Last June, we learned that the sun was at the peak of its eleven-year cycle of magnetic activity, meaning the chances of seeing the northern lights in the mid-latitudes of the US and Europe increased. Good news: tonight there is another chance to enjoy the dance of magenta and green tones.
I can tell you that the Northern Lights are a breathtaking natural wonder, as I first witnessed such a display in May 2024 where I live in southern Britain. And if you live in an area where you might be able to see the Northern Lights tonight, follow my 5 tips when planning your photos.
Can’t you come tonight? Without fear – Scientists had more good news for night sky enthusiasts earlier this year.This suggests that the Sun is entering a period of increased long-term activity that may last for decades.
An old oak, during an intense northern lights display in 2024.
5 steps for planning Northern Lights photography
TL;DR: Check the conditions, find the right location, plan the shoot, gather the right equipment and prepare the best camera settings.
If you want to expand your knowledge to give yourself the best chance of taking beautiful photos of the northern lights, check out our detailed article on 5 ways to plan your shoot.
I isolated these ancient ruins to frame the northern lights.
Check the terms and conditions
First things first: take a look at this. NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC), Oh Aurora clock in the UK to see where the northern lights are likely to be seen. The forecast for tonight is: two dozen states/Scotland and Northern England. So check the weather forecast and pray for clear skies! There is a combination of social media accounts that can provide regular updates and push notifications.
Find the right place and plan your registration
Wherever you are, avoid light pollution and head to areas with dark skies for the clearest possible observations.
With this you want to plan your session with local knowledge and a similar application. Photo pillsDon’t forget to look north for the northern lights!
I like to include a point of interest in the foreground in my Northern Lights images, as you can see in the images I took in May 2024. You can frame a lone tree or building, or find a body of water for reflections, which is a particularly effective technique.
I took this photo of the Northern Lights with a Google Pixel 6 in astrophotography mode. This time I got better results with a mirrorless camera, but with the right camera settings you can take great pictures with any type of camera.
Check your equipment
Almost any camera can take pictures of the Northern Lights – the photo above was taken with an old Google Pixel 6! Personally, I prefer to use a “real” camera and choose my hybrid camera with a wide-angle zoom lens. Both options require a tripod to capture sharp, clear images.
Choose the best camera settings
These days, most phones have a night mode that improves image quality in low light, while some models, like the Google Pixel phones, have a mode specifically for astrophotography. If your shutter speed is too slow, the beautiful details of the northern lights will blend into a uniform mass of color and you will lose detail (as in the image above), so I recommend experimenting with different settings.
For cameras with manual exposure control, choose a shutter speed between 1 and 5 seconds and increase the ISO to get the right brightness, rather than too long exposure and lower ISO. Your priority is details rather than noise-free images.
Good luck and here we clear the air!
Here’s an uncropped version of the main image: Reflections in still water can double the effect.
