Photographing the Northern Lights: The Best Tips for Impressive Pictures

Do you dream of photographing the Northern Lights? Here you will find the best tips to perfectly capture this fascinating natural phenomenon-from the right equipment to the best camera settings. I have been fortunate to witness these captivating Northern Lights (as they are also called) in Iceland, northern Norway, Finland, Ireland, and Canada.

The Northern Lights are caused by particles from the solar wind colliding with the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in various colors.

For photographing the Northern Lights, a good camera, bright wide-angle lenses, and a sturdy tripod are essential to optimally capture the lights.

Nowadays, you can also capture the Northern Lights with your smartphone.

Your best chances of seeing the Northern Lights are between October and March in geomagnetic regions such as Iceland, Norway, Canada, and Finland.

I will show you the best settings for your camera.

The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are celestial phenomena caused by the interaction of solar wind particles with the Earth's atmosphere. These particles collide with atmospheric molecules, producing light in various colors. The most common colors are green and red, but blue, violet, and yellow can also appear.

This spectacular natural phenomenon can primarily be observed in polar regions, such as Iceland, Norway, and Finland. In the United States, the Northern Lights are very rarely visible since it is often too far south. The best chances for observing the Northern Lights are near the geomagnetic poles.

Similarly, they are rarely seen in Ireland. In June, I was able to witness spectacular Northern Lights dancing in the sky during a road trip in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Lights are not only a visual spectacle, but also a scientifically fascinating phenomenon. The colors and shapes of the lights can vary based on the intensity of solar activity and specific atmospheric conditions. These magical lights are a true delight for anyone fortunate enough to see them, and even more for those who can successfully photograph them.

Image: Various cameras and equipment for Northern Lights photography.

To successfully photograph the magical Northern Lights, the right equipment is essential. A robust mirrorless camera with high ISO capabilities is recommended to capture the faint light of the Aurora Borealis. However, the camera alone is not enough; bright wide-angle or ultra-wide-angle lenses are also important to capture the entire scene.

In addition to the camera and lens, a stable tripod or remote shutter is also crucial to avoid shaky shots. Spare batteries are also essential, as winter temperatures can significantly shorten battery life. You should have additional memory cards with you anyway.

In the following section, we will discuss these equipment items in detail.

Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras are particularly well-suited for photographing the Northern Lights. These cameras provide the flexibility to use different lenses and allow for better control over image quality. Cameras with full-frame sensors, such as my Sony Alpha 7 IV or the backup, the Sony Alpha 7 CII, are especially beneficial as they offer a larger sensor area, resulting in better performance in low-light conditions. Sony cameras are particularly known for their low noise performance during night shots.

A wide-angle lens is essential to capture both the Northern Lights and the impressive landscape in a single frame. For Northern Lights photography, the lens should have an aperture of f/2.8 or lower to allow more light in and to use a short exposure time. This is crucial for optimally utilizing the weak light conditions of the Aurora Borealis.

Suitable focal lengths for Northern Lights photography are 14-35 mm for full-frame cameras and 9-24 mm for APS-C cameras. In summary, bright wide-angle lenses and cameras with large sensors are optimal for capturing the magical lights in their full glory.

Prime lenses are always the best, such as the 24mm f/2.8 G Sony FE-Mount (which I was able to test for Milky Way photography in Tenerife) or the SEL 20mm f/1.8 G Sony FE-Mount, which I am currently considering.

Even though I believe that a smartphone can never truly replace a camera, I have found that you can also take good photos of the Northern Lights with your phone using long exposure, and ideally with a smartphone tripod.

Check out my travel tripods, all of which have mounts for smartphones (my favorite is by Peak Design).

A stable tripod is essential to avoid camera shake during long exposures, especially in windy conditions. Professionals love the Gitzo tripods. I had one before, but it became too heavy for my travels, so years ago I bought the Peak Design Travel Tripod and I am still very happy with it. It is made of carbon, I can hang a backpack on the hook underneath for stabilization, and it also includes a mount for a smartphone.

Since I use the camera clip from Peak Design, I have the plate mounted on the camera to quickly attach the camera using a quick release.

Other good tripods include the Rollei Compact Traveler No. 1 Carbon (also travel-friendly) or the Rollei Compact Traveler Mini M1. These tripods provide the necessary stability while being lightweight enough for easy transport.

Many still use classic remote shutters. My Sony camera(s) allow me to control the shutter via an app. Alternatively, I usually activate the self-timer with a 2-second delay. This way, you can also avoid camera movement when pressing the shutter.

To avoid shake when photographing the Northern Lights, you should utilize one of these alternatives in addition to the tripod. If your camera has this feature, you should disable electronic image stabilization (on Sony, this is called "Steady Shot"), as it often does more harm than good in low light.

Spare batteries and additional memory cards are important to be well-prepared during long nights and low temperatures. Batteries drain quickly in the cold, so it's important to have spare batteries and keep them close to your body to maintain their functionality. I always pack a battery in my jacket's inner pocket to keep it warm with body heat.

Usually, no spare batteries are needed for 3-4 hours, except for using apps. I always like to play it safe.

To successfully photograph the Northern Lights, you need not only the right equipment but also thorough preparation and planning. An important prerequisite for photographing the Northern Lights is being prepared for long nights and low temperatures. Temperatures in the far north can drop to -15 to -20 degrees Celsius in winter, so you should prepare accordingly.

During the day, you can explore the surroundings to identify good photo spots from which you can photograph the Northern Lights well. Darkness, clear skies, and high auroral activity are crucial for seeing the Northern Lights. It's advisable to stay away from light sources and crowds to create the best viewing conditions for the Northern Lights. Often, this is (at least for me) not possible either.

The best time to see the Northern Lights is from October to March. The best viewing conditions occur during polar night, with the highest chances in the months of March/April and September/October. During this time, the nights are longest, and the chances of seeing the Northern Lights are highest.

I have had good experiences in September. The advantage: It's not too cold yet, it gets dark earlier again in the far north, making it really pleasant outdoors. However, in the colder months, you often have clear night skies (or snow and dense clouds). It's always a kind of roulette.

The best places to see the Northern Lights for me include Iceland, northern Norway, Finland (Lapland), northern Sweden, Svalbard, Manitoba (Churchill, Canada), northern Alaska, and southern Greenland. These locations fall within the geomagnetic latitudes between 65° and 75°, where the Northern Lights are most frequently observed.

Ireland and Scotland are less ideal. However, I saw the Northern Lights in Northern Ireland in June and also in Lapland in January. As the saying goes, you never know. I also like to be surprised and enjoy them when they appear. The most impressive view I had was in Canada when they danced quickly in the sky (and were perfectly visible to the naked eye).

Weather conditions are crucial for the visibility of the Northern Lights, as cloudy skies can hinder visibility. Therefore, it's important to closely monitor the weather forecasts and stay informed about the current conditions at the observation location.

Aurora prediction apps utilize data such as solar activity, magnetometers, and weather stations to forecast visibility. To get good information for the Northern Lights, local websites and specific weather apps are helpful. For Iceland, you can check the Vedur website, where you can view the forecasts.

Nevertheless, don't trust any app completely and check outside yourself. That's what we always do, and we've often been surprised that the Northern Lights were visible (with the naked eye), even though apps indicated a 0% probability.

Here are some important points to keep in mind:

Manual camera settings are essential when photographing the Northern Lights, as automatic settings do not perform well in darkness. It is important to manually adjust the following settings for the best results:

The ISO value should be as low as possible. Since you are photographing with a tripod, you can experiment with an ISO value around 200-400. I always choose a lower value. Others sometimes use ISO 1000. The aperture should always be as wide open as possible. For my lens, it is f/2.8.

Generally, it is said that the ideal ISO values for Northern Lights photography are between 1600 and 3200. A higher ISO value increases the sensor's light sensitivity, which is especially important in low light like the Northern Lights. However, too high an ISO value can lead to image noise, so 6400 should be the maximum value to avoid noise. Older camera models may have problems at ISO values above 400/800. I can theoretically go very high with my Sony, but I want to avoid that.

The following settings should be taken into account for Northern Lights photography:

The optimal exposure time for the Northern Lights is between 5 and 20 seconds, depending on the brightness of the lights. Shorter exposure times are better for bright Northern Lights, while longer exposure times can be used for dimmer lights. However, longer exposure times may cause stars to appear blurry in the images or satellites to be visible with long streaks.

A higher ISO value can amplify image noise, so it's better to lower this and extend the exposure time. The results should be regularly checked, and the camera settings adjusted based on the light situation.

I also experiment here, as each night and condition is different. I also want to avoid overly long-exposed Northern Lights photos, as often seen (too green and the dancing lights appear as broad streaks that often aren't visible in reality). I test between 0.5 to 10 seconds. In Iceland, I was able to take great photos at 5 seconds.

Manual focus is crucial for Northern Lights photography since autofocus is ineffective in darkness. Here are some steps you should follow:

By following these steps, you can ensure that your shots of the Northern Lights are sharp and clear.

I usually leave the white balance on automatic and correct it later in Adobe Lightroom if necessary. If you want to control it manually, you should set it between 3500 and 4500 Kelvin. This helps represent the colors of the Northern Lights as true to life as possible and improves image quality.

A thoughtful composition greatly enhances a photograph of the Northern Lights. Interesting foregrounds and different perspectives can significantly improve the visual impact of your photos as a photographer. However, I am more of a traveler than a photographer and tend not to plan precisely where I will be when the Northern Lights are visible.

Nevertheless, here are some tips on objects you can incorporate into your image composition.

Static objects in the foreground, such as buildings or trees, add depth to the image and make the photo more appealing. Here are some examples of static objects that should be included in the foreground of Northern Lights photos:

These elements help highlight the beauty of the Northern Lights and make the overall image more interesting.

A calm water surface reflects the Northern Lights and doubles their visual impact. Unfortunately, I never had truly beautiful Northern Lights when I was by the sea.

Including the horizon in the image composition better shows the extent and phenomenon of the Northern Lights. By incorporating the horizon, the image gains more depth and context, enhancing the spectacle of the Northern Lights.

Different perspectives can enhance the size and impressive display of the Northern Lights. Choosing different perspectives offers creative freedom and can enrich the visual experience of the Northern Lights.

I always photograph in RAW mode. Using the RAW file format is advantageous as it stores more image information for post-processing. To make the most out of your Northern Lights photos, it is vital to shoot in RAW.

The images must be post-processed to better showcase the colors and details of the Aurora Borealis.

The RAW format allows for comprehensive post-processing, as it stores all camera information. Recommended photo editing software for Northern Lights images includes Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop. I don't have experience with Capture One.

These programs offer extensive tools for improving image quality and adjusting colors.

You can significantly improve image quality when reducing noise by editing your image in Lightroom or Photoshop. There are various methods. In Lightroom, for example, you can use the automatic and AI-driven function "Reduce Noise" under noise reduction. Targeted noise reduction is especially effective in smooth areas of images. I try to avoid this "noise" from the outset by keeping the ISO value as low as possible.

To better showcase the Northern Lights in post-processing, you should increase brightness and darken the shadows. You'll find many tutorials or courses on this on YouTube. Everyone must find their own workflow.

If you have never photographed manually at night, it is important to prepare well and practice the camera functions and settings before photographing the Northern Lights. Also, practice attaching the camera to the tripod. I have often been with people who did not know how to set up their tripod. Always set it up indoors, mount the camera, and only then go outside.

A headlamp with a red light mode is also very useful. This way, you can shine light on your camera (if needed) without blinding others while photographing. Nothing is more annoying than other photographers ruining your shot by disturbing the darkness with their flashlights.

Spare batteries are crucial as cold temperatures can significantly reduce battery life, especially during longer photography sessions. Always keep spare batteries close to your body (in the inner pocket of your jacket).

If you include people in your image composition, they should not move during the exposure time to avoid shake. However, sometimes this is also intended.

The Northern Lights are not always predictable, so patience is required to experience the spectacle. Don't forget to enjoy the show in the sky and take a break from the camera. And if it gets too late, you can always go to bed. Often, you will have another chance, or they may still be visible in the following days despite forecasts. I speak from experience.

As a beginner, you can practice your skills by photographing stars, the Milky Way, or city lights at night. You can find my tips for photographing the Milky Way here.

The right clothing is important as you will have to stand still for long periods in the cold. The required clothing includes:

When it's really cold in the far north, gadgets like hand warmers or a thermos with hot tea can be helpful to keep warm.

Photographing the Northern Lights requires not only the right equipment and technical knowledge but also patience, persistence, and careful planning. With a robust camera, a bright wide-angle lens, and a stable tripod, you are well-equipped to capture the enchanting lights in the night sky. The correct camera settings and thoughtful image composition also play a significant role in creating impressive shots.

Don't forget to edit your images to better display the colors and details of the Aurora Borealis. Use my tips and tricks from this blog post to practice and take your Northern Lights photography to the next level. As silly as the saying goes, "Practice makes perfect."

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are fascinating celestial phenomena that occur when particles from the solar wind collide with the Earth's atmosphere. This interaction creates beautiful light displays in the sky.

To photograph the Northern Lights, you will need a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a bright wide-angle lens, and a sturdy tripod. Don't forget spare batteries and a remote shutter for the best results!

The best time to see the Northern Lights is from October to March. The top locations for this are Iceland, Norway, and Finland.

For Northern Lights photography, ISO values between 1600 and 3200 are ideal, an aperture of f/2.8 or lower, and an exposure time of 5 to 20 seconds. Don't forget to manually set the focus to infinity!

To optimally edit your Northern Lights photos, you should shoot in RAW format and use software such as Lightroom or Photoshop. Noise reduction and color correction are crucial for impressive results.

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