Aurora Photography: A No-Nonsense Guide to Capturing the Northern (and Southern) Lights

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Capturing the aurora can be one of those bucket-list photography experiences—challenging but very rewarding. Whether you’re a pro or just starting out, this guide will walk you through the key tips to nail your shots.

These are the practices I’ve found work best for me in my location. Your conditions, gear, and experience might be different, so adjust as needed to get the best results for where you’re shooting.

Choosing the Right Location

Where you set up makes all the difference. Here’s what to look for:

Dark Skies: Stay far from city lights. Use a light pollution map to find a dark location. Watch what’s north of you (or south if you’re in the southern hemisphere). City lights in the distance, or even a highway with heavy traffic, can diminish your aurora view. However, if you’re in the far north, where the aurora is especially strong, city lights can actually add an interesting element to your photos—illuminating the landscape and creating unique compositions without overpowering the sky.
Clear Horizon: Wide-open spaces are best. Hills, flatlands, or high ground work well. Avoid trees, buildings, or power lines—unless you want them in your foreground.
Interesting Foregrounds: A great foreground adds depth. Look for barns, windmills, silos, rock formations, water, or even old homesteads to add interest to your photos. Position yourself far enough away from the object so it doesn’t dominate the composition.
Scout Ahead: Use Google Earth or online maps to find locations before heading out. It can be tricky to understand how what you see on a map will translate to reality, so be sure to check potential locations out in daylight to help avoid surprises. The more you practice, the better you will get at reading and understanding maps and locations.

Aurora Over Reykjavík at CharlesCockburn.com — *This photo of the Northern Lights over Reykjavik in Iceland demonstrates how city lights can enhance your aurora photography in the right circumstances.*

Pro Tip:

Always have a backup plan. Sometimes, even well-scouted locations don’t work out. Be ready to relocate in the dark if needed.

Gear You’ll Need

Good gear makes all the difference in capturing sharp, high-quality aurora photos. Here’s what to pack:

Camera Setup

A DSLR or mirrorless camera with full manual control and the ability to capture long exposures.
A wide or ultra-wide lens (12-24mm, ƒ/2.8 or faster).
Plenty of memory cards for extra storage.
Fully charged batteries—cold drains them fast, so bring extras.
A sturdy tripod. No one likes blurry shots.

Must-Have Accessories

A remote shutter release or intervalometer.
Lens cleaning kit (for smudges and condensation).
A neoprene camera and lens cover to keep things (especially batteries) warm in the wind and cold.

Staying Comfortable

Thermal layers, gloves, hat, and a good coat.
Folding camp chair—trust me, you’ll be glad you brought one.
Snacks, a thermos with a hot drink, and a headlamp (red mode helps keep night vision intact).
Hand warmers and toe warmers—for you and your batteries.
Bear spray if you’re in wild country.
Toilet paper and tissues if you are far from facilities (just be sure to bury it or pack it out).

Check out my article, Essential Aurora Photography Gear: What You Actually Need To Shoot The Northern (Or Southern) Lights to learn more about what you really need to capture the aurora.

Aurora Over Waterville at CharlesCockburn.com — This ancient ruin of a barn sits among the wheat fields in the plains near Waterville, Washington. On occasion, when conditions are just right, one can glimpse the Aurora Borealis shimmering on the horizon to the north.

Dialing in Camera Settings

Aurora photography is all about balancing light and motion. Start with these settings and adjust throughout your shoot as needed:

ISO: 2500-4000, depending on the brightness of the aurora and the darkness of the area.
Aperture: Wide open (ƒ/2.8 or wider).
Shutter Speed: I typically shoot 15-25 seconds, adjusting based on the intensity of the aurora. Go longer, and the stars start to streak as they move across the sky, appearing blurry. (If you want to capture star trails, one long exposure is not the way to do it. Jump down to the Time-Lapse section below for more info.)
Focus: Set to manual, adjust to infinity, then fine tune by slightly rolling the focus ring back from the infinity mark. Take a test shot to make sure the stars appear crisp and clear.

Quick Tip:

Check your shots often, especially after you’ve changed camera position or made a camera adjustment. Zoom in on your view-finder to make sure the stars are tack sharp.

Timing Your Shoot

Best Time of Night

Arrive before dark to get familiar with the area and set up.
In my experience in North Central Washington state, peak aurora activity usually hits between 1:00-2:00 AM, but it can start earlier, so be ready.
While you are waiting for the show to start, take frequent test shots—sometimes the aurora shows up in photos before you can see it with your eyes.

Best Time of Month

Generally, avoid full or close to full moons—moonlight can wash out the aurora. But this isn’t a hard and fast rule. If the aurora storm is especially strong, you might still get good shots.

Best Time of Year

Fall through early spring is prime time. Longer nights mean better viewing. If you’re in North Central Washington like me, winter is usually the best.

Dilapidated Old Barn at CharlesCockburn.com — Millions of stars sparkle in a purple and green sky above an abandoned old barn on the Waterville Plateau. If you look closely at the horizon line, you can just see the green glow of the aurora borealis

Composing an Amazing Shot

Rule of Thirds: Keep the horizon in the lower third to let the aurora dominate the frame. I often cheat this rule slightly, placing the horizon even lower to emphasize the vastness of the sky.
Foreground Matters: Add depth with trees, old barns, windmills, or rock formations.
Ditch Distractions: Avoid power lines, poles, and street signs that clutter or take away from the scene.

Tracking the Aurora – Aurora Forecasting Apps and Sites

Stay ahead of the game with these tools:

Websites and apps like NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center or My Aurora Forecast provide real-time aurora activity levels. Pay attention to the KP Index: Higher numbers mean more widespread auroras.
No point heading out if the sky’s full of clouds. Use weather apps to check for cloud cover.
Join aurora or sky-watching social media groups in your area and set up alerts to stay in the know.

The aurora dances over the Waterville Plateau in Washington State — *A last-minute decision after watching the space weather paid off! I got to my spot and set up just in time for this flare-up. It was wild watching this dance across the sky and fade moments later.*

Editing for the Best Colors

Your camera doesn’t always capture colors exactly as your eyes see them. Fixing this in post makes a huge difference. Here are a few brief points to keep in mind:

Shoot in RAW to keep full color data.
Adjust White Balance and use a dehaze function to bring out the natural hues and vibrancy that you saw with your eyes.
Use editing software like Lightroom or Photoshop to fine-tune contrast and saturation.

For more details, check out my article, How To Edit Aurora Photos Like A Pro.

Aurora photos before and after editing example

Time-Lapses & Video

Want to capture the stars or the aurora in motion? Try these techniques:

Time-Lapse: Set your intervalometer to snap images based on your exposure time then piece them together later using editing software like Lightroom or Photoshop. (Check back soon for more on this in a future article.)
Real-Time Video: Use high-ISO capable cameras (like Sony A7S series) to shoot video in low light.
Experiment with different exposure settings to capture the aurora’s movement smoothly.

Being a Considerate Photographer

Kill the Lights: Bright lights ruin shots for everyone. Turn off car headlights and dome lights, and use headlamps with a red light setting.
Respect Private Land: Get permission before setting up on someone’s property.
Pack It Out: Leave the area exactly as you found it.

Pro Tips for Better Shots

Minimize Camera Shake: Use your camera’s timer, exposure delay mode, or a remote shutter.
Combat Wind: Weigh down your tripod and remove camera straps that can be whipped around by the wind.
Stay Warm: In my area, wind chill is a real issue. Dress accordingly with wind-proof clothing, and use hand warmers for both you and your gear. A camera cover or extra piece of clothing and a hand warmer placed near the camera can prolong the power of your batteries.
Be Patient: The aurora can come and go or show up late—stick it out for the best shots.
Stay Safe: Always bring a flashlight, be aware of your surroundings, and let someone know your plans.

The aurora shines brightly behind an old schoolhouse. — My Aurora hunting doesn’t usually take me this far east from my home, but I wanted to see this site and specifically shoot it with some color behind if worked out. I arrived early, took some sunset images, and waited for the sky to get dark enough to see if Lady Aurora would even make an appearance on this evening. My patience paid off and I was treated to a wonderful show.

Final Thoughts

Aurora photography is all about patience, preparation, and a bit of luck. Pick a good location, bring the right gear, and stay flexible. When the lights finally start dancing, you’ll be glad you put in the effort. Now get out there and start shooting!

Resources

Websites and apps like NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center or My Aurora Forecast provide real-time aurora activity levels. Pay attention to the KP Index: Higher numbers mean more widespread auroras.

15 Common Aurora Photography Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Essential Aurora Photography Gear: What You Actually Need To Shoot The Northern (Or Southern) Lights

How to Edit Aurora Photos Like a Pro