Polar Nights
Aurora Workshop








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Polar Nights Aurora Workshop

Journey into the dark winter of Arctic Norway in search of incredible aurora locations. This is a one of a kind itinerary for photographers who want to maximise their chances of capturing exceptional northern lights photography We have a unique team and level of experience, with a flexible itinerary based out of Tromso in Arctic Norway.

January is a very dark and very cold month in the Arctic. The sun only returns to Tromso in late January, so much of this tour will be in low light or total darkness. Which is ideal for aurora chasing. We have the special skills of Gunnar Hildonen, local aurora chaser and outdoor expert. Gunnar and Ewen have crafted this itinerary design purely to maximise aurora photography. Seriously dark skies, amazing locations, flexible plans to respond to weather and snow conditions, and a dedicated plan to visit ideal shooting locations along the coast and in the mountains.

This is a very different tour to Ewen's regular Arctic Norway Landscapes trip. This is all about Polar Nights and Northern Lights :)

14 Days
Starts and finishes in Tromsø
Maximum group size of 8
Priced at AU$18,880

Upcoming Dates
13 January 2025 (Two Places Left)
12 January 2026

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Aurora Photography Workshop
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This is no ordinary tour. We're chasing not only great auroras, but great locations to shoot them.

AURORA WORKSHOP

Upcoming Dates
13 January 2025 (Two Places Left)
12 January 2026

Tromsø  |  Senja  |  Lyngen

This photographic workshop is designed around capturing a handful of amazing aurora shots. We'll be sleeping in late most mornings, scouting locations during the "daytime" and then making the most of aurora activity at night. January is not only very cold in the Arctic, but very dark as well. That means we could find ourselves shooting auroras at either 4pm or 4am. And we intend to be ready for any potentiality.

To participate on this trip you'll need to be reasonably fit, as we may be trudging through heavy snow to access some locations. Ideally you will have had some experience with Arctic conditions before joining this workshop, and appreciate the value of good snow boots and warm gloves. We intend to be out in the cold for hours at a time, and will rely on quality clothing to keep warm.

There are three main locations we stay for this workshop, but we won't be limited to shooting from our accomodation. Most nights we'll make a plan for somewhere nearby to shoot from in the event of favourable conditions. For examples, on Senja we have some mountain plateaus that we can access by snow-shoe, plus some low-tide rock pools where reflections might be inspiring for composition. We also know of a great little jetty with views to some amazing peaks. In Tromso we have many favourite locations, some with zero light pollution, some where charming cabins are a feature of the scene.

Not everyone will enjoy the lack of sunshine for two weeks, or the narrow focus on aurora compostions. For the right people, this trip will offer not only a chance to create exceptional photography but also plenty of time in the cabin to process images and discuss your techniques with RAW files and the camera.

Magic moments with the Aurora Borealis captured by Ewen Bell




TIMELAPSE BOREALIS


One focus for this workshop will be to get a handle on putting together your own timelapse videos of the aurora. Ewen has immense experience in shooting and assmebling timelapse content, and can help you master this powerful creative tool.


Ribbons and coronas on a Level 5 aurora night

Aurora over our cabin

Aurora and moonlight in Lofoten

Starting up a the Aurora, captured by Ewen Bell

Aurora on the streets of Tromso

Northern lights captured by Ewen Bell

Aurora to the North in Tromso

Aurora captured directly overhead

Corona streaking down from overhead in Lofoten

Red and green hues from the Northern Lights in Senja

Aurora over Senja

Twilight Aurora captued by Ewen Bell


THE LONG TWILIGHT


The first question I get asked for this itinerary is whether we’ll have any daylight to work with at all?

There will be some daylight, but something more like "post sunset" mood. The sun officially returns to Tromsø on January 21, so it'll be just out of sight for much of this trip. That means some lovely gentle light for slow shutter photography. We will definitely have a chance to explore our local areas during the daytime, plus time to process our photos and review images from previous nights.

This tour design runs in January so we get maximum aurora opportunities. We are planning for late nights and late checkouts so we can get a sleep-in after chasing aurora into the small hours.

Fjords at twilight

 


How To Book

If you have a few questions and want to chat to Ewen, just click the button below and email your questions. When you're ready to book just use the booking form below. Once you've paid the deposit of $3,500 your place on the tour is confirmed. Single room is the default for this trip but there is a discount for couples and friends.

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Aurora Photography Workshop

 

Our Private Chef


The reason we can stay in such remarkable locations across Arctic Norway is because we run this tour with a private chef on board. Shellie Froidevaux is a food photographer and recipe developer from Melbourne, Australia. For nearly a decade has been mastering the art of cooking for groups in remote locations. She's so talented at cooking in cabins, she wrote a book on it called "Cabin Fever"!

Because we are totally self sufficient for meals, we can stay in some amazing places. Shellie gives us a hand-crafted taste of the local cuisine and local ingredients. Reindeer, skrei, char and cloudberries just to name a few. No other Arctric tour can match this experience.

ironchefshellie.com

Shellie Froidevaux in Iceland

Fully catered and fully inclusive photography tour

 

 

Guide Gunnar


We first met Gunnar over a decade ago and he's been one of the reasons we love the Arctic so much. His enthusiasm for life in the north, for auroras and for getting outdoors to experience the wilderness is genuine and infectious. We love having Gunnar on the team to bring the best possible local flavour to the tour. Find out more about Gunnar and his passion for Tromso and the north on his website:

guidegunnar.no

Guide Gunnar, the number one aurora guide in Norway.

Ice fishing trip with Guide Gunnar



What To Pack

Choosing your lenses for an Arctic Norway trip presents a few unique challenges. Let's look at what you might want in your bag for this adventure.



Aurora Photography

Welcome to my super quick guide to shooting The Northern Lights in the Arctic. I’ve got lots of pretty pictures here plus some very useful advice to help you get started on a lifelong obsession with Auroras!



Dates

    
   
2024   
October 18 Photo Tour in Nepal15 daysOne Place Left
November 04 Ancient Annapurnas Photography Tour13 daysOne Place Left
December 18 Expedition Workshop – Sub-Antarctic Islands12 daysFully Booked
   
2025   
January 13 Polar Nights Aurora Workshop14 daysTwo Places Left
February 10 Arctic Norway Photography Tour14 daysFully Booked
May 14 Expedition Workshop – Curating Japan16 daysBook with Heritage
June 27 Expedition Workshop – Kimberley Coast11 daysBook with Heritage
October 27 Photo Tour in Nepal15 days
November 27 Bhutan Photography Tour15 daysFour Places Left
   
2026   
January 12 Polar Nights Aurora Workshop14 days
February 09 Arctic Norway Photography Tour14 days
May 08 Food Photography Workshop4 days
May 14 Expedition Workshop – Curating Japan16 daysDate TBC
June 27 Expedition Workshop – Kimberley Coast11 daysDate TBC
October 26 Photo Tour in Nepal15 days
November 13 Ancient Annapurnas Photography Tour13 days
December 12 Expedition Workshop – Sub-Antarctic Islands12 daysDate TBC


Norway   /   Photo Essays

 


Tromso to Lofoten

The North

Lofoten in Blue

Arctic Norway





The World's Best Photo Tours
You won't find a better tour experience: Unmatched knowledge of the locations and local support, hand crafted experiences that run only once every one or two years, our experience teaching the art of photography and a commitment to smaller group sizes.

Beginners Welcome
These tours are not just for advanced photographers, we love welcoming beginners to the craft to help them fast track their creative abilities. Sharing what we know and giving other photographers a truly wonderful experience is the best part of running these tours. If you're ready to learn new skills while you travel then this is the trip for you. If you want to spend quality time with like minded people and enjoy the sharing of knowledge and experiences, then we would love to have you along.

8 is Great
If you have to share a tour with dozens of other photographers, then it's just a tour instead of a photo tour. Smaller groups mean less drama, more fun and are infinitely more rewarding. My first responsibility is to ensure every person on my tour gets plenty of my time and advice, and with fewer photographers in one place you will come home with better photos and the best light :)

Small isn't just good, it's great!



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