How to Capture the Northern Lights: Camera Settings and Prep Guide
Recently, a powerful geomagnetic storm throw some magical colors at Colorado and surrounding areas in the United States, what a sight to see and what a phenomena to experience in person, I’ve been fortunate to see the Northern Lights (aka aurora borealis) almost a dozen times now… and every time my breath is taken away
If you’ve ever seen the northern lights in person, you know there’s nothing quite like it… waves of color dancing across the night sky, transforming everything into surreal, glowing motion. Whether you’re chasing aurora forecasts in Alaska or catching a rare show over Colorado, being prepared makes all the difference between witnessing the lights and actually capturing them.
This beginner-friendly guide will walk you through everything you need to know: how to plan for an aurora night, what gear you’ll need, and the best camera (or phone) settings to photograph the northern lights beautifully. That’s right I’ve thrown in a few tips to capture them with your iPhone or smartphone as well… keep reading
NORTHERN LIGHTS CAPTURED IN LOFOTEN ISLANDS, NORWAY
Understanding the Northern Lights (also know as the Aurora Borealis)
The aurora borealis or northern lights occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. These collisions release energy as shimmering green, pink, red, or purple light. And here’s the special part: you no longer have to fly to Iceland or Norway (image above) to see them. Thanks to a surge in solar activity leading into the 11-year solar maximum, even states like Colorado, Montana, and Minnesota have been lighting up with vivid colors.
When strong geomagnetic storms hit Earth, you might even see pillars or waves of light from latitudes that almost never get aurora. That’s why keeping an eye on forecasts and being ready at a moment’s notice is so important.
How to prepare for an Aurora Night
A successful northern lights outing starts long before the first glow appears on the horizon. Preparation and patience are everything.
✅ What to Bring:
Tripod: Essential for both phones and cameras to eliminate shake during long exposures.
Aurora Forecast App: Download My Aurora Forecast (and turn KP alerts ON).
Extra Batteries: Cold weather drains them fast; keep spares warm in an inside pocket.
Warm Clothes & Snacks & a Hot Beverage: You’ll be standing still for long periods of time so, layers are key. (maybe a camp chair too)
A Sense of Adventure: The aurora doesn’t run on your schedule, so stay flexible.
A Friend (Optional but recommended): Always safer and more fun to have some company.
📍Finding the Right Location
You’ll want to get as far from light pollution as possible — away from cities, streetlights, and cars.
Face north (obviously) for the best view, and include something interesting in your foreground (a mountain ridge, lake, cabin, a raindeer, your willing friend, your wife your doggo or yourself).
If the aurora is strong, you’ll often see it faintly with your eyes before your camera reveals the real color.
🌤 Check the Forecasts
Aurora Forecast: The “KP index” indicates storm strength. A KP level of 5 or higher often means visible aurora further south.
Cloud Cover: Use an app like Windy to make sure skies will actually be clear.
Road & Weather Conditions: Some of the best viewing areas are remote and icy plan accordingly and drive safely to your location.
Aurora Borealis as seen from Buena Vista, Colorado in November 2025.
Camera Settings for Northern Lights Photography
Whether you’re using a DSLR, mirrorless, or smartphone, you can capture the aurora with the right setup.
Camera Setup (Beginner to Intermediate)
Start with these settings and adjust as conditions change:
Mode: Manual (M)
File Type: RAW (so you can edit colors later)
Aperture: f/1.4 – f/2.8 (as wide open as your lens allows)
ISO: 1600–3200 (adjust higher if the lights are faint)
Shutter Speed: 2–10 seconds (shorter for fast-moving aurora, longer for slow displays)
White Balance: 3500–4200K
(custom balance helps control color cast, I prefer a cooler white balance for starters - DON’T USE AUTO WHITE BALANCE)Focus: Manual — focus on a distant bright light or infinity (use focus peaking if available)
Disable: Flash, image stabilization, HDR, and long exposure noise reduction
💡 Pro Tip: Aurora photography isn’t like shooting the Milky Way. The aurora moves fast if you use 20-second exposures, the colors blur and lose their structure. For most displays, 2.5–6 seconds is the sweet spot, otherwise you’ll have a sky of color blobs, if you like color blobs, you do you boo.
Shooting the Aurora with Your iPhone📱
Modern phones are surprisingly capable, but you’ll still need a few tricks:
Use a tripod or rest your phone on a stable surface. Stabilization is huge for crisp, clear aurora photography.
Switch to Night or Pro Mode. If possible, manually set ISO to around 1600 and exposure to 4–6 seconds.
Lock focus on infinity and turn off the flash.
Use a timer or remote to prevent camera shake.
Shoot RAW or HEIF if your phone supports it (on iPhone: ProRAW; on Android: manual mode).
Apps like NightCap (iPhone) or ProCam X (Android) give more control over settings and make a huge difference in clarity.
How to Compose and Capture the Perfect Aurora Photo
The difference between a “pretty” aurora photo and a jaw-dropping one often comes down to composition. Don’t just point your camera at the sky build a scene. Think about leading lines and layers a road curving into the frame or mountains beneath the aurora gives viewers something to connect with beyond the sky itself.
Try including:
Trees or silhouettes for scale.
Cabins or cars for a warm, human element.
Reflections in water or snow for symmetry.
Foreground lighting: Subtle LED or headlamp glow adds depth (avoid overpowering light).
During the Show…
Once you’re set up:
Use a 2-second timer or remote shutter to avoid camera shake.
Shoot in bursts — the aurora constantly changes shape and intensity.
Adjust on the fly: If the lights brighten, shorten exposure; if they fade, raise ISO.
Stay patient: Auroras ebb and flow. Sometimes they rest quietly for an hour, then suddenly explode into motion.
Understanding Aurora Types
During stronger storms, you’ll often see several types blend together the most dynamic scenes happen when pillars and curtains move rapidly across the sky. Knowing what you’re looking at helps you react faster behind the lens:
Arcs: Smooth, glowing bands across the sky.
Curtains: Wavy sheets that fold and ripple like fabric.
Pillars or Rays: Vertical beams shooting upward.
Coronas: Rare, intense bursts overhead that fan outward.
After the show…
Don’t panic if colors look muted — RAW images are flatter before editing.
Post-process lightly in Lightroom or Snapseed: increase clarity, adjust white balance, and reduce noise.
Label your photos by location and time — aurora hunters often share sightings to help others plan future nights.
Quick Checklist Before You Go
(throw this into your iPhone notes so you don’t forget anything)
✅ My Aurora Forecast App (KP alerts ON)
✅ Tripod (camera or phone mount)
✅ Manual focus practice
✅ Extra batteries + warm gloves + headlamp (so you can see what you’re doing)
✅ Foreground idea for composition
✅ Remote or 2-second timer
✅ Patience and snacks, warm beverage
Final Thoughts
Photographing the northern lights isn’t about perfection… it’s about being ready when the magic happens. Most people miss the aurora simply because they weren’t prepared. With a little planning, the right gear, and some patience, you’ll be ready to capture nature’s most incredible light show whether you’re standing under the skies of Iceland or right here in Colorado. So next time the alerts ping your phone, grab your tripod, head north, and look up.
See you under the lights. 🌌✨
-Frankie S. (check out all of my aurora photos on my Instagram page)
