We only had a few nights in Fairbanks, so we wanted to maximize our chances to see and photograph the Northern Lights. Even though auroras are not guaranteed, having experienced guides who are familiar with the area and know how to read the aurora forecasts can help immensely. There are several tour groups that fit that description, however none of them match the photography expertise that Ronn and Marketa bring to the table. Because they're both experienced and accomplished photographers they know all the scenic spots to photograph and can help out with any technical questions you may have. They also have a great selection of camera bodies, lenses, and other equipment available to rent during the tour.

The tour itself was very well organized. After being picked up from our Fairbanks hotel in their spacious van, we headed towards a location they picked out for the night (based on weather conditions, cloud coverage, etc...). Along the way, they explained what the auroras are and how to read/interpret aurora forecasting data and graphs that go beyond just looking at the KP index. Afterwards, they go through and explain what camera settings they recommend as a starting point and what those settings actually do.

Once our cameras were set, we went outside to setup our tripods and make any last minute adjustments (with both Ronn and Marketa available for assistance). Since it was an especially cold night, we set up right outside the van so that we could run inside to warm up as needed.

It's obvious that Ronn and Markets love what they do. We learned so much about forecasting and photographing auroras that night. That knowledge not only helped us on the night of the tour, but also on the following two nights when we went off on our own (and I'm sure it will help us again in the future).

If you are in the Fairbanks area and want to photograph the Northern Lights, I highly, highly recommend going with the Aurora Chasers.

My wife and I have discussed going north to see the auroras several times over the last few years, considering Iceland, Finland, and Alaska. When Dayle's sister, Sharon, suggested going a month ahead in late February, 2019, I admit to being a bit apprehensive - what about the moon, cloudy weather, below zero cold, wind, and most important, actual aurora activity? Sharon found Marketa and Ronn's excellent website for Aurora Chasers in Fairbanks, and we were on our way. Our two guides are incredible people, very optimistic, very knowledgeable, and very, very passionate about the auroras and giving their clients a rewarding experience. We scheduled three nights in Fairbanks, hoping that at least one night would reveal the auroras. Marketa and Ronn picked us up at the hotel at 9:30 PM(!) with a planned return by 3 AM(!). The very comfortable Aurora Chaser van can carry about 12 clients, is tall enough to allow us to put on snow pants before going outside, has a wide screen monitor for the program, a microphone for Ronn so we could easily hear the program, and is a warm refuge for the entire outing. On the way out to the viewing site, we received an orientation about what causes the auroras and what we could expect that evening. We also received a very knowledgeable orientation to the client's personal and rented cameras to get the best photos and videos of the auroras. Note - the human eye CANNOT see the colors of the auroras, only a kind of silver cloud and perhaps sometimes a tint of a color. Cameras are REQUIRED to experience the vivid greens, reds, and other colors of the auroras. The high tech cameras available for rent from AC are preprogrammed to capture the auroras - the client needs to do little else other than aim the camera on the tripods and press the shutter. Ronn helped me program my advanced point and shoot camera and I was able to photograph the auroras - But if I did it again, I would rent one of the AC cameras/tripods as they are that much better than my P and S. We were very fortunate that all three of our nights with AC were clear, no moon, and no wind. We went to three locations outside and above Fairbanks ( the above is important as the locations were 15-20 degrees warmer than the zero in Fairbanks). The auroras of the first two nights were incredible and met our expectations, but the third night was wild, with so much vivid activity, I almost ducked when seeing some of the phenomenon above us - It was that amazing! Marketa photographed our portraits with the auroras each night, and created an amazing video of the auroral activity of the second night. And getting hot chocolate or coffee at 2 AM or retreating to the van to get warm was a blessing. FYI - wear loose warm boots as we only hiked less than a couple of hundred yards each night with the cameras and tripods. We also added Sharon's cheap hand warmers to our gloves and boots and they really helped with the cold.

We were incredibly fortunate to see and photograph the auroras on all three nights, and being guided by Marketa and Ronn made for a very memorable trip. Their knowledge, enthusiasm, and passion was contagious and contributed to our experience. Luck definitely is a big factor in seeing the auroras, but going with Aurora Chasers is a great way to have a successful and enjoyable outing. Simply, Marketa and Ronn are the best.