Northern lights photography hinges on planning, gear, and technique. Here’s a concise, practical guide to help you get sharp, colorful aurora images. Direct answer

• Location and timing matter: choose a dark site far from city lights and go on nights with strong aurora activity forecasted. Clear, moonless skies usually yield the best results. Bring extra layers and a power bank because cold weather drains batteries.

• Gear basics: use a camera with manual exposure control and a sturdy tripod. A wide-angle lens (14–24 mm) at a wide aperture (f/2.8 to f/4) helps capture more sky. A remote shutter release or timer minimizes camera shake.

• Exposure settings (starting point):
  • Shutter speed: 5–15 seconds depending on aurora activity and motion. Faster-moving aurora may need shorter exposures; slower aurora can be captured with longer ones. ISO around 800–3200, balancing noise and brightness. Aperture as wide as possible (f/2.8–f/4).

• Focusing: set focus to infinity or manually focus on a distant bright star, then confirm sharpness by zooming in on the live view. Tape your focus ring to avoid drift during the long exposure.

• Composition tips: include a foreground element (silhouette of trees, a mountain, a building) to add depth. If possible, shoot with a horizon line and vary your angles to find an interesting perspective.

• Shooting tips:
  • Use RAW format if available for the most editing latitude.
  • Turn off any artificial lighting or flash.
  • Keep batteries warm and ready; consider keeping a spare battery in a warm pocket.

* If you’re new to the scene, practice focusing and framing during daylight or civil twilight to reduce complexity at night.

What to adjust if the aurora is very bright or very faint

• Very bright aurora: shorter shutter speeds (3–7 s) and possibly lower ISO to reduce overexposure; you can stack multiple shorter frames later in post if needed.

• Faint aurora: longer exposures (15–25 s) and higher ISO (1600–3200) with a wide-open aperture, then accept some noise or reduce ISO if noise becomes excessive.

Mobile/phone photography

• Phones can work well in low light with night modes, but you’ll generally have smoother results with a tripod and longer exposure settings. Aim for 5–15 s equivalent exposure and experiment with RAW if available.

Safety and logistics

• Find a location away from artificial light and be mindful of weather, road conditions, and wildlife. Bring a headlamp with red mode to preserve night vision, and dress in warm layers since aurora photography often happens late at night in cold environments.

If you’d like, specify your camera (or phone), lens, and typical shooting conditions (location, time of year, moon phase), and a tailored, step-by-step setup and a sample exposure plan can be created.