Taking Northern Lights photos with an iPhone is very doable with a few simple settings and a steady setup. Here’s a concise, practical guide to help you get sharp, stunning aurora shots. What you’ll need

• iPhone with Night Mode (iPhone 12 and later) and a stable support (tripod recommended)
• A dark location away from artificial lights
• A wide-angle mindset: foreground interest can elevate the shot, but the aurora itself should be the focus

Setup and shooting steps

• Stabilize your iPhone: mount it on a sturdy tripod or place it on a solid surface to minimize shake, especially for longer exposures. If you don’t have a tripod, brace the phone against a stable object and use a timer to reduce handshake.
• Enable Night Mode: Night Mode should automatically activate in low light, but ensure it’s on. The longer the exposure, the more aurora detail you capture. Start with the Night Mode exposure around 4–15 seconds as a baseline and adjust from there.
• Use the 1x lens: If your iPhone has multiple lenses, start with the standard (1x) lens for a broad field of view. You can experiment with an ultra-wide later if you want more sky context.
• Focus manually if possible: Tap to focus on the aurora or distant stars, then lock focus if your device supports it. This helps prevent the aurora from softening in subsequent shots.
• Exposure and ISO: Let Night Mode determine exposure, but if you have an option for exposure compensation, try a low to moderate exposure (not over bright). If the aurora looks faint, a slightly longer exposure can help; if it looks washed out, reduce exposure or shorten the shutter.
• Turn off flash and artificial lights: Flash is not helpful for auroras, and any nearby artificial light can ruin your darker shot. Disable any screen glow on the phone and avoid bright foreground lights.
• Composition: Decide if you want minimal foreground with a bold sky, or include a silhouette (mountains, trees, a cabin) for scale. For dynamic auroras, a simple horizon line often works well.
• Take multiple shots: Aurora activity changes quickly. Take a burst of 5–10 shots with varying exposure times (and try a few with slightly different framing) to increase your chances of a standout image.
• Check and adjust: Review your shots after a few minutes. If they’re too bright, shorten the exposure or reduce Night Mode duration. If too dark, lengthen exposure slightly, ensuring you don’t blur the aurora from movement.

Tips to improve results

• Weather and aurora forecast: Check local aurora forecasts and clear sky conditions for the best chances; clear skies and high auroral activity boost results.
• Wind and cold: If it’s cold, wear warm gloves with accessible camera controls, or use a remote shutter if available to minimize touch on the screen.
• Foreground interest: Include a recognizable foreground (a lake, mountains, or a frozen stream) to add depth and scale to the shot.
• Post-processing: A light edit can help bring out green and purple hues, reduce noise, and balance contrast. Avoid over-processing to preserve natural aurora colors.

Common pitfalls

• Overexposure: Night Mode can over-brighten faint auroras; start with shorter exposures and increase gradually as needed.
• Blur from movement: Very long exposures can blur moving aurora features or stars; keep exposure to a practical range and stack as needed.
• Battery drain: Long night sessions drain the battery quickly. Keep a charger or power bank handy if possible.

If you’d like, share your iPhone model and what you’ve tried so far, and I can tailor settings (Night Mode duration, ISO, and framing) to your specific device.