CHASING LIGHT A NORTHUMBERLAND ADVENTURE

Chasing Light: A Northumberland Workshop Adventure

Some nights you plan for. Some nights just happen — and they change everything.

Last May (2024), I had the privilege of leading a workshop in Northumberland with an incredible group of photographers. We knew we’d be chasing light, wild landscapes, and the unpredictable moods of the coast... but none of us could have expected what we were about to experience.

We based ourselves in the heart of Northumberland, close to the sweeping beaches, ancient castles, and dark skies that make this region one of the best places in the UK for landscape and astrophotography. From the very first day, the energy in the group was spot on — a good mix of experience, creativity, and a real sense of adventure. You could tell everyone was ready to push themselves and see what the land would offer.

The weather was playing ball — clear skies, crisp air — and as we rolled into the second evening, something extraordinary happened: news started filtering through about a massive geomagnetic storm hitting the atmosphere. The aurora forecast went off the charts. Suddenly, everything shifted. Plans changed. Sunset-to-sunrise shooting became the mission.

We headed out to the coast — tripods slung over shoulders, layers packed tight — and set up facing the northern horizon. Sunset itself was stunning, casting the sea and sky in deep golds and purples. But as night fell properly, the real show began. Curtains of green, pink, and purple light started dancing low over the water. It was like watching the sky breathe.

It was especially incredible to see Adam and Mike witnessing the aurora for the very first time — the sheer excitement was contagious. Cameras clicked, settings were double-checked, and every few minutes someone would just laugh or shout across the beach in disbelief at what was unfolding above us. Seeing and capturing the Northern Lights for the first time is something you never forget, and being able to guide them through that moment made the night even more powerful.

Shooting all night, we changed locations as the light and conditions shifted — starting from the old Bath House ruins, moving on to the incredible Bamburgh Castle and the nearby Bamburgh Lighthouse. Each stop offered a different angle on the night sky, with the castle walls and lighthouse beams adding incredible foreground interest against the surreal colours above.

By the early hours, we were still going strong — cold, buzzing, a little delirious from lack of sleep — but there was no way we were stopping yet. We packed up and made a final push to Dunstanburgh Castle to catch an unforgettable sunrise. As the first light of morning bled into the sky behind the ruins, the whole coast lit up in pinks and golds. It felt like the perfect final chapter to a night none of us would ever forget.

The images we captured that night tell one story — but the feeling of being out there, all together under that sky, was something else entirely. It’s the kind of night you can’t fake or force. The kind that reminds you why you pick up a camera in the first place.

Workshops like this aren’t just about settings and techniques (although we definitely hammered those too) — they’re about chasing moments that matter. About rolling with whatever the land, the weather, and the wild forces of nature decide to throw at you.

Last May in Northumberland will go down as one of the most unforgettable workshop adventures I’ve ever run. And to the crew who made it what it was — absolute legends. I couldn’t have asked for a better group to share it with.

Behind the Scenes: Kit, Tips & Lessons

Packing Essentials:

• Layers, layers, layers — base layers, insulated jackets, hats, and gloves. Standing still for hours is brutal without the right gear.

• Spare batteries and memory cards — cold kills battery life fast, and you’ll burn through cards shooting time-lapses and long exposures.

• Tripod — rock solid, with a hook underneath for extra weight if the winds pick up.

Gear We Used for the Aurora:

• Full-frame DSLRs and mirrorless cameras — mostly Nikon D850s (me) and Nikon D750s (clients)

• Wide, fast lenses (14mm to 24mm range, f/2.8 or faster) were perfect for capturing wide skies and keeping ISO reasonable.

• Intervalometers and headlamps (with red light mode) made life so much easier out there in the dark.

Lessons from the Night:

• Always keep half an eye on space weather — sometimes the best light shows come from above, not the horizon.

• Flexibility is everything — when conditions change, you need to pivot fast.

• Sunrise after a full night of shooting tastes like victory... and strong coffee.