How to Photograph Northern Lights – Best Settings and Tips (2024)

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To photograph the Northern Lights, a good starting point is:aperture f/2.8 or the widest possible in your lens, ISO 3200-8000, and a shutter speed between 1-12 seconds, depending on the Northern Lights activity. The quicker the Aurora moves, the faster your shutter speed should be.

However,photographing the Northern Lights goes beyond these settings. I still remember how excited I was before my first Northern Lights trip and how challenging it was to capture the Aurora Borealis.

If you want to learnhow to photograph the Northern Lights and skip the trial and error, keep reading. I’ve prepared this Northern Lights guidewhere you’ll find thebest way to photograph the Northern Lightslike an expert!

In a nutshell, these are the best settings to photographing the Northern Lights:

1. Use an aperture of f/2.8 or the widest in your lens
2. Adjust an ISO from 3200 to 8000
3. Set a shutter speed between 1-12 seconds
4. Adjust your white balance to 3500k
5. Focus manually on a distant light
6. Set the general camera settings for Northern Lights
7. Select a shutter delay of 2 seconds
8. Check your Northern Lights shot histogram

Also, after the best steps, you’ll find a section with the best gear, compositions, and tips to photograph the Northern Lights.

Additionally, if you want to learn how to photograph the Northern Lights with a smartphone, I’ve got a section to cover your needs! Phones these days are capable of capturing some impressive Northern Lights photos.

1. Use an aperture of f/2.8 or the widest in your lens

The aperture is the first setting you must adjust to take pictures of the Northern Lights.

Toshoot the Northern Lights correctly, it’s fundamental to choose thebest exposure settings for Northern Lights photography: aperture,ISO, and shutter speed. The goal is to adjust these settings so you can capture as much light as possible while using a short shutter speedaccording to the movement of the Aurora.

The key in Northern Lights photography is to set the widest aperture in your lens to capture as much light as possible.

If you can, try to use an aperture of f/2.8 or lower. The wider the aperture, the more quality you’ll see in your Aurora images with less digital noise. For this, it’s important to use a good lens for Northern Lights.

2. Adjust an ISO from 3200 to 8000

Using thebest ISO for Northern Lights photography iscrucial. It will allow you to have the right exposure using a shorter shutter speed, which is the ultimate goal in Aurora Borealis photography.

To capture the Aurora, raise your camera’snative ISO as high as possible, ideally between 3200 and 8000. However, the right ISO setting for the Northern Lights depends on three main factors:

• Your camera: It varies from one model to another, but generally, high-end cameraswith Full-Frame sensors can set a higher ISO for capturing the Northern Lights, usually between ISO 5000 and 12800.

If you use an entry-level camera with a crop sensor and you raise your ISO over the limit, you’ll likely find digital noise and you won’t get a quality image.With this type of camera, I recommend maintaining an ISO of 6400 or lower.

We’ll see more about the best cameras for Northern Lightsbelow.

• The moonlight: When there is a big, and bright moon illuminating the landscape, set a lower ISO between 800-3200 depending on the brightness.

• External artificial lights: If you’re photographing the Northern Lights in a scene with external lights, such as the street or house lights, you should set a lower ISO, or the highlights will be blown out in your Aurora shots.

To capture clear and sharp shots, I recommend checking our article on how to take noise-free images. After all, if you find some noise in your photos, don’t worry; you can always eliminate it using any of the best noise reduction software.

3. Set a shutter speed between 1-12 seconds

The last and most important exposure setting for Northern Lights photography is the shutter speed. The exposure time is the most challenging setting for shooting the Northern Lights, mainly for one reason: the Aurora Borealis is unpredictable.

Unlike other types of night shots like Milky Way photography, where the stars determine the maximum exposure time, the shape and brightness of the Aurora constantly change. This means you must adjust the shutter speed according to every specific situation.

Generally speaking,the stronger, more dynamic, and brighter the Northern Lights are, the faster the shutter speedyou need to freeze the shape and movement of the Aurora in your Northern Lights images.

• You can use this guide toset your shutter speed for the Northern Lights as a reference:
  • Faint and static Auroras: When the Auroras are weak and not clearly visible to the naked eye, use a shutter speed between 8 and 12 seconds.
  • Vibrant Auroras: If the Northern Lights are visible to the naked eye and show some movement, your shutter speed should range between 3 and 8 seconds.
  • Very strong Northern Lights: When the Auroras are very active, and they’re moving fast, you should use a very short shutter speed from 0.5 to 3 secondsto freeze their movement and avoid blowing out the highlights.

See Also

How to Photograph the Northern LightsGuide to Northern Lights PhotographyHow to photograph the Northern Lights, according to an expertNorthern Lights Photography - The Ultimate Guide [2024]

4. Adjust your white balance to 3500k

In Northern Lights photography, you should always set a manual White Balance.

A good starting point is to set yourNorthern Lights white balance around 3500 Kelvin, which is when the Northern Lights show a more natural color.

Although you can change the white balance in post-processing when you shoot in Raw, it’s better if there’s color consistency in your Aurora images. Besides, it’ll make your Northern Lights editing step faster.

This is especially important when the Aurora spreads across the sky and you want to take a Northern Lights panorama.

Here you can see a series of examples of how the Northern Lights look when captured usingdifferent white balance settings.

5. Focus manually on a distant light

To avoid this common mistake,I suggest following these steps to achieve perfect focus on yourNorthern Lights images:

• To focus at night, set the live view mode on your camera, zoom in on a distant light, like the moon or a bright star, andmove the focus ring of your lens manually until you can find the sharpest point.

Some cameras can automatically focus at night, but most struggle to do this, so I always recommend adjusting the focus manually in low-light conditions.

Important note:Regardless of the focus method, once the focus is set,leave the focus mode as manual, and don’t move the focus ring during your entire Northern Lights session unless you change your lens or focal length.

Another critical tip for focusing in Northern Lights photography is to open the captured image on your LCD screen and zoom in on the stars to check if your focus is correct.

I try to do this from time to time during an Aurora session, especially when I move from one location to another since you can accidentally move the focus ring. This is one of the best tips for focusing in photography.

Many photographers recommendfocusing at the hyperfocal distance, but if you want to make sure that your stars are perfectly sharp, I don’t recommend this method.

6. Set the general camera settings for Northern Lights

The generalcamera settings for Northern Lightsare not very different from the common long exposure night photography settings. Beforetaking pictures of the Northern Lights with a Mirrorless or DSLR camera, I always suggest adjusting the following settings:

• Screen brightness: First, turn down your LCD screen brightness. That way, you’ll see a more realistic preview and avoid underexposing your Aurora shots.

• Shoot in RAW: Do this to capture as much information as possible, both in the highlights and the shadows. This is fundamental for post-processing in Northern Lights photography.

• Long exposure noise reduction: Turn this setting off. This will slow your camera down, and you can’t miss a second while chasing the Aurora. You can reduce the noise in post-processing using Denoise AI or another piece of software which is more effective than in-camera.

7. Select a shutter delay of 2 seconds

To take the sharpest images, ensure your camera is on a steady tripod and set a shutter delay of 2 seconds. If it’s windy, you can change the delay to 5 seconds to avoid any possible vibrations when you press the shutter button.

You can also use a shutter releaseor an intervalometer. Since shooting the Northern Lights requires you to move according to the movement of the Aurora, I’m usually more comfortable using the internal shutter delay. I just use the intervalometer when I’m shooting a Northern Lights time-lapse.

8. Check your Northern Lights histogram

To verify that you are using the correct settings for your Northern Lights images, always play the image on the back of your camera.

Zoom in on the stars and check if everything is in focus. Then, check the histogram in your Northern Lights photographs. You can learn how to read the histogram here.

The camera brightness, external lights, and general light conditions can trick your eye when youcheck the Aurora images on your camera screen, so the best way to take Northern Lights pictures while ensuring that the exposure is correct is by checking the histogram.

Ideally, the histogram should tilt towards the left, but don’t clip the blacks. It’s crucial to check that you aren’t clipping the highlights, which is very common when the Aurora activity increases.

As you can see, shooting the Aurora is not difficult if you know the basics. This is a summary of all the steps you need to follow to photograph the Northern Lights:

However, in Northern Lights photography, there are other factors to consider beyond the main camera settings. Below, we’ll dive into other fundamentals that will set you up for success when chasing the Norther Lights.

• Best camera gear for Northern Lights
• Composition for taking Aurora images
• Other tips on how to shoot the Northern Lights
• How to photograph the Northern Lights with a smartphone

Best camera Gear for Northern Lights photography

Having the right camera gear for Northern Lights photography is essential to get the best possible images.

CAMERAS FOR NORTHERN LIGHTS

Regarding cameras, there’s a significant difference between Full-Frame cameras and cameras with smaller sensors. Yes, you can photograph the Northern Lights with a GoPro, compact camera, or even an iPhone, but don’t expect the same quality.

Full-frame cameras are the best because they have bigger pixels that allow your camera sensor to capture more light. In this range, cameras with fewer megapixels are better for the Northern Lights. (More info about this in our camera sensor size article).

You can find more information about what makes a great camera for Aurora photography and the best models in myguide to the best Northern Lights cameras in 2023.

LENSES FOR AURORA PHOTOGRAPHY

Camera lenses are as equally important (or even more) than the camera. The easiest and most effective way to photograph the Aurora is by using a fast wide-angle lens.

Any focal length between 12mm and 24mm will allow you to capture a reasonable area of the night sky and the ground. Prime lenses are usually faster and lighter, but they’re less versatile than zoom lenses. This is a matter of taste; zoom lenses make photography composition easier, while prime lenses will provide the best quality, especially those with an aperture of f/1.8 or below.

You can find a full list of the best models in my article on the best lenses for Northern lights in 2023.

Other pieces of gear for the Northern Lights

Some other pieces of gear that you’ll need are the basics for any type of night shooting, like a tripod, headlamp, intervalometer, etc.

I highly recommend taking some photography gloves to stay warm during your session. Shooting the Aurora at high latitudes can be challenging, especially during winter. In my case, I always wear the Heat 3 Smart photography gloves from The Heat Company.

A good tip related to camera gear for the Northern Lights is to rent a camera or lens for your trip to see the Northern Lights. High-end camera gear is expensive, so sometimes renting for a particular trip makes sense, especially if it’s your first time shooting the Aurora and you don’t know if you’ll use it again.

In my case, I always like testing new lenses and cameras during my Northern Lights Photo Tours, and I always rent with Lensrentals.They operate within the US, and you can get a 15% discount using the codeATLAS 15.

Composition for Northern Lights pictures

Once you know the basics of capturing the Northern Lights, the most common mistake I’ve seen is not giving enough importance to composition.

The initial reaction, especially if it’s yourfirst time photographing the Aurora, is to point your camera to the sky and shoot.

Sometimes, the Northern Lights are so vivid and colorful that just a picture of the sky with the Aurora can be beautiful. However, in most cases, thebest way to photograph the Northern Lightsis by creating a composition as if you were capturing a normal night scene, considering not only the sky but also the ground.

Although you can find the best photography composition rules in this article, here are a few tips on Northern Lights photography composition:

• Look at the sky, but don’t forget about the ground.

• Try to include elements that can reflect the Aurora, like water, snow, or ice.

• Be flexible and look for compositions according to the movement of the Aurora.

• Use vertical compositions when the Aurora forms the famous “Northern Lights crown.”

• Create panoramas when the Northern Lights “dance” across the whole sky.

• If you manage to capture a mirror reflection, place the horizon in the middle of the frame.

• Use human elements to give some sense of scale.

Other tips on how to photograph the Northern Lights

At this point, you already know how to photograph the Northern Lights like an expert, but here are a few tips for shooting the Aurora that’ll help you take your images to the next level:

1. Plan your Northern Lights photos

In landscape photography, all good shots start from good planning, and when we’re talking about the Northern Lights, it’s even more important.

Be sure to plan your trip to the Arctic with the best time to see the Northern Lights. Also, find the best places to see the Northern Lightsat your destination. In the following articles we have written, you will find more detailed information:

• When and where to see the Northern Lights in Iceland
• When and where to see the Northern Lights in Norway
• When and where to see the Northern Lights in Canada
• When and where to see the Northern Lights in Alaska
• When and where to see the Northern Lights in Finland
• When and where to see the Northern Lights in Sweden
• When and where to see the Northern Lights in Michigan

2. Learn how to read the Northern Lights forecast

If you already know what causes the Northern Lights, you will be familiar with the KP index, which will determine the chances of seeing the Aurora at your latitude and how intense the lights will be.

If there is a great solar storm, the KP index will be high, which is the best time to photograph the Northern Lights.

To check it, visit a website like Space Weather Live or NOAA. We have a specific article abouthow to read the Northern Light forecast.

If the forecast is positive, be ready!

3. Look for clear skies to photograph the Northern Lights

It could be the biggest Northern Lights display of the year, but you’ll miss it if the skies are cloudy. Try to go to an area withpotential clear skiesbefore photographing the Aurora.

My favorite weather forecast sites for the Aurora, depending on your location, are:

• Windy – General – Any location
• Vedur – Iceland
• YR – Norway
• Weather GC – Canada
• SAA – Finland

4. Use the best app to photograph the Northern Lights

Even if the forecast isn’t very promising, the Auroras are unpredictable and may appear suddenly. If you don’t want to miss the show, I recommend downloading the best Northern Lights app, “My Aurora forecast.” It’s free, and it also includes alarms and notifications in case there is a sudden KP increase in your location.

Also, this app for photographing the Northern Lights will show you the Aurora forecast by minute, hour, and day and the cloud coverage in your location. For me, it is one of the most effective and simple Aurora apps.

5. Shoot a Northern Lights time-lapse

If taking pictures of the Northern Lights is exciting, imagine capturing the lights dancing in the sky. The only way to capture this movement with the highest quality is by shooting atime-lapse of the Northern Lights.

To do this, use an intervalometer and setintervals of 1 second. Simply takeinto account the camera settings for Northern Lights photography explained above.

Plan at least 100 to 300 shots to capture the movement of the Aurora. Then, put them together using the LRTimelapse software. The result will leave you in awe!

6. Get inspired by the best Northern Lights images

Do you need some inspiration to photograph the Northern Lights? Take a look at this compilation of the best Northern Lights images!

These images will show you how some of the top landscape photographers compose and capture the best Aurora images worldwide in places like Finland, Iceland, Norway, Canada, Alaska, and even the UK.

7. Join me on my next Northern LightsCAPTURE THE ATLAS PHOTO TOUR

You may already knowthe best camera settings for Northern Lights photography, but you’ll find many challenges when you are in the field.

if you’re a passionate photographer and you’d like to learn from professional Aurora photographers, I recommend joining one of our Northern Lights photography tours! We’d be happy to have you on our Northern Lights Iceland photo tour or our Lofoten Islands photo tour in Norway, where we focus on chasing and shooting the Aurora with a small group of passionate photographers!

Besides, in ourNorthern Lights photo tours,we’ll photograph some of the most incredible landscapes on our planet. Would you like to join us?

How to Photograph the Northern Lights with a Smartphone

Before we finish, it’s good that we also cover how to take pictures of the Northern Lights with a smartphone.

Phone cameras keep getting better and better each year, and most phones these days can take stunning Northern Lights photos. The quality might not be the same as using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, but if you are looking for a quick way to photograph the Northern Lights and share with friends and family, chances are your smartphone can take beautiful images of the Northern Lights.

Learning to photograph the Northern Lights with your smartphone is very easy and straightforward; follow these simple steps and let the results shine for themselves!

1. Open your camera app on the phone
2. Set the camera app to night mode. Some devices, like iPhones, automatically switch to night mode when they detect low light in the scene.
3. Point the phone where you want to take the Northern Lights photo.
4. Hold the phone with both hands and tap the shutter button.
5. Stand still for 3 seconds. You’ll find a reference point on the screen; try not to move out of that frame.
6. Check your Northern Lights photo.

Additionally, if you have a tripod with a phone adapter, you can mount your phone to the tripod to take even longer exposures, like 10 seconds. In high-end phones, you can use manual mode, and follow the same settings for aperture, shutter speed, ISO and white balance as mentioned above for cameras.

These are some examples of Northern Lights photographs taken with smartphones to inspire you:

Conclusion

Northern Lights photographyis probably one of the most challenging genres to learn and master. There are many factors that you can’t control, such as the Aurora activity or cloud coverage.

However, if you know your camera gear, thebest Northern Lights settings, and how to create interesting compositions, your chances of capturing beautiful Aurora images will increase drastically.

I hope thisNorthern Lights photography guidehelps you succeed in yourAurora shooting experience,and you can return home with fantastic Aurora photographs.

Happy chasing and clear skies!