Have you ever wondered how to see the northern lights? Or how to photograph the northern lights? I’m currently in Iceland and was lucky enough to spot them on my first try. This blog post will help you find and photograph the Aurora Borealis, too.
What Are the Northern Lights?
The northern lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis (or simply aurora), are a natural phenomenon that occasionally produces colorful light displays in the sky above the northern hemisphere. They appear when electrons and protons released by the sun bombard gases in the earth’s upper atmosphere and produce light. Oxygen produces the green light, while pink, blue, and purple result from nitrogen.
Solar flares release the protons and electrons, which reach earth about two days later. Our planet’s magnetic north and south poles attract the charged particles. That’s why you’re more likely to witness the lights in the most northern and southern parts of the world. (The southern hemisphere’s version of the celestial display is called the Aurora Australis.)
When and Where to See the Northern Lights
Iceland is ideally situated near the arctic circle. You’re most likely to see the aurora here between September and April. Activity is often at its peak around the equinoxes, when the sun is directly above the equator. Sadly, they’re not an entirely predictable event, but the lights’ elusive nature makes it extra rewarding when you finally find them.
To maximize your chances of seeing the aurora, pick a viewing location with little to no light pollution on a clear night. Clouds of any kind will block your view, and extraneous light— including moonlight— will dilute the aurora’s effect. These conditions also maximize your ability to photograph the northern lights.
If you’re not keen on waiting outside in the dark and cold for hours at a time, ask your hotel to wake you if the lights appear.
What You’ll See (Versus the Camera)
We’ve all seen beautiful, dramatic photos of the northern lights. They can be a bit misleading, though, because a camera sees the lights better than our naked eye. And even a faint glow can be amplified with Photoshop to yield a better effect. You’re at the mercy of Mother Nature, but when you get a good display, you’re in for a treat.
When I spotted the lights for the first time last weekend, I saw only green— but my camera picked up red, too. I’m told Canon is particularly good at capturing the red tones of an aurora.
Green is by far the most common color of the northern lights. If you see more than green, consider yourself extremely fortunate. Don’t fret if at first only a weak glow is visible. The lights can brighten and fade— and change shape and color— over time. And relax— if your equipment is ready to go once the lights appear, they typically remain visible long enough to photograph the aurora repeatedly. All that said, you may get just a faint glow, as I did— but it’s still worth it.
Equipment Needed to Photograph the Northern Lights
You’ll probably get the best photos with a traditional DSLR camera, although a smart phone made in the last three years will likely have the sensors needed to do a decent job. (A local expert I consulted said an iPhone 12 or later model is needed to get a good shot.)
Whichever camera you choose, a tripod is absolutely necessary. You need a long exposure, and it’s just not possible to hold your camera steady for the length of time necessary. After standing hours in the cold, you’ll be sorely disappointed to load your pics onto a bigger screen and find they’re all blurry. (If the stars are small and sharp, you did well!)
You can use an adapter like this one to attach your smart phone to a traditional camera tripod. (Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualified purchases.)
Camera Settings to Photograph the Northern Lights
I took the photos in the gallery below with a Canon DSLR camera. Always use manual settings. Although I experimented a bit, I usually got the best shots for my conditions using ISO 1600, f/4, and a shutter speed of 20 seconds. (Remember, the lights were just a faint glow on the night I saw them.) I’m by no means a pro northern lights photographer, but I thought the pics turned out reasonably well for my first try— and without a Photoshop makeover!
Do not use any filters. Turn off autofocus and image stabilizer. Find the brightest star in the sky and manually focus on it. Then play with your settings. You’ll likely do best with an ISO of 800 to 3200, f/2.8 to f/5.6, and shutter speed of 15-30 seconds, depending on your specific conditions. Be sure you know how to change your settings before you head outdoors!
Because you’ll be out in the dark and cold, you’ll want photographer gloves with special openings for your thumbs and index fingers to make camera adjustments easy and comfortable. I used these Vallerret “Tinden” gloves throughout my trip and loved them. For a full packing list and more tips, read my blog post about preparing for a winter visit to Iceland.
Click here for suggestions on how to photograph the northern lights with a smart phone. The “NorthernLights” app for iPhone purportedly chooses the right camera settings for you, but I haven’t tried it.
More Tips for Photographing the Northern Lights
Focus your attention on the north sky; use a compass app on your smart phone if you need help orienting yourself.
Although the northern lights could appear at any time, the night is darkest at midnight. Avoid moonlit nights if you can; otherwise, keep the moon behind you or to the side and preferably blocked by a building or vehicle. That will give you the best chance to see the northern lights.
Never use a flash. It will ruin your shot and wreck your companions’ pics, too. Many northern lights tour companies advertise cool pics with well-lit, in-focus tourists in the foreground of a perfectly captured aurora. They’re not produced with a flash— the photographer is using a preselected marker (for focus) and the fleeting sweep of a flashlight during a long exposure, while the people hold absolutely still.
Remember, the weather in Iceland (including cloud cover) changes by the hour; check the forecast and be patient.
Finally, note that your camera will see the northern lights before you do. Periodically take a shot of the north sky to see if there’s activity, and if there is… wait for more! You’ll very likely see the northern lights shortly.
Helpful Websites to See the Northern Lights
The Icelandic national weather service predicts aurora borealis conditions on its website. The daily “activity” scale of 0-9 in the upper right-hand corner of the landing page is particularly helpful.
A lot of northern lights tour companies rely on this website to track cloud cover across the country and other factors affecting your chances of seeing the northern lights. It’s a little tricky to interpret the scientific data there; just focus on the color-coded meters indicating favorable or unfavorable conditions.
That said, the northern lights are notoriously unpredictable. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have dozens of expensive tour companies vying for your money with the promise of the best spotters in Iceland.
Speaking of northern lights tours, I had an exceptionally favorable experience with EastWest Iceland Tours. Their guide, Baldvin, sets the standard for expertise and professionalism in my book. However, I would not book Iceland Everywhere Tours again, for many reasons.
No Tour Needed to See the Northern Lights!
With these tips in mind and a car, you can find a safe, dark spot to pull over and see the northern lights on your own.
And if you’re “stuck” in Reykjavik, don’t despair. Under the right conditions, you may be able to spot the northern lights from Öskjuhlíð hill, where the Perlan Museum sits. Just position yourself on the north side and wait until the bright, rotating beacon on top of the building switches off at 23:00. The sweeping night view of Reykjavik is nice even if the aurora eludes you.
(Take your car or a taxi to the top of the hill; there’s no sidewalk along the highway, and the walking path through the trees is pitch black at night.)
I saw the northern lights on just one of the three nights I went searching for them— and consider myself very fortunate. Other visitors to Reykjavík this week left disappointed. It’s a thrill to finally see the aurora— with a bit of luck, I hope you, too, will see the northern lights.
And while you’re in Iceland, why not see volcanoes and an active lava flow?
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