Guided Tours: Consider joining one. Experienced guides know the best spots, understand the terrain and can predict weather conditions. Relax and await the luminous show. Find a Northern lights tour
Steady Tripod: Essential for long exposures in low light. Some tripods have hooks to add weight, ensuring they remain grounded in Iceland’s sometimes fierce winds.
Manual Focus: Lock your focus to infinity. In low light, cameras might have difficulty focusing. Adjust manually until the aurora appears sharp.
No Flash: Models like the iPhone 11 Pro and newer have Night mode. Use it to adjust your exposure time (around 10-15 seconds) to capture the aurora’s dance.
Apps: If your default camera lacks manual controls, consider apps like Northern Lights Photo Taker, NightCap Camera, ProCamera, and Slow Shutter for iOS. For Android, ProCam X Lite is a good choice.
Screen Brightness: Dim your screen. A bright screen can hinder your night vision and may disturb others who are not so enthusiastic about your bright screen.
Shoot in RAW: This format captures more details, offering better post-processing opportunities to bring out the details in your pictures.
Battery Backup: Cold can deplete your battery faster. Bring a power bank if you plan to stay out for extended periods.
Experiment: Play with exposure times, lenses, and framing. Including some of the landscape can give a sense of scale to the aurora.
Dress Warmly: We cannot emphasize this enough. Icelandic weather can be harsh. Dress appropriately to stay cozy.
Savor the Moment: While photographing the Northern Lights is rewarding, take time to immerse yourself in the experience without any gadgets. Sometimes, fond memories are the best capture.
This article was written for Inspired by Iceland