Aurora Photography Guide
You don't need a $3,000 camera to capture the northern lights. Modern phones do surprisingly well, and even basic DSLRs produce stunning results with the right settings. Here's how.
Phone Photography (iPhone / Android)
Your phone camera can absolutely capture aurora — it picks up light your eyes can't see. Here's how:
- iPhone: Open the camera, hold still, and Night Mode activates automatically. Prop the phone against something solid (a rock, your car, a small tripod). The exposure will be 3–10 seconds. Don't touch the phone during the exposure.
- Android: Most modern Android phones have a Night Mode or Astrophotography mode. Samsung Galaxy users: switch to Pro mode, set ISO 800–1600, shutter 10–15 seconds. Pixel phones: Night Sight with astrophotography works well when the phone is stable.
- Key tip: Stability matters more than settings. A phone tripod ($15–20 on Amazon) is the single best investment for aurora photos with a phone.
DSLR / Mirrorless Settings
If you have a camera with manual controls, these settings are your starting point:
| Mode | Manual (M) |
| ISO | 1600–3200 (start at 1600) |
| Aperture | As wide as your lens allows (f/2.8 or lower ideal) |
| Shutter Speed | 8–15 seconds (shorter for fast-moving aurora) |
| Focus | Manual focus to infinity (∞) — autofocus fails in the dark |
| White Balance | Auto or ~3500K (adjust to taste) |
| Format | RAW if your camera supports it (more editing flexibility) |
Adjusting on the Fly
If the aurora is bright and moving fast, use a shorter exposure (5–8 seconds) to capture detail in the curtains rather than a green smear. If it's faint, bump ISO to 3200 and go longer (15–20 seconds). Check your LCD after every few shots and adjust.
Essential Gear
- Tripod — Non-negotiable. Any sturdy tripod works. Make sure it can handle wind.
- Wide-angle lens — 14–24mm on full frame, 10–18mm on crop. You want as much sky as possible.
- Extra batteries — Cold weather drains batteries fast. Keep spares in an inside pocket close to your body.
- Headlamp with red light mode — Preserves your night vision while you adjust settings.
- Hand and toe warmers — Not a photo accessory, but you won't last 3 hours at -20°F without them.
Composition Tips
The best aurora photos include foreground interest — a mountain, a cabin, a frozen lake, a silhouette of spruce trees. Pure sky shots are nice but forgettable. Alaska's landscapes give you incredible foreground options at every viewing spot.
Include a sense of scale. A person silhouetted against the aurora, or a small cabin under vast green curtains, tells a story that a pure sky shot doesn't.
Check tonight's aurora conditions across 7 Alaska locations
View Tonight's Forecast →Common Mistakes
- Autofocus in the dark — Switch to manual focus. Autofocus hunts endlessly and ruins shots.
- White flashlights — Ruins everyone's night vision and shows up in other people's photos. Use red light only.
- Giving up too early — Aurora can appear suddenly after hours of quiet sky. The best displays often start after midnight.
- Not checking behind you — During strong storms, aurora can appear in any direction, including south. Look around regularly.