Northern lights surfing

Catching an impossible shot in the waves beneath the northern lights

A picture of the northern lights taken by Norwegian photographers Mats Grimsæth and Emil Kjos Sollie is about to go viral.

Why? Well, look.

Although you can find any number of northern lights beauty shots if you go looking, it's not every day you get to see a razor sharp image of Australian world champion surfer Mick Fanning plowing through a wave on his surf board in the sea outside of Lofoten while the green shimmering waves of the aurora borealis are snaking their way across the night sky above him.

This one picture took an eternity to plan, nearly two weeks to capture and was a real challenge, both in practical and technical terms.

Fair weather and northern lights were absolute necessities, while the photographers also faced a dilemma concerning what shutter speed to use. Northern lights need longer exposure, while the fast-paced movements of a surfer require the opposite.

According to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, who interviewed the photographers, the solution turned out to be a remote controlled flash that would "freeze" Fannings movement. For it to work, Grimsæth had to carry it out into the water.

“To set off the flash, I had to hold it aloft as high as humanly possible while simultaneously keeping my head above water,” Grimsæth said.

 

@mfanno sending it in Loffa 🤘🏼 @redbull

Et bilde publisert av ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Emil Sollie 💎 (@emilsollie) torsdag 10. Nov.. 2016 PST

Fanning took the trip to Lofoten for this picture alone, and tells The Daily Telegraph that he will remember the moment for as long as he lives. "Half asleep, jumping in a wet suit, and then just being wowed by all this stuff." Even though the image might seem too good to be true, the photographers insist to NRK that they have documented their entire process, should the skeptics come knocking.

 

Heading up north for some serious buziness! 🤘🏼Tnx @elinchrom_ltd and @nikonnordic for supporting the project!

Et bilde publisert av ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Emil Sollie 💎 (@emilsollie) søndag 06. Nov.. 2016 PST

They're backed up by award winning photo journalist Kyrre Lien, who has examined the image without finding any trace of manipulation.

“This is an impressive accomplishment! The composition, the interplay of colors, the lighting and the surfer who becomes like a prop underneath the majestic scenery of the Northern Lights, it's all amazing.” 

Here is a short behind-the-scenes video from the photo project, which was a collaboration with Red Bull.

 

Its out! The teaser from the trip to Lofoten with @mfanno to shoot a picture of surfing under the Northern lights is live! Stay tuned, dropping the picture soon 🤘🏼 @redbullnorge @redbull @mfanno @matsgrimseth @chief.teef @andreasm0gster @petterfoshaug @w_bowden

En video publisert av ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Emil Sollie 💎 (@emilsollie) søndag 11. Des.. 2016 PST

This is not the first time Lofoten's waves have received international attention.

Earlier this year, French photographer Olivier Morin visited the town of Unstad to document the joys of surfing to be found up north.

 

Chilling drop in the Arctics, Lofoten Islands, air temperature 1C, water temperature 6C #surf #surfer #arctic #arcticsurfing #tourism #watersport #lofoten #patagonia #unstad #water #instagram #surfboard #swell #surfphotography #instagood @afpphoto @surfingmagazine @nordicsurfersmag @surfline #nikontop #dryrobe @surfshopno #staywarm #nikon #picoftheday @riderschannel @surfcorner #love @ondenostre #barrel #winter #surfcorner #wind #italy #italia #sunset @surfphotographers @liquideyewaterhousings

Et bilde publisert av Olivier Morin (@olivier.morin) lørdag 12. Mars. 2016 PST

Should all this make you want to catch some cold waves on a surf board, you might want to check out the beginner's course offered by Unstad Arctic Surf.