how to capture northern lights with iphone

Daniel Parker

3 min read

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28-01-2025

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The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a breathtaking natural phenomenon. Capturing their ethereal beauty with your iPhone might seem challenging, but with the right techniques and a bit of patience, you can achieve stunning results. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to photograph the aurora with your iPhone.

Planning Your Aurora Hunt: Location, Timing, and Weather

Finding the Right Spot: To see (and photograph!) the aurora, you need dark skies. Get far away from city lights. Light pollution is the aurora photographer's biggest enemy. Use a light pollution map to find dark sky locations near you.

Timing is Everything: The aurora is most active around the equinoxes (March/September) and during solar storms. Check aurora forecasts (many apps and websites provide predictions). You'll need a clear night sky—clouds completely obscure the aurora.

Weather Matters: Clear skies are essential. Check the weather forecast carefully before heading out. Even a few clouds can significantly impact your aurora photos.

iPhone Photography Settings for the Northern Lights

Manual Mode is Your Friend: Ditch the automatic settings. Your iPhone's Night mode is a great start, but for optimal control, use a third-party app that offers manual controls (like ProCam X or Filmic Pro).

Adjusting Your Settings:

• Shutter Speed: This is crucial. Start with a long exposure (around 10-30 seconds), depending on how bright the aurora is. Too short, and you won't capture enough light. Too long, and you'll get blurry images.

• ISO: Increase the ISO to boost the light sensitivity. Start around 800-1600 and adjust based on the aurora's brightness. Higher ISOs introduce noise (grain), so find a balance.

• Focus: Set the focus manually to infinity (∞). This ensures the aurora is sharp.

• White Balance: Experiment to find the best setting. "Auto" often works well, but sometimes manual adjustments (like "Cloudy") can enhance the colors.

• Steady as She Goes: Use a tripod (or a stable surface) to avoid blurry images. Long exposures require stillness.

Using the iPhone's Built-in Features:

Even without a third-party app, you can still get some great shots. Here are tips using your iPhone's Night mode:

• Find a Stable Surface: Avoid shaky hands. Lean on a wall, car, or use a tripod.
• Compose Carefully: Plan your shot, keeping in mind the direction and brightness of the aurora.
• Patience is Key: Let the iPhone's Night mode do its work. Don't move the phone during the exposure.

Composition and Framing Your Shot

• Rule of Thirds: Divide your frame into thirds (both horizontally and vertically). Placing the aurora along these lines can create a more balanced composition.
• Foreground Interest: Include interesting foreground elements (trees, rocks, a cabin) to add depth and context to your photos.
• Experiment with Angles: Don't be afraid to try different angles and perspectives to find the most visually appealing shot.

Post-Processing Your Aurora Photos

• Lightroom Mobile: Use apps like Lightroom Mobile to adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation, and bring out the aurora's colors.
• Minimal Editing: Often, subtle adjustments are best. Avoid over-processing, which can lead to unnatural-looking photos.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Blurry Images: Check your focus, make sure your phone is steady, and use a shorter exposure if necessary.
• Weak Aurora: If the aurora is faint, try increasing the ISO and/or shutter speed. But be aware that this increases noise.
• No Aurora Visible: Check the aurora forecast and ensure you're in a location with minimal light pollution.

Capturing the Northern Lights with your iPhone is a rewarding experience. With some practice and the right approach, you can capture the magic of the aurora and create stunning memories of this incredible natural spectacle. Remember patience, preparation, and a little bit of luck play a significant role in your success!