Kerstin Langenberger's photostream

Aurora borealis / northern lights over Sukkertoppen and an old cable railway. Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, January 24th 2012.

I don't know what to say. I did not expect to see this, I was hardly prepared at all. The most colourful northern lights of the season exploded above my head, lasted only a very short while, before disappering totally. After getting this shot I just stood there in awe, watching the curtains of light fading away into a distant glow on the southern horizon.
Thank you, Svalbard!

Dyrhólaey is the southernmost tip of Iceland. It is known for its rock formations like the giant natural arch that gave the stranded island its name. The weather was amazing the day I came there: calm ocean, nice clouds and beautiful light. Thank you Iceland! :-)

Waiting for the northern lights, I spent some time at the beautiful beach of Jökulsárlón. The moon lit the landscape beautifully so that I could do some time exposures showing a well-known scene in rather unusual light. I kinda like the outcome! What do you think?

Northern light activity has been very low the last weeks. I did not have high hope of auroral sightings when I decided to skip sleeping and simply enjoy the amazing beauty of Jökulsárlón in the very first days of the new year. The first seven hours of the night no aurora was seen at all - but when the moon set, northern lights appeared, dancing over the sky for the rest of the night. For the first time in my life I tried to capture the whole with of the aurora by a 180° panoramic picture.
What an incredible night this was - well worth the doubtful waiting! :-)

I wish you all the best for the nearest future and hope that you'll enjoy the holidays wherever you are!

Merry Christmas and a happy new year 2012! :-)