How to photograph the Northern Lights

How to photograph the Northern Lights

We get some expert advice on how to photograph the Northern Lights

I've been longing for a Nikon since I ruined mine in the Maldives a few years ago. Since I was stuck with a clunky used Canon, I often found myself fiddling with settings instead of getting the shot I was aiming for.

So before our trip to Norway I bit the bullet and bought a new Nikon D610 along with a wide angle lens. I also spent some time learning how to photograph the Northern Lights. I knew I might only get one chance and I wanted to be ready. To maximize my chances of getting the shots I wanted, I booked a tour with Andrei, an experienced photographer from Enjoy the Arctic.

We were picked up from our hotel at 6pm and set off for an evening chase. The lights were elusive that night, but Andrei helped me get my settings just right so that when the lights finally appeared, I was ready.

Here are my (and Andrei’s) top tips for photographing the Northern Lights.

Find dark skies

First things first: The Northern Lights cannot be seen during the day. To capture them in all their glory, the sky must be as dark as possible. In the Norwegian Arctic, Northern Lights tours start at 6 p.m. and last until the early hours of the morning. Further south, you may need to start your search later in the evening.

Additionally, light pollution rarely creates great northern lights. We stayed in Tromso but traveled out of the city both times. The further you get from an urban area, the darker the sky becomes. We first spotted the lights after driving 20 minutes outside of town. They were “visible,” but the real display began another 30 minutes away under an inky sky that the city lights could not penetrate.

alt=“How to photograph northern nights 1″>Atlas & Boots20 seconds, aperture 3.5, ISO2000

Find clear skies

The lights are unlikely to be clear under cloudy skies, which unfortunately are beyond your control. The best advice is to read up on local geography, use as many knowledgeable sources as possible, and follow local weather forecasts.

Andrei had lived in the area for years and spent much of his time hiking and fishing in the surrounding wilderness. He knew the area well and knew when and where the lights were best seen. During our tour he streamed several live weather forecasts on his tablet and was in constant contact with colleagues and friends in the area to see what they were seeing.

You can't control the weather, but you can get to know it as best you can.

alt=“How to photograph the northern nights 4″>Atlas & Boots6 seconds, aperture 3.5, ISO1600

Minimum equipment list

Tripod: You won't get a decent shot of the lights without one. Ideally, you want a tall and sturdy tripod with quick-release clamps for quick setup and portability.

Manual Camera: Any camera with manual mode should work. Manual mode means you can adjust ISO, aperture and shutter speed independently. However, for best results, a DSLR (digital single lens reflex camera) is ideal.

alt=“How to photograph the northern nights 3″>Atlas & Boots6 seconds, aperture 3.5, ISO1250

Recommended Equipment List

Full-frame camera: For best results, use a full-frame camera (35mm or larger sensor) with high ISO capability, which will allow you to photograph the Northern Lights without creating significant noise in your images.

Wide-angle lens: A wide-angle lens with a fast aperture would be ideal - after all, the sky is big! I shoot with a Sigma 10-20mm f3.5.

Backup batteries: Using slow shutter speeds will drain your battery, as will the freezing cold. To be on the safe side, make a backup (or two).

Headlamp: A flashlight helps you see what you're doing in the dark while you're fiddling with camera settings. It's also handy for illuminating faces when photographing people in the foreground.

alt=“How to photograph the northern nights andrei”>Enjoy the ArcticAndrei had a headlamp with him which he used to take photos of us

Eyepiece Cover: Unwanted ambient light can really affect your photos, so using an eyepiece cover prevents background light from reaching the sensor.

Remote control / shutter release mechanism: This makes life easier and ensures a stable stand for your camera.

alt=“New trees on the hunt for the Northern Lights in Tromso”>Atlas & Boots25 seconds, aperture 3.5, ISO 800

Focusing

The Northern Lights are far away, so you can focus to infinity and usually get clear and sharp focus. Most lenses have a ∞ symbol, which represents the infinity focus point.

The ∞ symbol does not necessarily mean that a perfectly sharp photo will be taken automatically. Many lenses require slight adjustment to find the ideal focus point. However, the symbol ∞ is a good starting point.

alt=“How to photograph the northern nights 6″>Atlas & Boots10 seconds, aperture 3.5, ISO2000

Other techniques include focusing your camera during the day by using the furthest point on the horizon as the focus point, or using the Live Mode view on your camera, which is zoomed in to help you adjust to get the clearest focus point at the longest distance.

Camera settings

White balance: Shoot in RAW so you can adjust the white balance in post-production. It is worth setting the white balance between 3700 and 4100K when there is moonlight, or between 4000 and 5500K when there is no moonlight.

Aperture: Use the widest aperture possible, up to a maximum of f/2.8 (the ideal setting). Any wider and it will be difficult to focus. The key is to get as much light hitting the sensor in the shortest amount of time so that you can keep your ISO at a lower value and produce less noise.

Shutter speed: This depends on how fast the lights are moving. I was able to get away with just three seconds on some shots because the display was strong and moving quickly. However, in weaker times I had to open the shutter for up to 25 seconds. You can play around with this by increasing the ISO and trading in some image quality.

ISO: This is about finding a happy medium when it comes to shutter speed. For some shots I was able to shoot at a low ISO of 800, but most of the time it was between 2000 and 3000.

alt=“How to photograph the northern nights 5″>Atlas & Boots4 seconds, aperture 3.5, ISO2500

How to Photograph the Northern Lights: The Essentials

What: How to photograph the Northern Lights in Tromso, Norway.

Where: We stayed at the Scandic Ishavshotel, an excellent alternative to the huge Radisson next door. Located on the waterfront, Ishavshotel offers panoramic views of Tromso Harbour, Tromso Bridge and the Arctic Cathedral, as well as easy access to local attractions - the Polar Museum is just minutes away.

Our room had floor-to-ceiling windows and was equipped with the all-important heater and carpeted flooring, making it a cozy escape after a day (or night!) in the cold.

The breakfast (included in the room rate) is exceptional. For starters, the hotel has its own barista who can make you coffee. There's a delicious selection of hot dishes, as well as fresh breads, cheese platters and cold cuts - but the pièce de résistance is the bowl of macarons, sitting quietly in the dessert corner. Unlimited Macaroons! Have you ever heard something like this? Needless to say, we highly recommend the hotel.

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When: There is so much information out there about the best time to see the Northern Lights in Tromso, but much of it is contradictory. We were there in October, so we trust Norway Lights, which suggests that March, April, September and October are the best times to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø.

It's worth noting that when we asked one of our guides about claims that the lights are fading, he said, "As long as the sun is still shining on your face, the Northern Lights will appear."

How: Hunting and photographing the Northern Lights isn't cheap (around 1,250 NOK ($150) per person), but with a guide you really have the best chance. We highly recommend Andrei, who has been running Northern Lights tours for several years.

Andrei’s tours include warm drinks, a campfire, snacks and lots of advice on how to photograph the Northern Lights. It is also possible to rent a camera and tripod for your tour and Andrei will be happy to share his photographs with you after the tour. Private midnight sun and ice fishing tours are also available.

The most important thing to remember is that the Northern Lights in Tromsø (or indeed anywhere) depend heavily on the weather. It requires patience, resilience (did I mention it's cold?), and also acceptance of the fact that you might not see anything at all.

The best way to get to Tromsø is to fly from Oslo. Book via Skyscanner for the best prices.

From Tromso Airport you can take the Flybussekspressen into the city. These cost 60 NOK ($7.3) and leave right outside the airport. The slightly cheaper option is the “state bus” (colored white). You can buy tickets at the newsagent at Tromso Airport (36 NOK or 50 NOK on board). You can reach the correct bus stop by crossing the parking lot underground or bypassing it above ground. Just ask an airport representative if you are unsure.

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