Long-Exposure Basics for Aurora Photography

Overview

Aurora photography is all about the long exposure — gathering faint light over several seconds. Master a few basics and you'll get great results.

The exposure triangle

Use a wide aperture (f/2.8 or wider), a moderate-to-high ISO (1600–3200), and a shutter of 4–15 seconds. Longer for faint auroras, shorter for fast, active ones so they don't blur.

Focus & stability

Set focus to manual infinity on a bright star, and use a tripod plus a timer or remote so nothing shakes during the exposure.

Practice

Shoot RAW for editing latitude, and check your first shots to fine-tune. See our full photography guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What shutter speed is best for the Northern Lights?

Start at 4–15 seconds — longer (up to 25s) for a faint, slow aurora, and shorter (4–6s) for a fast, active display so the curtains stay sharp.

What ISO should I use for aurora photos?

Start around ISO 1600 and raise toward 3200 if the image is too dark; lower it if shots look grainy. Balance it with your shutter speed and aperture.

Why are my aurora photos blurry?

Usually camera shake or wrong focus. Use a tripod and timer, and set focus to manual infinity on a bright star rather than letting autofocus hunt in the dark.

Long-Exposure Aurora Basics

Overview

The exposure triangle

Focus & stability

Practice

Frequently Asked Questions

Capture the Lights