The Aurora Borealis photo above was captured on a mirrorless camera & was not edited or processed.
This guide will help you achieve the same beautiful shot…quickly and easily.
I have been a landscape and seascape photographer for 15+ years. However, my experience with Northern Lights photography was limited until I spent hours and hours researching the best settings and techniques.
I want to save you from having to research the “hows and whys” of Aurora Borealis photography, by providing you with all the info you need if you’re about to set out and don’t have time to read in-depth guides.
So here’s your super quick tips for getting the best Northern Lights photographs.
What f-stop should I use to photo the Northern Lights?
Use the fastest f-stop your camera will allow. Ideally, you should use a lens that is at least f2.8.
What shutter speed works best to photograph the Aurora?
8-seconds is the sweet spot. Adjust this up or down, depending on how bright the Northern Lights are in the sky.
What ISO setting should my camera be set at?
400-800 is the ideal ISO to capture the Northern Lights. If you have a very high-end camera with a full sensor, you can punch this up to 1600+. Mirrorless cameras can get too much noise/grain if you go higher than 800.
What white balance should I use when photographing the Aurora Borealis?
If you plan to process a RAW photo, then just leave it at auto (AWB). If shooting JPEG, then somewhere around 4000k is a good starting point.
How do I focus my camera on the Northern Lights?
Set your lens to Manual focus. Adjust the focus to the “Infinity” symbol ∞, but then dial it back just a little. This is best done during the day so you can focus on something very far away during daylight. Remember this manual setting.
What kind of lens works best for Northern Lights photos?
The widest one you own. The sky is pretty big! Anything wider than 25mm should be good, but even if you have just a 50mm, you can still get some good shots.
Do I need a tripod to photograph the Northern Lights?
Yes, ideally. You need to keep your camera as still as possible. However, if they are super bright in the sky–enough to use a shutter speed faster than 1/30 then you may be able to hold your camera steady to get the shot.
Is it OK to have a UV filter on my lens?
No. A UV filter is often used to protect the glass on your lends, but when shooting at night, it can create all kinds of distortions on your photos.
Do I need a remote shutter control in order to prevent camera shake?
That’s a great idea! You can also just set your self-timer to 2-seconds and achieve the same shake free Aurora photo.
Should I bring any extra batteries when shooting the Northern Lights?
You have two options. Bring a spare battery or, if your camera can be charged by USB, then bring a battery backup and use electrical tape to mount it to one of your tripod legs. Either way, just turn your camera off when the lights take a break.
Do I really need a DSLR or Mirrorless camera to photograph the Northern Lights?
No, you don’t. I’ve captured the Northern Lights with a smartphone and a GoPro. Just be sure to either attach to a tripod or place/brace it on a wall. You’ll see more noise/grain, but it will still look good enough to show your friends and family the photo on your phone or tablet. If your compact camera has a “night” or “fireworks” setting, this is your best chance of photographing the Aurora.
If you have any other questions you think I should answer, please leave a comment. You can also read this guide to finding the Northern Lights for great advice on how to find and time your quest for the Aurora Borealis!