Country Pick / 2017 / /

Moonrise and Aurora

  • Prize
  • Photographer
    Rayann Elzein, Netherlands
  • Studio
    ReZ Photography

The moon rises above the frozen Ukonjärvi lake in Finnish Lapland, while the Aurora is
dancing high above our heads.

I am a French photographer and aurora hunter, living in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. I have been taking photos for more than 10 years, when as a hobby I wanted to bring back home some souvenirs of the bands that I liked. Digital cameras barely existed at the time so I started with my father’s film camera! Over the years, the hobby of concert photography grew to a passion, a regular activity and a major part of my life!

In March 2012, I traveled to Inari in Finnish Lapland. There I witnessed for the first time the magic of the Northern Lights. I became addicted to the phenomena and very passionate about the Lapland region. At any time of the day or night, the light there is exceptional! I love to capture all these moments. This made me return frequently to Lapland and Northern Norway… so frequently that I have been traveling there every winter sometimes even twice! I am now a confirmed “aurora hunter” and photographer, guiding people and giving workshops in the harsh Arctic conditions to view the Aurora. I also give lectures about the beautiful Green Lady as I like to name the Aurora.

My trip to Svalbard (Spitsbergen) in March 2015 at the occasion of the total solar eclipse allowed me to discover some new northern latitudes. The siren of the Arctic really got a hold of me there!

Finally, I have the chance to travel quite often for my “day job”. I never go anywhere without my camera. I take this opportunity to share some photos of the Indian Ocean, Latin America, Africa, etc.