11 sensational images from the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year awards

The Northern Lights Photographer of the Year, presented by Capture the Atlas, honors not only the photographers who captured these aurora images but also their stories. Photographer Adrian Cormie was on the northern coast of California when a friend in Nepal texted “Get as far north as you can by sunset, it’s going down tonight!” The friend was referring to the incoming geomagnetic storm that was the strongest observed in two decades. Comrie hit the road and drove to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, which was covered 7 feet of snow. That didn’t stop the intrepid photographer who had packed cold-weather gear and snowshoes. Comrie set his camera up on the lake’s South Rim and captured a vibrant shot of the celestial light show