Capturing the northern lights with an iPhone is very doable with the right setup. Here’s a concise, practical guide to get sharp, vivid aurora photos. Direct answer
- Use a stable setup, a camera-ready iPhone with Night Mode, and manual controls when possible. A tripod and remote triggering are keys to success; long exposure is necessary to reveal the lights.
Key steps and settings
- Stabilize your phone
- Mount your iPhone on a sturdy tripod or place it on a fixed surface to avoid any movement during long exposures. This minimizes blur from handshake and wind. [web results indicate tripod use and stable setup as essential]
- Enable Night Mode
- Turn on Night Mode in the Camera app. Night Mode enables longer exposures in very dark environments, which is crucial for auroras. On iPhone models that support it, Night Mode automatically activates in low light, but you can adjust its duration for longer captures if needed. [web results emphasize Night Mode as the primary tool for northern lights photography]
- Choose the right lens and framing
- If your device offers adjustable focal lengths, start with the 1x (primary) lens. Frame a wide scene with sky and a touch of foreground to create depth. [common guidance across tutorials]
- Exposure and shutter
- Start with a relatively long shutter to let enough light in (typical Aurora shots range from a few seconds up to around 10–15 seconds depending on darkness and aurora activity). If the aurora is faint, longer exposures can help; if it’s bright or you want sharper stars, reduce exposure time. You can tweak exposure by changing Night Mode duration or using exposure compensation if your model supports it. [multiple sources discuss adjusting exposure time for auroras]
- ISO and brightness
- Keep ISO as low as possible to reduce noise (often ISO 800–1600 on many iPhones for aurora shots). If you see noise, try a shorter exposure with a slightly higher ISO, balancing noise and detail. [general aurora photography guidance]
- Focus and composition
- Tap to focus on distant stars or the aurora curve, then lock focus if your camera supports it. Compose with subtle foreground elements (silhouettes, trees, mountains) to ground the image. [photography best practices for aurora shots]
- Focus on stability and timing
- Use a remote shutter or timer to avoid jostling the phone when you press the shutter. Even a small shake can ruin a long exposure. [common technique for steadiness]
- RAW format (if available)
- If your iPhone supports it, shoot in RAW to capture more dynamic range and color information for later editing. [advocated by many aurora tutorials]
- Post-processing
- In post-processing, adjust white balance, contrast, and noise reduction to enhance the aurora without overdoing it. Subtle foreground adjustments can improve depth. [standard editing guidance]
Practical tips
- Check aurora forecasts and local light pollution: clear skies and active auroras yield better results. [contextual photography advice]
- Dress warm and bring spare batteries: long exposures drain battery faster in cold conditions. [practical tip]
- Practice scenarios: take several short test shots to calibrate Night Mode duration and exposure before the peak aurora moment. [typical workflow]
What to expect
- With Night Mode and a tripod, you can capture the sweeping arcs and green/purple hues of the aurora, but the best results come from patient, iterative testing of shutter length, exposure, and composition. [general consensus across guides]
If you’d like, I can tailor this to your exact iPhone model (e.g., iPhone 12/13/14/15) and whether you have a tripod or remote shutter, and outline a step-by-step quick-start you can follow tonight.
