Online Course About
The Northern Lights
Northern lights have been fascinating adventurers ever since the first people arrived in Lapland. Nowadays northern lights are a major attraction for Lapland tourism yet many are left disappointed. Our objective is to create the best online course about the northern lights and show their beauty to people around the world.
Discover what can be found in the Arctic.
Lesson 1: The Basics
First lesson will teach you the three requirements of the northern lights. This will build up the foundation for the one of the main lessons in the course: Hunting The Northern Lights.
Lesson 2: Colors and Shapes
Second lesson will teach you about the different colors and shapes of the northern lights. This will also give you an understanding how the northern lights progress during the nights.
Lesson 3: The Season
Third lesson will teach you about the northern lights season, which starts late August and ends Mid-April. This lesson will give you a great understanding about the different months and will try to answer the question: “what are the best months for the northern lights?”.
Lesson 4: The Solar Cycle
Fourth lesson will teach you about the solar cycle, which determines the activity of the sun during the 11-year cycle. This lesson will give you an understanding about the solar cycle effect on the northern lights and will try to answer the question: “what is the best year to see the northern lights?”.
Lesson 5: Northern Lights Destinations
Fifth lesson will give you better understanding about where to see the northern lights. There are many great destinations to be discovered and this lesson will try to give you good recommendations and help you plan your trip.
Lesson 6: Hunting The Lights
Sixth lesson focuses on how to actually hunt the northern lights on nightly basis. This includes predicting the weather and the solar wind, and give some tips and best practices how to maximize your chances.
Lesson 7: Photographing The Lights
Seventh lesson focuses on how to photograph the northern lights. This includes recommendations about the equipment one needs, the optimal settings and also introduction to timelapses and videography.
Diary from the Arctic Circle
The Diary from the Arctic Circle is a beautiful and evocative collection of photographs and writings that capture the unique landscape and culture of Finnish Lapland. The diary is a visual journey that takes you deep into the heart of Lapland’s wilderness and invites you to experience its stunning natural beauty and fascinating cultural heritage.
Through these photographs, you will discover the majestic northern lights, breathtaking landscapes, and changing seasons that define Lapland’s landscape. You will witness the Northern Lights dance across the night sky, and explore the dense forests and pristine lakes that are home to a diverse array of wildlife, including reindeer, lynx, and brown bears.
Juhani Vanhatapio

31.3.2023
Last night of the season.

26.3.2023
Spring is here and the birds are singing.

23.3.2023
Best northern lights of the season.

22.3.2023
Riverside under the stars.

17.3.2023
Ice fishing in the wild.

14.3.2023
Chasing lights in Sweden.

12.3.2023
The Galaxy.

7.3.2023
Full moon romance.

6.3.2023
Cold nights.

4.3.2023
Best tasting burbot soup.

3.3.2023
Ice fishing is like meditating.

28.2.2023
February ends with a bang.

25.2.2023
Hunting the lights.

23.2.2023
I feel alive.

21.2.2023
Follow the northern star.

19.2.2023
Start of the ice fishing season.

17.2.2023
Behind the clouds.

12.2.2023
Chasing the lights.

7.2.2023
The Sky is Burning.

3.2.2023
Full moon adventure.

31.1.2023
End of a warmest January since 1950’s.

28.1.2023
Hole in the clouds.

26.1.2023
Sunlight makes me happy.

25.1.2023
Raining in January.

24.1.2023
First time seeing sunlight in seven weeks.

23.1.2023
Husky ride.

21.1.2023
Obstacle is the way.

20.1.2023
Follow the light.

10.1.2023
The call of the wilderness.

5.1.2023
225km of driving.

3.1.2023
Unexpected magic.

2.1.2023
Moonlight expedition.

1.1.2023
Nature’s own fireworks.

30.12.2022
Where the snowman lives.

29.12.2022
Green shapes high above.

25.12.2022
Man behind the camera.

24.12.2022
Polar night magic.

23.12.2022
Christmas lights.

18.12.2022
Snowy adventure.

17.12.2022
Where is the lady Aurora?

16.12.2022
Triple arc.

12.12.2022
Follow the path.

11.12.2022
Birthday lights.

20.11.2022
Hunting in the night.

15.11.2022
Green horizon.

11.11.2022
Green is my favorite color.

9.11.2022
The winter is here.

2.11.2022
The aliens are coming.

22.10.2022
Insanity.

22.10.2022
Lakes are frozen soon.

12.10.2022
She has arrived.

29.9.2022
Green water.

22.9.2022
Autumn magic.

20.9.2022
Autumn showing its best side.

9.9.2022
Dopamine explosion.

5.9.2022
200 hours spent in the woods.

3.9.2022
Childhood memories.

31.8.2022
Summer ending is like friend leaving.

28.8.2022
Last warm winds.

26.8.2022
Blueberries are everywhere.

21.8.2022
The transition has started.

20.8.2022
Backcountry bike adventure.

11.8.2022
Red terror.

5.8.2022
Canoe adventure into Wolverine River.

2.8.2022
Thunder approaches.

29.7.2022
Blueberry blues.

23.7.2022
Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge.

19.7.2022
The season of sunlight.

18.7.2022
Cloudberry fever.

16.7.2022
Grayling playground.

15.7.2022
Rainy overnight adventure in July.

12.7.2022
Midnight colors.

11.7.2022
Misty morning in Lapland.

8.7.2022
Midnight sun in river valley.

2.7.2022
Call to adventure.

27.6.2022
In +30° Celsius weather, cold river is your best friend.

23.6.2022
Traditional sauna located in an old barn.

20.6.2022
Working as a lumberjack this summer.

19.6.2022
Mosquitoes and pike fishing.

14.6.2022
Traditional Finnish bread with pike from yesterday.

13.6.2022
Different world.

5.6.2022
Being in the nature is the best form of therapy.

4.6.2022
First overnight trip of the summer.

24.5.2022
Life has arrived in the Arctic.

21.5.2022
Frogs are happy that the ice is gone.

15.5.2022
Lingonberry pie is one of my favourites.

13.5.2022
Dreaming about the salmon that used to be here.

4.5.2022
Summer is right around the corner.

1.5.2022
Northern pikes are spawning soon.

20.4.2022
One month until the peak of the flood.

18.4.2022
Stunning riverside late spring.

17.4.2022
First time making burbot soup.

1.4.2022
Flowing river is the death of winter.

25.3.2022
Cloudberries are delicious.

24.3.2022
Escaping the baby bubble with ice fishing.

23.3.2022
Rice porridge with blueberries.

22.3.2022
Something bought from the local fair.

10.3.2022
I will show you the World.

5.3.2022
Snowshoeing and spotting animal tracks.

3.3.2022
When ice fishing turns into anger management.

26.2.2022
Already waiting for the summer.

22.2.2022
I hunt the northern lights.

21.2.2022
Not all care about the northern lights.

20.2.2022
Lady Aurora is here.

19.2.2022
Ice fishing with a friend.

15.2.2022
Stunning moonlight halo.

14.2.2022
Skiing under the magical moonlight.

13.2.2022
Ice fishing for arctic char and trout.

12.2.2022
Overnight skiing adventure into a remote cabin.

10.2.2022
Northern light chasers waiting for the clouds to move.

3.2.2022
Meaningful moments.

31.1.2022
End of January means brighter and warmer days.

28.1.2022
The northern highway.

25.1.2022
Skiing is more fun with northern lights.

24.1.2022
Red auroras are here.

9.1.2022
This is the reason I freeze my butt.

8.1.2022
Took my friends to see the northern lights.

24.12.2021
Merry Christmas with northern lights.

21.12.2021
When the clouds shatter.

20.12.2021
Frozen lake adventure.

19.12.2021
One of the best nights.

21.11.2021
Always learning something new.

15.11.2021
High above.

8.11.2021
Patience is rewarded.

12.10.2021
Reflections.

18.9.2021
Conclusion of open water fishing.

17.9.2021
Record pike for this season during overnight adventure.

14.9.2021
Autumn and its colors are here.

11.9.2021
Two bridges at Rovaniemi.

31.8.2021
Falling leaves mark the change of the season.

8.8.2021
15km of canoeing with a warming sunshine.

7.8.2021
Fishing and canoeing in the remote wilderness river.

6.8.2021
Canoe adventure into a remote trout river.

3.8.2021
Pike infested river.

31.7.2021
End of July.

26.7.2021
Late evening fishing in a grayling river.

21.7.2021
Record grayling of 45cm.

20.7.2021
Overnight packraft adventure into a grayling river.

16.7.2021
In search of the rainbow trout.

14.7.2021
Tight lines at remote wilderness river.

12.7.2021
Exploring new rivers is always exciting.

3.7.2021
Day 6: 14km of hiking and last night in the wild.

2.7.2021
Day 5: 25km of hiking and catching arctic chars.

1.7.2021
Day 4: Perfect day fishing. One grayling.

30.6.2021
Day 3: Record grayling from a remote wilderness river.

29.6.2021
Day 2: 23km of hiking with stunning views.

28.6.2021
Day 1: 17km of hiking and arctic char fishing.

26.6.2021
Midsummer is the celebration of life.

19.6.2021
Trout fishing in a remote wilderness river.

18.6.2021
Biggest fish are those who got away.

17.6.2021
Late evening fishing with a lot of mosquitoes.

13.6.2021
River fishing for trout.

12.6.2021
12km hike with stunning scenery.

7.6.2021
Legendary Kemijoki river. Fishing for trout.

5.6.2021
Learning to be a canoe adventurer.

4.6.2021
Summer starts well with an overnight canoe adventure.

9.5.2021
Ice fishing is better far north.

4.5.2021
Overnight adventure into a remote cabin.

24.4.2021
Fishing trip into a remote lake with a snowmobile.

20.3.2021
Wilderness overnight adventure.

2.3.2021
Northern lights explosion.

10.2.2021
Northern lights close to the city center.

3.2.2021
Hunting the northern lights by myself.

24.11.2020
Frozen lake under the moonlight.

7.11.2020
End of the fishing season with an overnight adventure.

6.11.2020
Pillars reflecting from the lake.

4.9.2020
September and the last warmth of the sun.

31.8.2020
First northern lights of the season.

26.8.2020
Last warm summer days.

22.8.2020
Northern lights season is about to begin.

7.8.2020
Fishing for pike at distant wilderness lake.

6.8.2020
First overnight river adventure with the old canoe.

2.8.2020
Preparing for the winter by picking cloudberries.

30.7.2020
Late evening golf followed with sauna and swimming.

19.7.2020
Golfing under the midnight sun.

11.7.2020
Catching green monsters with my father’s old canoe.

9.7.2020
Late night sauna and swimming with thunder in distant.

28.6.2020
Atlantic salmon fishing late June.

10.6.2020
Rowing a boat with a friend close to midnight.

1.6.2020
Fishing can’t get better with a midnight sun like this.

31.5.2020
First pike of the summer after weeks of trying.

13.5.2020
World’s widest golf range on ice.

6.5.2020
Sunsets feel different in May.

5.5.2020
Ice fishing with friends is always fun.

4.5.2020
First sourdough bread made.

1.5.2020
Whitefish captured on a sunny day at my home lake.

24.4.2020
Morning sunrise promises a warm day.

19.4.2020
Personal best European perch 500g

16.4.2020
Record breaking day with over 50 fish caught.

15.4.2020
Catching a whitefish can make a man smile.

14.4.2020
Snowmobile can take you to good fishing locations.

5.4.2020
Early bird catches the worm.

3.4.2020
Scouting new locations.

29.3.2020
End of a small getaway with 50km ride.

27.3.2020
Snowmobiling in paradise.

26.3.2020
Ice fishing for arctic char.

25.3.2020
True wilderness can be found far north.

22.3.2020
Remote wilderness lake offers great European perches

21.3.2020
Wilderness trip with stunning northern lights.

18.3.2020
My brother enjoying the northern lights.

13.3.2020
Last tour before COVID closes the borders.

28.2.2020
Tepee will keep us warm.

24.2.2020
Cold morning sunrise.

23.2.2020
The sky is dancing for us.

21.2.2020
Never lose hope.

14.2.2020
The stars are upon us.

6.2.2020
Most unreal night I’ve had.

26.1.2020
Heart of the winter.

24.1.2020
Four nights in a row.

23.1.2020
Behind the clouds the storm goes on.

22.1.2020
Exploding skies.

21.1.2020
Black northern lights.

9.1.2020
Frozen river adventures.

4.1.2020
New year starts with great northern lights.

26.12.2019
Day after Christmas with northern lights.

19.12.2019
Milkyway with distant northern lights.

18.12.2019
Stunning moonrise with northern lights.

10.12.2019
Few hours of sunlight during December.

20.11.2019
250km of driving to find a clear sky.

5.11.2019
November feels grim.

2.11.2019
All Saint’s Day.

29.10.2019
Lights are dancing behind the hills.

27.10.2019
Winter arrives as October comes to an end.

27.9.2019
First night as a northern lights guide.

3.6.2019
Cumulus clouds in the summer.

1.6.2019
Summer is the season of life.

10.4.2019
Golden sunsets in April.

23.2.2019
My first picture of the northern lights.

15.2.2019
-30 Celsius morning. First pictures with a camera.

12.8.2018
Final days in Lebanon.

27.7.2018
Brother in arms.

21.6.2018
Man on a mission.

8.6.2018
Patrolling in the Middle East.

5.5.2018
20km march contest.

10.4.2018
Deployment to Lebanon.






