Uncover the secrets of photographing the Northern Lights with your smartphone. Discover practical tips for capturing nature’s most mesmerizing light show.

For most people, catching a glimpse of the Northern or Southern Lights is an awe-inspiring experience they’ve dreamed of for years. And rightly so. Witnessing the colorful dance of lights in the sky is both enchanting and a bit intimidating. From the end of August until early April, the skies over Iceland are dark enough to see the lights. Although the lights are always active (and no, it has nothing to do with the cold), between late August and early April, Iceland’s sky becomes dark enough to reveal their full glory.

Are you eager to capture Mother Nature’s elusive show? It’s magical—and if you want to share it with friends and family or show them what they’re missing. Fortunately, you don’t need an expensive full-frame camera and a wide-angle lens with a 1.2 aperture—though those are excellent choices. Advances in smartphone technology now allow us to effectively capture the Northern Lights and other low-light scenes. The settings are relatively simple, and the results can be stunning. Try out your setup and practice before heading out! The more you practice, the better (and quicker) you’ll get. Learn about your device’s settings and apps before going out; adjusting them with cold fingers is much less fun.

Smartphone Photography Tips for the Northern Lights:

1-Guided Tours: Consider joining one. Experienced guides know the best spots, understand the terrain, and can predict the weather. Relax and wait for the dazzling display.

2-Sturdy Tripod: Essential for long exposures in low light. Some tripods are designed to stay put in Iceland’s sometimes strong winds.

3-Manual Focus: Lock your focus to infinity. Cameras can struggle to focus in low light. Adjust manually until the aurora appears sharp.

4-No Flash: Models like the iPhone 11 Pro and newer have Night Mode. Use this to set your exposure time (around 10–15 seconds) to capture the aurora’s dance.

5-Apps: If your default camera lacks manual controls, consider apps like Northern Lights Photo Taker, NightCap Camera, ProCamera, or Slow Shutter for iOS. For Android, ProCam X Lite is a good choice.

6-Screen Brightness: Dim your screen. A bright screen can impair your night vision and disturb others who may be less fond of your glowing display.

7-Shoot in RAW: This format captures more details and offers better opportunities for post-processing to bring out the details in your photos.

8-Spare Battery: Cold weather can drain your battery faster. If you plan to stay outside for a long time, bring a power bank.

9-Experiment: Play with exposure times, lenses, and framing. Including some of the landscape can give the aurora a sense of scale.

10-Dress Warmly: We can’t stress this enough. The weather in Iceland can be harsh. Dress appropriately to stay comfortable.

11-Enjoy the Moment: While photographing the Northern Lights is rewarding, take time to immerse yourself in the experience without any gadgets. Sometimes, just watching is truly priceless.