Mastering Northern Lights & Night Photography with Your DSLR or Mirrorless Camera (Nikon Z9, Canon R5, Sony A1 & More)
Mastering Northern Lights & Night Photography with Your DSLR or Mirrorless Camera (Nikon Z9, Canon R5, Sony A1 & More)
Tips and Tricks from an Alaskan Photographer with 13 Years of Aurora Experience
For 13 winters, I’ve chased the Northern Lights across Alaska—from Anchorage’s quiet hillside pullouts to frozen lakes near the Arctic Circle. The aurora can be shy, unpredictable, and fleeting, but when it dances across the sky, your camera becomes the only way to preserve that magic forever.
If you’re using a DSLR or mirrorless camera like the Nikon Z9, Canon R5, or Sony A1, you already have powerful tools for night photography. The trick is knowing the right settings and techniques for crisp, vibrant aurora shots—without grain, blur, or underexposure.
Here’s the step-by-step guide I use on every shoot.
Best Camera Settings for Northern Lights Photography
1. Manual Mode is Non-Negotiable
Switch your camera to Manual (M) mode. You’ll be controlling shutter speed, aperture, and ISO yourself—auto settings will not do justice to the aurora.
2. Lens & Aperture
Wide-angle lens (14–24mm for full-frame, 10–18mm for crop sensor) to capture big sky views.
Aperture: f/1.4 – f/2.8 for maximum light capture.
Pro Tip: Fast prime lenses like a 20mm f/1.8 are aurora gold.
3. Shutter Speed
Slow aurora or faint activity: 10–20 seconds
Fast-moving aurora curtains: 2–8 seconds
The brighter and faster the aurora, the shorter your shutter speed should be to preserve detail.
4. ISO
Start at ISO 800–3200.
Increase for dim auroras, decrease for bright ones to reduce noise.
5. Focus
Switch to manual focus.
Use live view, zoom in on a bright star, and adjust until perfectly sharp.
Tape your focus ring if it’s loose—one accidental bump can ruin a shoot.
6. White Balance
Set between 3500K–4000K for natural green tones.
Auto white balance can make auroras too blue or yellow.
7. File Format
Shoot RAW for maximum editing flexibility.
8. Extra Cold-Weather Tips
Keep extra batteries inside your jacket.
Store camera in a ziploc bag when bringing indoors to prevent condensation.
Wear photographer gloves like Vallerret Tindens for dexterity.
Put your camera on a timer for delayed shutter start or use a remote to decrease shake on camera.
Example Starting Point Settings (Nikon Z9)
Gear Recommendations for Aurora Photography
Cameras
I recommend weather sealed, full frame, DSLR or Mirrorless cameras, but crop sensor and other cameras will work, as long as you can use Manual mode with them.
The Nikon Z line is great and my go to.
Lenses
Wide angle lenses with low apertures will serve you the best. Avoid lenses that are any higher than f/4. Here are a few to consider.
Tripods
Other Items
Remote Shutter - avoid shake and movement as much as possible
Power Inverter - so you can recharge your extra batteries throughout the evening.
Extra Batteries - absolute must
Final Words from the Field
Aurora photography isn’t just about settings—it’s about patience, preparation, and being willing to stand in -20°F at 2 AM just to catch those few magical minutes when the sky ignites. If you set up your gear right, the rest is about timing, location, and a little bit of northern luck.
