How to Photograph the Northern Lights: A Beginner's Guide

Your phone or eyes see a fraction of what a camera can pull out of the aurora. With a few settings and a tripod, you'll capture far more color and structure. Here's the beginner setup.

Gear

A camera with manual mode, a wide and "fast" lens (f/2.8 or wider is ideal), and — non-negotiable — a sturdy tripod. Bring spare batteries; cold drains them fast, so keep them in an inside pocket.

Settings to start with

• Mode: full Manual (M)
• Aperture: as wide as your lens goes (f/2.8, f/4)
• ISO: 1600–3200
• Shutter: 5–15 seconds — shorter for fast, dancing aurora; longer for faint glows
• Focus: manual, set to infinity — autofocus won't lock in the dark

In the field

Use a 2-second timer or a remote so you don't shake the camera. Check the first shot and adjust: too dark → raise ISO or lengthen the shutter; trailing stars → shorten it. Compose with a foreground (trees, a cabin, mountains) for scale.

Before you go

Check the UAF Geophysical Institute aurora forecast, find a dark north-facing spot, and dress for −20°F. See our Aurora Season guide and the best spots near Fairbanks.