now gained many Colombian followers and also started a small photo company called Nordlig Photo.
Congratulations to Andés Larrota who wins the "Norrskensgruppen's choice" and a Kamado Sumo Junior with accessories worth SEK 6,000.
See more photos from Andrés on his Instagram:
@nordlig.photo
HONORABLE MENTION - ADDITIONAL PRIZES
It was not easy to pick individual winners from all the hundreds of contestants so we have also chosen two honorable mentions for a couple of images that we thought captured the magic of the northern lights a little extra well. Congratulations to Johan Nensén Lindqvist and Jörg Asmus who will receive a small surprise from Kamado Sumo .
Photo: Johan Nensén Lindqvist
Photo: Jörg Asmus