How to Capture the Magic of the Northern Lights in Iceland

Discover the Secrets to Photographing the Aurora Borealis

What are the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, is a natural phenomenon that captivates the hearts of adventurers and photographers alike. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to witness this breathtaking display of lights dancing across the night sky. If you're planning a trip to Iceland and want to capture the magic of the Northern Lights with your camera, this guide is for you. In this article, we will provide you with expert tips and camera settings to help you take stunning photographs of the Northern Lights. So grab your camera, pack your warmest clothes, and get ready for an unforgettable experience in the land of fire and ice.

Section 1: Understanding the Northern Lights

What are the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights are a natural light display that occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere. This collision releases energy in the form of light, creating the stunning colors and patterns we see in the night sky. The lights are typically green, but they can also appear in shades of red, purple, blue, and pink.

When and where can you see the Northern Lights in Iceland?

The Northern Lights are visible in Iceland from September to April, when the nights are dark enough to see the lights. The best time to see the Northern Lights is during the winter months, when the nights are longer and the sky is clearer. It's important to note that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and their appearance is influenced by various factors such as solar activity, weather conditions, and light pollution. To increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, head to areas with minimal light pollution, such as rural locations or national parks.

Section 2: Essential Camera Equipment for Northern lights photography

Choosing the Right Camera for the Northern lights

To capture the beauty of the Northern Lights, you'll need a camera that allows you to manually adjust the settings. While smartphones have improved in recent years, they still can't compete with the capabilities of a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Ideally, you should use a full-frame camera or a camera with good ISO capabilities (between 2,000 and 12,800) to capture the low-light conditions of the Northern Lights. Some recommended cameras for Northern Lights photography include the Nikon D810, D850, and Z7, the Canon EOS 5DS R, and the Sony a7R IV.

Selecting the Right Lens

When it comes to lenses, a wide-angle lens is your best bet for capturing the expansive beauty of the Northern Lights. A lens with a wide aperture (preferably f/2.8 or lower) will allow more light to enter the camera, resulting in brighter and more detailed images. Some recommended lenses for Northern Lights photography include the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8, and the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8.

Additional Equipment

In addition to a camera and lens, there are a few other essential pieces of equipment you'll need for successful Northern Lights photography:

• Tripod: A sturdy tripod is essential for keeping your camera steady during long exposure shots. Look for a tripod that is lightweight, easy to set up, and stable enough to withstand windy conditions.

• Remote Shutter Release: A remote shutter release allows you to trigger the camera without touching it, reducing the risk of camera shake. This is especially important when shooting with longer exposure times.

• Spare Batteries: Cold temperatures can drain your camera's battery quickly, so it's always a good idea to have spare batteries on hand. Keep them warm by storing them in a pocket close to your body.

Section 3: Camera Settings for Northern Lights Photography

Manual Mode

To have full control over your camera settings, switch to manual mode. This allows you to adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO according to the lighting conditions.

Focus and Infinity

Achieving sharp focus can be challenging in low-light conditions, especially when photographing the Northern Lights. To ensure sharp images, set your lens to manual focus and adjust it to infinity. If possible, do this during the day or in a well-lit area to make it easier to find the infinity focus point. You can also use the autofocus function to focus on a distant object, then switch to manual focus to lock the focus.

Aperture

Set your aperture to the widest available setting (lowest f-number) on your lens, such as f/2.8 or lower. This allows more light to enter the camera, resulting in brighter images.

Shutter Speed

The ideal shutter speed for capturing the Northern Lights depends on the intensity and movement of the lights. As a general starting point, try a shutter speed of around 10-15 seconds. If the lights are moving rapidly, you may need to increase the shutter speed to avoid blurring. Experiment with different shutter speeds to find the perfect balance between capturing the movement of the lights and keeping the image sharp.

ISO

The ISO determines the sensitivity of your camera's sensor to light. In low-light conditions, you'll need to increase the ISO to capture enough light. Start with an ISO of around 1600 and adjust it as needed. Keep in mind that higher ISO settings can introduce noise into your images, so find a balance between capturing enough light and maintaining image quality.

White Balance

The white balance setting determines the color temperature of your images. For capturing the true colors of the Northern Lights, set your white balance to "Auto" or use a custom white balance setting. If shooting in RAW format, you can adjust the white balance during post-processing to achieve the desired colors.

Section 4: Composition and Framing

Include a Foreground Element

To add depth and interest to your Northern Lights photos, include a foreground element in your composition. This could be a mountain, a lake, a tree, or any other object that complements the lights and adds a sense of scale.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a basic compositional guideline that can help you create visually pleasing images. Imagine your frame divided into a grid of nine equal parts, and position the main elements of your photo along these gridlines or at their intersections.

Experiment with Different Angles and Perspectives

Don't be afraid to experiment with different angles and perspectives when photographing the Northern Lights. Try shooting from low angles to capture the lights against the horizon, or experiment with unique vantage points to create a sense of awe and wonder.

Section 5: Tips for a Successful Northern Lights Photography Experience

Be Prepared

Before heading out to photograph the Northern Lights, make sure you are prepared for the conditions. Dress warmly in layers, as the temperatures can be extremely cold, especially at night. Bring hand warmers, gloves, a hat, and insulated boots to keep yourself comfortable.

Check the Weather and Aurora Forecast

Monitor the weather and aurora forecasts to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Clear skies are essential for optimal viewing and photography conditions. Websites and apps such as the Icelandic Met Office and Space Weather Live provide valuable information about the weather and aurora activity.

Be Patient

Capturing the perfect Northern Lights photo requires patience. The lights can be unpredictable, and it may take time for them to appear or to reach their full intensity. Don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate results. Stay patient and persistent, and you'll increase your chances of capturing a stunning shot.

Experiment with Different Settings

Don't be afraid to experiment with different camera settings and techniques. Try different exposure times, ISO settings, and white balance options to achieve different effects and styles in your photos. Each night and light display is unique, so embrace the opportunity to be creative and try new things.

Section 6: Post-Processing Tips

Shoot in RAW

To have more control over the final look of your images, shoot in RAW format. RAW files contain more data and allow for greater flexibility in post-processing. You can adjust the exposure, white balance, and other settings to achieve the desired look.

Use Editing Software

Post-processing is an essential step in Northern Lights photography. Use editing software such as Adobe Lightroom or Capture One to enhance your images. Adjust the exposure, contrast, color temperature, and other settings to bring out the beauty of the lights.

Avoid Overprocessing

While post-processing can enhance your images, be careful not to overprocess them. Maintain a natural and realistic look, and avoid excessive saturation, noise reduction, or sharpening. The goal is to enhance the beauty of the Northern Lights, not to create an artificial or unrealistic appearance.

Section 7: Recommended Locations for Northern Lights Photography in Iceland

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Located in southeastern Iceland, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a stunning location to photograph the Northern Lights. The combination of the glacial lake, icebergs, and the dancing lights create a magical and dreamlike scene.

Kirkjufell Mountain

Kirkjufell Mountain, also known as Church Mountain, is one of Iceland's most iconic landmarks. Its distinctive shape and picturesque surroundings make it an ideal location for capturing the Northern Lights. The lights dancing above the mountain create a truly mesmerizing sight.

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular destination for nature lovers. The park's unique geological features, including a rift valley and a stunning lake, provide a beautiful backdrop for photographing the Northern Lights.

Reykjanes Peninsula

The Reykjanes Peninsula, located southwest of Reykjavík, is known for its otherworldly landscapes and geothermal activity. The rugged coastline, lava fields, and geothermal areas make it an excellent location for capturing the Northern Lights in a unique setting.

Section 8: How to Photograph the Northern Lights on your Smartphone

But what if you don’t own a DSLR and you have no plans to buy one? Good quality gear is expensive and even if you’re happy to make such an investment, you might not be keen on carrying a bulky, heavy camera around. Smartphone technology has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and their in-built cameras have got better and better.

How to Use an iPhone to Take Photographs of the Northern Lights

If you have a reasonably new iPhone, then it should have a night mode feature which will improve the quality of the photographs you take of the Northern Lights. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with this tool before you depart for Iceland. Then, when the Northern Lights appear in the night sky, you’ll be prepared and know what you need to do to capture them in an image.

To find the night mode feature open up your iPhone and look at the top of the screen. You should see a little arrow. There’s a hidden menu which will be revealed if you touch this icon; it pops up at the bottom of your screen.

When you’ve done this, look for a +/- symbol. This governs the exposure and you want to set this to a negative value, somewhere in the region of -0.7, though you’ll probably need to experiment and check a few images to see what’s working best for the conditions you’re in.

The next step is to control the shutter speed. To do this you’ll touch a circular symbol next to some shading resembling a crescent of the moon. When you tap this, you’ll see a slider. Drag this to increase the number of seconds; in dark conditions this can be set to up to 10 seconds. The default setting is 1 to 3 seconds, so you’ll be letting a lot more light in and the final image will be brighter.

To achieve more than a 10 second exposure you have to mitigate against camera shake. If the iPhone detects any movement, it defaults to this as a maximum. So if you’re out on a still, calm night you should consider some kind of tripod or mechanism to attach the smartphone to something solid to stop it trembling. Achieve this and you can adjust the settings to gain up to a 30 second exposure.

How to Use an Android Smartphone to Take Photographs of the Northern Lights

There are a plethora of Android phones so it’s not possible to list every one of them here and explain its unique features. You’ll need an up to date smartphone, regardless, and one that has a manual mode, because if you can’t override its settings, you aren’t going to be able to capture such a good image using just the camera alone.

Like the iPhone, use night mode if you’re trying to photograph the Northern Lights with your Android smartphone. Adjust the shutter speed function; you should be aiming for between 10 and 30 seconds as before. Ditto with the exposure; knock it down so the image isn’t overexposed. Ensure you aren’t going to ruin your image with the flash going off unexpectedly and use manual focus to make certain that the picture will be sharp.

Post-production:

If you aren’t happy with the final shot, it’s definitely worth playing around with it. Firstly, check your composition. If you are shooting with the horizon in the image – a good idea as this grounds the shot – then make sure that it is level. Next, check the edges of your image to tidy up any stray objects that might spoil the shot, such as a tree that’s only half visible or a building that’s been cut off.

You should also have the facility to edit factors such as contrast, colour, highlights and shadows. Boost or lower these until you end up with an image you are happy with. Don’t overdo the greens as it will look unnatural; what you’re aiming for is a representation of what you see (or in the case of the Northern Lights which are dimmer to the naked eye, what you see through the screen.

On a smartphone, tidying up images in this way is so simple it takes only a few seconds, so there’s no excuse to do it there and then – or perhaps on the bus as you return to your hotel at the end of the night. Mark the best ones as favourites so you can easily find them later on amidst the many other shots that you’re likely to have taken. You might wish to double check the result on a larger screen such as a tablet or laptop later on.

Final Thoughts on how to photograph Northern Lights in Iceland

Photographing the Northern Lights is a truly magical experience that requires preparation, patience, and a little bit of luck. With the right camera equipment, settings, and composition techniques, you can capture stunning images of this natural wonder. Remember to be prepared for the cold Icelandic weather and to check the weather and aurora forecasts for optimal viewing conditions. Embrace the opportunity to experiment and be creative with your photography, and most importantly, enjoy the awe-inspiring beauty of the Northern Lights in Iceland.

Now, it's time to pack your bags, embark on your Icelandic adventure, and capture the magic of the Northern Lights with your camera. Happy shooting!