How to Photograph the Northern Lights

After such a long pause in international travel, you no doubt want to visit an exceptional destination for photographers and see something absolutely remarkable. If natural wonders are your thing, Northern Lights photography in Iceland will truly delight you. Read through our tips before you take your trip way up north.

The Northern Lights, otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis, are a fantastic natural light show that’s caused by Earth's magnetic field interacting with charged particles from the Sun. There’s no wonder why so many people want to know how to photograph the Northern Lights.

This visual masterpiece is visible from several high-altitude regions, with Iceland being among the best places to see the Northern Lights. So, what is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland? If you are planning to take a trip to Iceland for Northern lights photography, the best time to plan your trip is between late August and early April.

With your tickets to Iceland booked, it's time to sort the photography gear you’ll need for the trip. Let's take you through what’s necessary for the best Northern Light photography.

• Mirrorless camera. For the best outcome, you want a digital camera with a large image sensor, especially when using night photography settings. Mirrorless cameras are lighter and have a large lens and accessory range, as well as manual features so you can fine-tune your shots. A weather-sealed camera is suitable for Iceland, which will keep it safe and help it perform at its best despite the cold climate.

• Wide-angle lens. For Northern Lights photography you need a wide-angle lens, which provides a wide field of view. Both zoom and prime lenses are suitable lenses, but a lens with a fast maximum aperture provides more scope to handle low-light conditions without raising your camera's ISO too much.

• Tripod. Don’t leave for your trip without a tripod! These are essential for night photography, and the best Northern Lights photography would be impossible without a tripod. Modern travel tripods are remarkably portable considering the support they provide, so you can easily add a lightweight tripod to your camera bag. When photographing the Northern Lights, a tripod will allow you to use slower shutter speeds.
• Spare Batteries. There’s nothing worse than running out of power halfway through a spectacular photo opportunity, like when you’re photographing the Northern Lights in Iceland. It’s even more important in cold weather, as the temperature forces the batteries to lose charge quickly.

• Remote. A remote control helps you avoid motion blur, as you won’t have to touch your camera to trigger the shutter. If your camera has Bluetooth connectivity, you may be able to do without a remote and instead use an app-enabled smartphone to control your camera, hands-free.

Now that your camera bag is full of all of the essentials, dress warm and head to your photography location. Here are the recommended camera settings to use when you get there:

• Shoot in RAW. Avoid the heartache of going all the way to Iceland, only to realise your photo didn’t save in the highest-quality version. Make sure your images are being saved in RAW, as this will capture the best possible image your camera is capable of taking and allow more freedom during editing. That way, you’ll be able to experiment with different edits.
• Shoot in Manual Mode. An essential tip for night photography is to shoot in manual mode, so you have full control of your camera settings to get the best possible results. This will involve getting to know your camera settings, especially the exposure triangle: ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. Read the tips below to find out more.

• ISO. When it comes to night photography settings, an ISO of 800 is usually a good starting point, but this varies depending on the lighting situation. Adjust accordingly, based on the other settings in your exposure triangle, but keep in mind that the higher the ISO setting, the more noise is captured - so do try to keep ISO as low as possible.

With the basic camera settings mastered, here's how you can catapult your results from bland to grand:

• Review your shots. Once you've taken a few shots, pause to review the images on your camera's LCD screen. Check for the accuracy of your focus and exposure before you have a memory card full of lacklustre shots.

• Prepare for the cold. This really must be considered for your safety as well as the reality of achieving your goals. Dress warm, pack some blankets, and consider a thermos of warm tea or coffee to get you through.
• Enjoy yourself. The Northern Lights are truly a spectacular experience both with and without your camera. Don't forget to spend some time away from your viewfinder, so you can really take it all in.

If you’re still missing a few essential pieces of kit for your trip, find everything you need for Northern Lights photography online at Ted’s Cameras, or visit one of our stores to get in-person advice from our expert staff.