Did you know the Northern Lights may be seen all year? Because of the lengthy daylight hours, we don't see them during the summer. Between September and April, when the sun sets below the horizon and the nights are dark and long with clear skies, the ideal time to see the Northern Lights is.

The light show can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, and it may occur once or several times throughout the night.

How to Capture the Aurora Borealis

Many travellers' bucket lists include seeing the Northern Lights. Stargazers from all over the world go to the region to catch a sight of the phenomena — and to take a few photos. So keep reading to learn how to photograph the Northern Lights with a digital camera or even your smartphone! Unfortunately, many people return home to find that their well planned Aurora Borealis photographs are too hazy and do not do the phenomenon justice. This comprehensive beginner's guide will assist you in planning, preparing, and photographing the Northern Lights on your first attempt. Learn where and when to see the Northern Lights, what equipment to bring, and how to set up the shot.

The best views of the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights can only be seen in the far north of the planet. Because of the Earth's magnetic field, solar particles are directed towards the North Pole. After that, the solar particles smash with molecules in the atmosphere, and bang! A spectacular light show. The Aurora Zone, which is located between 66°N and 69°N latitude, is the finest spot to watch the Northern Lights. This covers Iceland and northern Canada, two of the most stunning winter destinations!

  • Reykjavik is one of the few locations, and the world's only capital, where the Northern Lights may be seen in the city center.

Get away from the city lights if you want complete darkness. Fortunately, the further north you go, the less light pollution you'll encounter. It's also a fantastic place to leave your luggage while you go on a countryside Northern Lights tour.

Can I use my smartphone to take photos of the Northern Lights?

Yes!

Photographs of the Northern Lights can also be taken with a smartphone!

To capture great aurora shots

follow these simple techniques:

  • Deactivate the apps to free up some space on your phone. I'm sure you have a lot of background programs active; switch them off for better speed.
  • On with full battery power! Check to see if your phone is in battery-saving mode.
  • Use a tripod and set the camera to landscape mode. Yes, there are tripods for smartphones as well, so invest in one. After that, place your phone on top of it and rotate it to landscape mode.
  • Set the mode to manual. Set your smartphone camera to manual mode and tweak all of the settings as described above.

Don't believe the sceptics who insist on solely utilizing digital cameras. Your smartphone can also do the job, and you can edit and share your spectacular Northern Lights images in a flash.