Finland Northern lights above Aarnilampi, Luosto-Pyhä National Park

Aarnilampi is a beautiful little lake in the Pyhä-Luosto area, surrounded by peaceful forests. Its small wooden jetty offers a perfect foreground for photographing the Northern Lights, especially when the lake is calm enough to reflect the colours dancing across the sky.

Use a wide-angle lens with a fast aperture (f/1.4–f/2.8) and start with an exposure of 3-8 seconds. If it's too bright go lower with your speed like I did. Adjusting your ISO according to the brightness of the aurora. A tripod is essential, and a short exposure helps preserve the movement and details of the lights. Include the jetty in your composition to add depth and scale.

Aarnilampi is located about 2.2 km from the centre of Luosto, along the road towards Pyhä. Turn onto Aarnilammentie and follow it to the lakeshore. There are only a few parking spaces, so you may need to park along Ukko-Luostontie and walk the remaining distance. The jetty is right next to the swimming area.