Aurorae 2025

The aurora appears as a pink and yellow circle in the night sky. This image is taken from a rocky mountainside, with clouds filling the valley beneath

Category winner

Crown of Light by Kavan Chay

"Taken during the G5 storm [the most extreme level of geomagnetic storm] in May 2024, I knew this shot would work out the moment I stumbled upon the big, distinctly red auroral display that morning. The reds were a level of intensity I had never experienced," recalls photographer Kavan.

"I was excited as I drove to the location, wired and not feeling the lack of sleep as I set up my camera alongside flocks of people who had also decided to come out and chase the elusive Aurora Australis.

"I eventually called it a night, exhausted but very satisfied, after 24 hours of being awake. While shooting this, I captured panorama after panorama, hoping for a display that would line up compositionally with this foreground element."

Taken in Tumbledown Bay, Little River, Banks Peninsula Community, New Zealand, 10 May 2024

An arch of green light fills the night sky as the aurora appears over a calm lake. Mountains can be seen in the distance

Runner-up

Celestial Arch by Luis Vilariño

"The day began with rain and overcast skies. The forecast was that the aurora would be quite faint, so it did not bode well for an epic night. As evening approached, the Kp index [global geomagnetic activity scale] forecast increased and the sky began to clear, revealing the stars. So, I grabbed my gear and drove to the small peninsula of Stokksnes," says Luis.

"A small, greenish glow began to appear on the horizon. Unexpectedly, the intensity of the aurora grew rapidly, forming an immense arc that spanned more than 180 degrees. A gigantic and perfect green neon sign illuminated the entire sky. I had to act quickly. I knew that I would have to use a fast shutter speed so that the movement of the arc would not prevent me from composing a panorama and the stars would appear as dots. I set the aperture to 14mm and took several shots on my level tripod."

Taken in Stokksnes, Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður, Iceland, 9 December 2024

A dramatic red aurora display appears over a lake, with a rock formation in shadow in the foreground

Highly commended

Aurora Over Mono Lake: A Rare Dance of Light by Daniel Zafra

"After nearly eight years of chasing the Northern Lights around the world, I never thought I would witness them in California, but reality defied expectation," writes Daniel.

"Determined not to miss this rare event, I drove five hours from Las Vegas to Mono Lake, knowing I had to be back the next morning. The risk paid off – after a stunning sunset, vibrant ribbons of magenta and green lit up the sky, reflected in the still waters among the rock formations."

Taken on US Route 395, Mono Lake, Mono County, California, USA, 10 October 2024