Checking Off My Bucket List: Photographing The Northern Lights in Fairbanks, Alaska

I decided to end the year with checking one last thing off my Bucket List, and that is photographing the Northern Lights. I rented a cabin on a farm in Fairbanks with my 2 best friends and had one of the best weekends of my life.

I feel so lucky to be able to have these experiences!

Photos by myself, Taylor Kinzie, and Mark Groves.

The sun stays on the horizon this time of year, making for beautiful light during the day.

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Traveling with these two is like photographing a damn Abercrombie catalog.

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I almost fell into a giant hole to get this shot.

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These dogs are beasts! Solid muscle and can pull 3 times their weight. They’re also extremely hard working, and playful at the same time! Maybe they can be my life mentors.

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No one tells you this, but the dogs pee and poo while they are running. It’s a miracle, really.

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Play day at the park.

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Two things I love doing in Alaska: Building a fire and drinking Moonshine (not really on the Moonshine).

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Last but not least, the AURORA!! We got so excited when we saw them that we literally ran outside in our PJ’s, forgetting to bundle up properly.

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The Northern Lights are more amazing than I imagined them to be, swirling and flickering across the sky. To be honest I wasn’t sure if we’d get to see them because of weather conditions. I was happy to be with 2 of my best friends ringing in the New Year in a cozy cabin, but this was the icing on the cake. They came out right before midnight.

Here is a little home video that Taylor put together. Bloopers start at the 3 minute mark.