Northern Lights photography · Photography in Northern Lights

Photography in Northern Lights

Taking good pictures of the Northern Lights is very difficult, since they're fast-moving, often faint and against a pitch-dark background, all of which befuddles consumer point-and-shoots. Here's what you need for a sporting chance:

A camera that supports manual exposure (5 to 40 seconds).

A fast lens (aperture f/2.8 or better)

Fast film (800 ASA or better), or equivalent ISO setting on a digital camera

A tripod to hold the long exposure

Cable release or self-timer to trigger shots without stirring the camera

The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Northern Lights

Understanding the lights better in Northern Lights
Where in Northern Lights
When in Northern Lights
Prepare in Northern Lights
Alerts in Northern Lights
Into the wilds in Northern Lights
Photography in Northern Lights
Observing sites in Northern Lights
Northern Lights travel safety advice
Okay, so how about the Southern Lights? in Northern Lights

Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Northern Lights - updated Apr 2024

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WHERE TO TRAVEL NEXT IN 2020

Northern Lights Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.

Photography in Northern Lights