Aurorae 2024

Category winner

Queenstown Aurora by Larryn Rae

"This is the Aurora Australis captured above the mountains in Queenstown. It is a 19-image panorama capturing all the fast-moving beams that lit up the sky," Larryn says.

"I am especially proud of this image as the aurora came out of nowhere and I was the only person there to capture this surprise display."

Taken in Queenstown, New Zealand, 15 February 2023

Runner-up

The Green Kingdom by Filip Hrebenda

"The interior of Iceland (the Highlands) felt like a completely different planet to me. The roads were lengthy, I had to cross several rivers in a super-Jeep and I needed to hike to find some nice compositions for night-shooting," Filip remembers.

"After some time, I discovered this place and immediately knew what the resulting photo would be called as everything was glowing green. The moss in the foreground, the mountains in the distance – everything played in a beautiful colour harmony. The only thing missing was the Aurora Borealis, so I stayed in the area for a few days and it finally appeared!"

Taken in Laugavegur, Iceland, 7 September 2023

Highly commended

Aurora Borealis Over Brighton Seafront by Michael Steven Harris

"High auroral activity provided the opportunity to try and capture Aurora Borealis by drone from Brighton seafront," Michael explains.

"While I wasn’t sure if it was possible due to Brighton’s significant light pollution and the drone’s tiny sensor, I immediately knew I’d succeeded once I saw the distinctive colours in the sky on the back of my drone controller screen."

Taken in Brighton, East Sussex, UK, 1 November 2023