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12 Essential Tips For Capturing The Northern Lights On Your Winter Travels
So, you’ve decided to chase the aurora borealis – also known as those magical, streaky lights you’ve seen in every travel ad that makes you want to run to the Arctic Circle. Fantastic idea!
But here’s the thing: capturing those mysterious colors in the sky isn’t as simple as whipping out your phone and yelling “cheese.” Nope, this requires a bit of prep, patience, and maybe a touch of luck.
Don’t worry though, it’s not rocket science. Well, okay, technically it involves solar particles and all that, but relax, we don’t need a physics degree here. What you do need is a plan, the right gear, and an understanding of how to make the most of your time out in the cold. Yes, it’ll be cold…you’ve been warned.
Wide-Angle Lens
When it comes to photographing the northern lights, a wide-angle lens is your best friend. Why? Because not only do the auroras like to stretch dramatically across the sky, but you’ll also want to include some of the landscape to give your shot depth.
Think towering mountains, frozen forests, or a cozy cabin in the distance. Skipping the wide-angle lens is basically asking to miss half the show. Don’t have one? No worries. Renting one for your trip will be the best decision you’ve made – since deciding to stay up past midnight to catch these lights that is.
Long Exposure
Capturing the aurora’s movement and colors is all about long exposure – yes, the kind of exposure that needs you to be extra patient. Start with a shutter speed of 5–25 seconds and see what your camera gives you.
Longer exposures will pick up more of the colors and mesmerizing movement of the lights. Just know that too long can make those bright, dancing ribbons blur into mushy streaks. And hey, trial and error is part of the game, so channel your inner perfectionist and tweak as needed.
High ISO
If you’re the type to gloss over settings like ISO, consider this your official intervention. Adjust your ISO setting to around 1000-1600 (a good starting point) to properly capture the elusive light in those dark skies.
Crank it up when the aurora is shy or stick with a lower ISO when the lights turn bright and bold. Just don’t go overboard…unless you’re into photos that look like they were taken with a potato from 1998.
Remember, only go as high as necessary for the shot.
Wide Aperture
Low-light conditions and wide apertures go hand in hand, a fact you’ll quickly appreciate while aurora hunting. Keep your f-number low (f/2.8, for instance) to allow as much light as possible into that lens of yours.
This is what ensures your aurora shots look vibrant and alive, not like they were taken by a forgotten GoPro left in the cold.
Focus Manually
Confession time: autofocus isn’t the hero we wish it were in low-light situations. Your camera will likely freak out trying to focus on something it can’t “see.” The solution? Set your lens to manual focus and adjust it to infinity.
Not infinity-ish. Infinity infinity. (Those tiny tick marks on your lens are there for a reason!) Take a test shot, zoom in, and fine-tune as needed until the stars are crisp and the auroras feel within reach.
Use A Sturdy Tripod
Long exposure means one thing: any wobbles or shaky hands will turn your masterpiece into a blurry mess. A solid tripod is non-negotiable if you’re serious about capturing sharp photos.
Bonus tip? Weigh it down with any available bag or rock to ensure it doesn’t budge, no matter how chill – or gale-force – the wind may get.
Remote Shutter Release
Your shutter button is essentially a betrayal waiting to happen. Press it with your finger, and say goodbye to a wobble-free shot. Instead, use a remote shutter release or set a short timer on your camera.
This simple step ensures your frame stays rock solid when you capture the northern lights doing their celestial dance.
Shoot In RAW
You know those perfectly edited Instagram photos that practically scream “professional?” RAW format is how you get that.
Unlike JPEGs that limit how much you can tweak brightness and colors, RAW files keep everything intact for endless adjustments during post-processing. If you’re not shooting in RAW…it’s like trying to paint a masterpiece with crayons.
Bring Extra Batteries
Fact of life #2678: camera batteries hate the cold. They drain faster than you can say, “I swear it was at 80% a second ago.”
Keep spares with you and stash them in an inner pocket to keep them warm. Because the last thing you want is for your aurora chase to end with a dead camera.
Side note: while switching batteries, also check that your lens isn’t fogging up from the cold.
Composition Matters
Sure, the auroras are the main event, but don’t forget the supporting cast – your foreground. Whether it’s the skeletal outline of leafless trees, still waters reflecting the lights, or a silhouette of your travel buddy (hello, depth!), adding elements to your shots makes them way more dynamic.
Think of it like creating a movie poster, not just a blank green screen. It’s really adds that final “punch” to your image.
Check The Moon Phase
We get it – planning your northern lights excursion around the moon feels like next-level astrology. But trust us, it matters.
A full moon can wash out those celestial greens faster than expected. Aim to shoot during a new moon or when the moonlight is minimal for the best display of vibrant, vivid auroras.
Watch The Weather
Clouds are not your friend. Go somewhere with a clear forecast and as little light pollution as possible. Apps like Clear Outside or My Aurora Forecast (the one we personally use) can help dish out the details you need.
And hey, if the weather changes on a dime – don’t sweat it. You’re already halfway to an unforgettable adventure just by showing up.
Be Patient
The northern lights are a lot like your favorite artist at a concert…they’ll come out when they’re ready, not when you are. Stay bundled up, keep your camera set up, and wait.
It may take hours for the aurora to appear – but when it does, it’s 100% worth every frosty minute. Patience isn’t just a virtue here; it’s a requirement.
Storytime
Jasper National Park. End of September. One night, the forecast predicted a northern lights extravaganza. Naturally, we bundled up in warm jackets, hauled ourselves out before the sun had even finished setting, and set up our camera with all the optimism in the world.
And then…we waited. Then waited some more. To keep things interesting, we convinced ourselves we’d hold out until 12:30 AM. But, of course, my other half decided to channel his inner popsicle by midnight, shivering and grumbling until I caved. Packed it all up, called it a night, and headed back to the warmth of the car.
Care to take a wild guess what happened about 5 minutes into our drive? Yep. The sky went full neon disco mode – a brilliant, dancing show that could’ve brought a tear to your eye. We got the honor of watching it from, wait for it, a moving car. Fifteen minutes of pure glory mocking us through the windshield. To this day, I don’t let him live it down. Sigh.
So, our final tip of being patient might just be the most important lesson on this whole list. Learn from our mistakes people!
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