Reykjavik - Iceland: the land of the Vikings, active volcanoes, geothermal pools and greenhouse farmed tomatoes, stunning scenery and one of the most extraordinary natural phenomenon - the Northern Lights.
In Reykjavik, during the winter months, it is possible to see these illusive wonders. Travellers can look to the night sky on a cloudless evening and watch nature's theatre unfold. The Northern Lights perform a celestial ballet of light dancing across the night sky, with a colour palette of greens, pinks and violets that is sure to enchant even the most jaded of travellers.
The best time to view them is when it is dark, cold and dry. November and December usually give travellers the best show and it is recommended to spot them on a moonless night. Outside the capital city of Reykjavik on the west coast and near Vik on the southern coast travellers will find two of the most magical places to see the Aurora Borealis display. Set your sights on the heavens to take in the most incredible display of light you will ever encounter.
Insight Vacations top tips for capturing the best images of the Northern Lights:
Spare battery: It will be very cold and as every photographer knows cold is the enemy of your batteries. They will drain quickly so keep a fully charged spare close to your body (so that it stays warm) ready to take over from its friend.
Camera: A camera with lenses that can be swopped out will be your best bet, but you can use any camera - even a point and shoot. The more modern the camera the bigger the imaging chip, which should lead to better quality pictures as you increase your ISO.
Remote trigger: You don't want any camera shake so a remote trigger or cable release is a must. You could also use the camera's built in timer
Sturdy tripod: The lights are constantly moving so you need to keep your camera still to capture pin sharp images without any blur
Lens: To get the broadest view you'll want to include a wide angle lens in your box of tricks. Aim for a lens that offers a focal length between 10 and 24 mm and a maximum aperture of f/2.8 if you can, and you need to be able to switch to manual focus.
Adapted from a press release for IOL