You do not need a pro setup
Photographing the Northern Lights looks intimidating, but the basics are simple. If you can set your camera to manual mode and steady it on a tripod, you can capture the aurora. This guide covers the settings, the gear and the habits that give beginners the best results.
The gear that matters
- A camera with manual controls: A mirrorless or DSLR camera is ideal, though many modern phones have a night mode that works well.
- A sturdy tripod: Exposures last several seconds, so any movement ruins the shot.
- A wide, fast lens: Something around 14 to 24 mm with an aperture of f/2.8 or wider gathers the most light.
- Spare batteries: Cold drains batteries quickly. Keep spares in an inner pocket close to your body.
- A headlamp with red light: It lets you adjust settings without ruining your night vision.
Starting camera settings
Switch to manual mode and try these starting points, then adjust to the brightness of the lights:
- Aperture: As wide as your lens allows, for example f/2.8.
- ISO: 1600 to 3200 for a first try. Go lower if the aurora is bright, higher if it is faint.
- Shutter speed: 5 to 15 seconds. Shorter exposures keep moving curtains sharp; longer ones brighten faint displays.
- White balance: Around 3500 to 4500 K, or set Auto and fix it later if you shoot RAW.
- Format: RAW, which preserves detail and makes editing much easier.
Focusing in the dark
Autofocus struggles at night. Switch to manual focus, point at a bright star or a distant light, use live view to zoom in, and turn the focus ring until the point is as sharp as possible. Then leave the focus alone. Taking a test shot and checking the screen is worth the few seconds it takes.
Composition tips
A foreground makes a photo much more interesting than a sky alone. Look for snow-laden trees, a frozen lake, a cabin or a glass igloo roof. Place the horizon in the lower third of the frame and leave room for the aurora above. Including people as silhouettes gives a sense of scale.
Using a smartphone
Modern phones can take good aurora photos. Use night mode, prop the phone on a tripod or a stable surface, and avoid zoom. Tap to focus on a distant point, turn the flash off, and use the timer so you do not shake the phone. Results vary, so take several shots.
Protecting your gear in the cold
Condensation is the hidden danger. Moving a cold camera into a warm room can cause moisture to form inside. Put the camera in a sealed bag before coming indoors and let it warm up slowly. Wear thin gloves under warm mittens so you can operate the controls, and keep your phone close to your body.
Where to shoot
You want dark skies, a clear horizon to the north and no moonlight if possible. Check the forecast using the best aurora forecast apps, and read about the KP index to understand what the numbers mean. Joining a guided tour helps, because the guide chooses the location based on the cloud forecast. Our Guaranteed Northern Lights tour from Rovaniemi includes unlimited mileage for this reason.
Shoot from a glass igloo
If you want a comfortable base for photography, a glass igloo is hard to beat. You can leave your camera ready, check the sky from bed and step outside only when the display looks promising. The Finland Arctic Adventure includes four nights in a glass igloo at Northern Lights Village Levi, plus a Northern Lights snowmobile tour and a 3-hour Aurora Hunting excursion away from artificial lights.
Editing your photos afterwards
A little editing makes a big difference. Open your RAW file in any photo editor and adjust the white balance so the snow looks natural, lift the shadows slightly, and reduce noise if you used a high ISO. Add a touch of contrast and saturation to bring out the greens and purples, but keep it believable. Many photographers also crop to remove empty sky or stray lights at the edges. Do not over-process; the aurora is already dramatic.
Timing your shots
Aurora displays tend to build and fade in waves. Start taking test shots early, because the best displays can begin quickly and last only a few minutes. Take a series of images with different shutter speeds, and keep shooting while the sky is active. Between waves, enjoy the view with your own eyes. The faint green glow is often brighter on your camera than to the naked eye, but the movement is unforgettable in person.
Common beginner mistakes
- Forgetting to switch off the flash.
- Using autofocus.
- Using a shutter speed so long that stars become trails and the aurora blurs.
- Not checking focus on the screen.
- Spending the whole night behind the camera and forgetting to look up.