My experience photographing the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway 

What is the role of photography in travel? And what is the role of realism in photography? I know I went pretty deep on the overthinking / not being a professional photographer here, but I'd love to know your thoughts, which parts you agree with and which parts you don't! Hope you're doing well and looking forward to uploading again soon :) Maybe I can come up with a video where I say "naked eye" more times

I’m extremely lucky to have spend many months in northern Norway for a work vacation and therefore got to see some quite colourful and bright nights. But it’s not uncommon to have whole weeks with way too much cloud coverage. I always felt a bit confused by the tourists that came mostly for the lights and didn’t seem to be too interested in the beautiful landscape otherwise. In my opinion it’s much better to prepare for just a nice wintery trip and think of the lights more as an optional bonus that you may or may not end up seeing! ETA: oh and regarding the most colourful northern lights photos being highly edited: not necessarily! Many people edit their “mediocre” photos to make the lights look more intense. But there are nights in which they are just that bright naturally and you can even see them extremely colourful with your bare eyes. That’s like 2 or 3 nights per season perhaps. But it does happen!

Luv ur honesty and advice

You make some good points regarding those lovely shots we see in National Geographic. If I ever go to Tromso, I may opt to leave my camera at home, and enjoy them without the pressure to get the perfect shot. 👍🏼

Tom, come to Brazil 🇧🇷

You don't need to fake it if you have the right gear, good activity and know the fundamentals of photography

Tom, come to Brazil 🇧🇷

As someone that has been to Tromsø many times and only got to see, and photograph, the Aurora a few times total, I have come to one understanding about travel photography: For me, it's about re-living the moments that are uniquely mine. So if I'm just taking a photo of yet another monument or subject where there are already thousands of pictures available, I will ask myself : will mine be better than what exists already, or if failing that, will it evoke something in me from this trip when I view it later. If I can't answer yes to any of those, I pass on taking the photo and rather immerse myself in the moment.

We went to Tromsø for a week, rented a car, and drove out to Finland a few times to see the lights. We had amazing displays! (Saw the lights 4 out of 7 days)

How is it that i can effortlessly consume this video with Tom just chatting away. excellento!

Photography is an art medium. Photo manipulation can be used to better capture and express non-visual sensory inputs that you experienced during the excursion. You’re the artist; Tell the story through your art however you wish. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, a lot of photo manipulation is less about expressing your art and emotions and more about “one upping” everyone else. Witnessing this first hand can be depressing. Thanks for talking through this with your audience. Cheers.

Because I did see this clip I am planning a 13 day cruise with Hurtigruten Nordkapp express the 13 day cruise. I was wondering how did you book your trip? Cuz I am having difficulties booking via their website. Any recommendation?

It's a good point that photographs should be honest. Night photography is a bit tricky, though, so you did well to get these images.

We were lucky in Tromsø in March this year. We were booked to go on the tour but it was cloudy, so they phoned and said could we go the day after instead. That worked perfectly for us but then heard the tour did go ahead the day before, but there was a cruise in town for that night only, so a bit of clever scheduling on their part. You are spot on about the difference between seeing through the lens and seeing through your eye.

Hi Tom. Greetings from Indonesia. I saw your vlog of Norway and it was so good. That's why i ended up in this video of yours as well. I'm planning to go to Tromso next January and i was wondering do you have any recommendation for northern lights tour? And also, what type of camera did you use for taking the northern lights? Thanks so much Tom. :)

What an amazing trip! Thank you for another great video.

We can see the Northern Lights here in Northern Michigan sometimes here in the US. They're a rare sight here for sure. I'm disappointed that you ran into jerks with their reserved spots. I would certainly be more inclusive if I were there.

It bothers me when you talk about taking a picture of something "that isn't there." Is a black cat not there because there is too little light to see it? I'll agree, if posted to Instagram, that you should note it was a timed exposure and the light was not visible to the naked eye, but the lights were there. I think, rather than discounting the photos as trick photography, you should use it as a reminder of three limitations of the human eye.

Understated and kind how unusual on the internet. You have a great attitude and have no reason to feel insecure. I would love to see you try perhaps the PCT in the US.

can’t relate this back to travel in the way that you can but i think your thoughts on photography are similar to something that i’ve been trying to grapple with- using it as a medium to capture moments instead of a way to show off. it’s weird existing in a time where photography has evolved away from being a way to document something for ourselves and has become more for public consumption. how excited would people hundreds of years ago be knowing that we have something in our pocket that can take a picture of something beautiful in an instant?? i’ve been trying to appreciate that but i’ve been trying to consciously remember that i’m doing it for me and my loved ones and not because i want to look cool on instagram (although i do sometimes want to look cool on instagram but hey don’t we all). of course i could go on and on but i’ll spare you, long story short i think your thoughts are interesting. good video!

Which tour company that took your photos?

Could you please make a video of the budget of this trip? I know about your unfortunate accident, but if you could give a budget of the rest of the trip, that'd be so great! ❤️

I'll be in tromso in Dec this year, keen to go on such light chasing tours! Hope i'll be lucky, any tour groups that you'll recommend? How did you chance upon these operators? Any operator that is sincere and fun-loving will be great. Great channel, by the way, love your content.

I'll try to not fake my northern lights photos hahhahaha and please come to Brazil 🇧🇷

Come to Brazil!! 🇧🇷🇧🇷

Tom, come to Brazil!🇧🇷