Forgive my weird face - I had to hold perfectly still for 20 very long seconds (just imagine it!) while we used a slow shutter speed to capture the moving lights!

The Northern Lights are easily one of the most elusive natural wonders of the world. So with the first stop on our mystery trip being Iceland, I sent a lil' prayer up to the Northern Lights gods for them to show us their pretty little faces. The first time I heard of the Aurora Borealis, I wondered if they really did even exist! And after my trip to Iceland, I can confirm that yes, without any doubt, they are real. And not just real - they flourish.

By some travel miracle, the stars aligned (is that a pun?) and we saw them our very first night in Iceland. Now, I am no Northern Lights expert, but I will tell you that there are a few things that are necessary for seeing these polar lights: one is a clear, cloud-free sky, and the other includes a tripod.

Yes, a tripod and a manual (DSLR) camera. You can certainly see a whisp of pastel color in the sky with the naked eye (and now I'm rhyming), but if you've been meaning to buy a real camera, this is your sign: buy it! Without getting all techie on you, a camera simply sees what the eye can't, and a slow shutter speed paired with a tripod will capture the Northern Lights in a way that the naked eye just cannot see. (And I know you're curious - my iPhone captured exactly zero of the lights during their brightest show, so please don't rely on your phone!).

Another thing that is verrry nice to have is a local tour guide/private driver. I know, I know. I'm getting all "extra" on you again, but hear me out: a driver can chase the lights with you. If you go on a group tour, you see them once and then you head home. And for some people, that's enough and that's ok! But if you have dreamed about the aurora borealis for a lifetime, to see them in different locations, different light conditions (over a lake reflection vs over the grasslands, they photograph SO differently) may be a life-changing experience for you. Our driver Alfred Moller took us to no fewer than 5 different location to capture them, and all the photos came out looking totally different. (see below for pics!)

Other needs:

- Warm clothes! Down-feather-type layers, wool socks, fleece leggings, gloves, and hand & feet warmers were a must for us in September. After the sun goes down the temp drops even more!

- A camera with manual settings like mine. Note: I used mine just as it came, basic with no fancy lenses or modifications.

- A knowledge on how to acquire a long-exposure (same as slow shutter) photo (note - JP teaches classes both in NYC and online. Highly recommended).

- A tripod that is eye-level (not a tabletop one).

Thankfully, our driver was also a professional photographer (my dream come true) AND my brother is a pro as well, so I was able to capture these images on my basic Canon with their help. I know a few of my photos are OOF (out of focus) but they're the NORTHERN LIGHTS! So I'm posting them for you anyways :)

Check out below some of the photos I took and the settings I used and how the lights look different with a 10, 20 and 30 second shutter speed.