04/09/2026
🌌 How to capture the Northern Lights? Our local star shares his top tips for photographing the beautiful dance of the night sky. And don't miss his last, most important tip 👉
Northern Lights are best enjoyed with the naked eye. However, most people lucky enough to witness a stunning and colourful Northern Lights display also want to take their own photos of them. Who can blame them?
Shooting the Northern Lights is easy, whether using your smartphone, DSLR or mirrorless cameras. The best camera settings depend on how strong the Aurora display is and the quality of your cameras and lenses.
🤳🏽If using a smartphone:
1. Set the camera to night mode for longer exposures.
2. Place the phone onto a tripod to keep it steady for a few seconds.
3. Find a beautiful foreground and shoot!
📷 A DSLR or mirrorless camera is a much better option for shooting the Northern Lights. It’s a bit more complicated but also more rewarding. Swipe for more!
🤩 But here is our most important tip! If you are witnessing the auroras for the first time, look up and enjoy the show!
Don’t waste those precious few moments fiddling with your camera or looking at it through your phone. Sometimes the most impressive and colourful displays only last a few minutes. You really want to make the most of it.
*Text adapted from the book Iceland at Night: Your Guide to Northern Lights and Stargazing in Iceland by and .
