The Ultimate Northern Lights Photography Guide

The most common question I get asked is, “How do you photograph the northern lights?” Whether you’re in Iceland, Norway, or Alaska, northern lights photography has to be one of the most difficult yet rewarding experiences a photographer can have! With sub-zero temperatures, low lighting, and a variety of other factors, taking a great image of the elusive aurora borealis is no easy task. Photos can come out underexposed, grainy, blurry—definitely not reflecting the splendor you witnessed with your eyes.

However, if done correctly, you can expect an image of swirling curtains of color in the night sky, dotted with sparkling stars amidst a cold, wintry landscape. It’s absolutely magical, and I’m here to help you maximize your chances of not only seeing but also successfully photographing the mystical northern lights!

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Read on for the ultimate northern lights photography guide!

The first time

I still remember the first time seeing the northern lights. Ever since I’d read Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials Trilogy as a kid, I dreamed of witnessing this natural phenomenon!

Luck had it so that my family and I traveled to Tromso, Norway, which was renowned as a prime northern lights spot. The last night we spent camping out in the snow, and witnessed one of the most beautiful sights…I still remember the tears freezing on my cheeks.

I owned a Canon 550D back then, and was completely unprepared. The pictures came out grainy, dark, and left a lot desired. Flash forward a few aurora-hunting trips later, and I went from sloppy images to crisp photographs of swirling colors. Below are the tips I’ve learnt along the way!

Iceland, Norway, Alaska…where should I go?

In the northern (or southern, for the aurora australis) hemisphere, look for places away from city lights, with minimal cloud cover. Some prime locations include:

• Alaska (specifically Fairbanks)

• Norway, Sweden, Finland (especially Tromso in Norway)

• Iceland (pretty much anywhere away from light pollution)

• Northern regions of Canada (think the Yukon Territory)

When should I go for northern lights photography?

• Winter time is the best for northern lights hunting, as they are only visible during the dark–sunlight, city lights, or even a bright moon can diminish the visibility of the aurora!

• Winter also provides the longest nights, increasing your chances of spotting the northern lights

• A fact only known to aurora hunters is that spring and autumn equinoxes bring peaks around September / March. So if you’re planning a northern lights trip, your best bet is late September through late March

• You can also use this website to track the KP index (0-9, 0 being low, 9 being high) for the best chance of spotting the aurora!

What camera equipment should I use for northern lights photography?

Camera

A camera with manual mode allows you to fully control the functions. A full frame (35mm or larger sensor) DSLR will also help – I use a Canon 5D Mark III, and also recommend the Sony A7R II

Lenses

Wide angle lenses (14-35mm range) with fast aperture (f2.8 or f1.4 if possible) are desirable, since they’ll allow you to capture a widelandscape, along with keeping ISO low (to reduce grain), and minimize shutter speed (so stars don’t trail). I use the following:

• Canon 24mm f/1.4 L II USM – a great prime with really wide open aperture for letting in lots of light
• Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM – wonderful landscape lens that gives a little more flexibility in framing, while still having great aperture capability
• Sony 24-70mm f/4 – an extremely versatile, wonderful walkaround lens
• Sony 35mm f/2.8 – a SUPER compact, almost pancake-style lens that produces beautiful images

Tripod

A tripod. Normally, carbon fiber may be the way to go with its light build. But with wind conditions and harsh weather, sometimes you can actually benefit from a sturdy, heavier tripod! Mine is a Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Black Tripod Legs 055 with Manfrotto 498RC2 Ball Head

Camera bag

In regards to camera bags, I recommend ones by f-stop — these are hands-down my favorite camera bags for intense trips, with a convertible internal packing system. They are super light, durable, and built for hardcore photographers

Other camera gear

• Extra batteries – the cold really drains battery life, so make sure you bring some extra for long nights of shooting. Your body heat will keep prolong battery life as well!
• SD cards – I always bring at least 3 spare SD cards and rotate them. If you misplace one, at least you don’t lose all your pictures!
• Mittens/gloves – Iceland can get pretty cold, especially during night shoots. A pair of thin gloves for mobility to control the camera functions is handy, along with a pair of thicker mittens
• Remote shutter release – a remote release comes in handy especially when setting up to shoot a time lapse (think northern lights!)
• Laptop / hard drive – nothing is worse than losing photos! Bring along a place to store and edit your images
• Flashlight – for night photography, a flashlight or headlight is super handy when you’re trying to find where on earth you put that extra piece of equipment in your bag. Flashlights also = light drawing!

What camera settings should I use for northern lights photography?

Photography is all about capturing light, and balancing the three elements: ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. With northern lights photography, you’ll want to maximize as much light coming into your sensor as possible.

• Aperture: a large aperture — think f2.8 or even f1.4 if possible! This will allow you to keep shutter speed and ISO minimized
• Shutter speed: start off at 15-25 seconds and adjust as necessary. Be sure not to go too long, though, or stars will start to trail!
• ISO: you’ll want to maximize light input but keep grain to a bare minimum. Begin at 400 and work your way up as needed

I also recommend shooting in RAW – it’ll really help keep all the detail in the images when it comes to processing!

What processing software is best for northern lights photography?

I’m a huge fan of Lightroom for this. Terrific at handling countless photographs, Lightroom is fast, relatively intuitive, and extremely powerful. Using a few tools here will really boost your images and make them pop.

So there you have it! Do you have any tips for northern lights photography? Let me know about your experiences below!

Happy chasing and shooting!