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Photographing the Northern Lights

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The basics of Aurora photography

As standard digital cameras grow increasingly sophisticated, those with settings that can be changed manually can often help you capture the Northern Lights quite effectively.

However, to get the best chance of taking that perfect photo, you will need a D-SLR camera with a wide-angle lens (10-24mm) and fast aperture 1.4-3.5. It is worth testing the settings to see what suits you best.

To take the photo you will need to set your camera to a long exposure time (around 15 to 20 seconds per picture) and we would advise using a sturdy tripod to ensure the image is as stable as possible. 

Some hints and tips

Over the years we have been given many bits of advice on photographing the Northern Lights that we would like to share.

Firstly make sure you take spare batteries and memory cards. With the cold temperatures, batteries can run down quicker than expected so keep the spare ones in an internal pocket close to your body warmth.

Learn the settings (zoom, aperture, exposure for example) on your camera beforehand so that you know what you are doing when you’re there and are able to capture the moment. You also don't want to have to spend too long adjusting settings at sub-zero temperatures. 

It might help for you to get a remote or cable shutter as it can be hard to press the buttons with gloves on the camera itself without causing the camera to shake. Remember as you are far from any light pollution it will be dark so head torches can be useful.

Experienced photographers will recommend getting a head torch with a less intrusive red light as it will not ‘dazzle’ others as much as a white light and negatively affect your night vision.

We fully understand that you will want to capture the beauty of the Northern Lights on film, but don’t forget to look up from your camera and enjoy the live show too!

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Get an expert opinion

The Aurora Zone was born from a desire to share Mother Nature’s greatest wonder with our clients. We’ve explored the destinations, researched the science, and fallen in love with the Scandinavian way of life. It’s our mission to pass this knowledge on to you, providing you with the very best chance of experiencing the magic for yourself on your Northern Lights holiday.

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