Northern Lights photography by Ruslan Akhmetsafin

Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin

Russian photographer from Yakutia managed to capture the most unique natural phenomena – the Northern Lights. Ruslan Akhmetsafin has been shooting night sky for many years. During this time, he was accustomed to frost, waiting for many hours for the right moment. Ruslan Akhmetsafin enjoys night walks in the forest alone. To protect against wolves he has to take with him a samurai sword, and wraps up warmly to withstand Siberian 50 degrees of frost. However, the reward for many hours of waiting in the snowy woods – amazingly beautiful pictures of one of the most spectacular natural phenomena – the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin

Ruslan managed to take stunning photos just a few kilometers from the house. One can endlessly admire the greenish glow in the sky that suddenly begins to sparkle red and purple. “I love photography and I love nature,” – said Ruslan. He lives in a small village in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). According to the photographer, this is a beautiful region with fantastic scenery, where, besides, you can capture the aurora borealis and share it with other people.

Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin

“Photography for me – when the soul is trying to comprehend something so beautiful that no words can describe. But it can be captured on camera and shown to other people”. Ruslan says that it’s not about money, but in those wonderful manifestations of nature, witnessed by his good fortune.

Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin

37-year-old Ruslan moved to Yakutia with his family from Kazakhstan 30 years ago. Now he works as an engineer at one of the diamond mining mines. He became interested in photography in high school, and since 2001, the author takes mainly the night sky. He always dreamed of such a camera, through which it was possible to get the Northern Lights – when everything is changing so fast that miss even a second – and the picture will be hopelessly spoiled.

Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin

In fact, to make the perfect shot, sometimes it takes up to six hours. Ruslan is often waiting in a small hut, located a few kilometers from the village. Ruslan kindles a fire in the stove, enjoying the solitude.

Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin

Another problem is to protect the camera. No camera will work for a few hours in the cold. And the photographer has to trick to keep it warm. “I cut off the sleeve from an old coat, twisted it inside out – so that the fur was inside, and then cut a hole for the lens, viewfinder, tripod. This case not only protects the camera, but also warms hands, “- said the author.

Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin

According to him, the survey of the northern lights is a bit like a sport. Need to monitor the forecasts of solar activity, with the storms on the sun and calculate the days when the solar wind reaches the Earth.
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin.

Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights by Russian photographer from Yakutia Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights photography by Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights photography by Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights photography by Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights photography by Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights photography by Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights photography by Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights photography by Ruslan Akhmetsafin
Northern Lights photography by Ruslan Akhmetsafin

source slavyanskaya-kultura.ru