When we think of the Northern Lights, we automatically go for bright greens that can merge into reds and purples depending on the strength at the time. These are the colours you will see when taking a picture on a camera or camera phone, but through the naked eye you are likely seeing something slightly different. When searching for the lights by yourself or with a guide, searching through the lens of your camera will certainly be the best way to locate them in the night sky. This is when you can start to setup your tripod to then take some truly amazing photographs.

The end of September to end of March will offer the darkest months to see the Northern Lights. They are in the sky all year round so occasionally you might see them during the summer months but going in the darkest months will significantly increase your chances.

In 2024 we have been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights as far south as Hampshire, but to see this natural phenomenon in all its glory you are best to travel as far north as possible and find somewhere with minimal to no light pollution. This theory also applies to the moon; checking the moon cycle before travelling is advised as this will give you a dark night’s sky and hopefully a greater chance to see all the colours the lights have to offer. 

Travelling into the Arctic Circle will give anyone the greatest opportunity to see the Northern Lights; the days are shorter and nights longer and depending on your length of trip you will want to maximise your search for the lights.

Whether you have the newest camera or the most up to date phone, a tripod will be the one piece of equipment to take with you. Having a sturdy camera will result in a stronger image, less chance on blurred stars or having to overexpose the image in post editing. Technology has improved to have social media ready photos but to remove any doubt a tripod will offer the best results.

If you have the option to change shutter speed, aperture, and ISO it is best practise beforehand. As the Northern Lights move, a shutter speed will be important to try and not blur the movement to much. Adjust the aperture to be wide which will allow as much light in as possible and a low ISO to create a crisp image and less noise in the dark areas of the image.

One of the hardest parts of night photography, the Northern Lights or star gazing is focusing. Manual focusing offers the opportunity to have a strong image, but practise is required as the Northern Lights are moving and can appear and disappear just as quickly. Using the touch screen monitor on a digital SLR will help with focusing but also remove any camera shake from pressing the shutter button.

When arriving at your chosen destination I would suggest booking a tour for that evening. This will give you maximum opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Trailfinders offer tours in Iceland and Norway that will offer a trip the following night if you are unsuccessful in your search. A tour to see the Northern Lights will also give you access to an experienced guide that can help you capture the perfect photo and give insight into this phenomenon. By booking on the first night, you will have ample opportunity to see the lights the next night or by going out yourself. Having been lucky enough to visit Tromso, I found the local parks of Telegrafbukta Treningspark and Prestvannet offer a great spot to see the Northern Lights.

Before going to see the Northern Lights learning to understand your camera will be an essential part of making sure you capture great images. Regardless of getting the perfect image the best thing about the Northern Lights is to enjoy it, seeing the lights shimmer across the sky and being lucky enough to see the green beams disappearing into the night sky is a sight you will never forget.

Find out more by exploring our Northern Lights holidays.