How To Photograph the Northern Lights in Iceland: Camera Settings and Tips

To photograph the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in Iceland, you need a manual camera, a wide-angle lens, and a sturdy tripod. The best northern lights camera settings are manual mode, f/2.8 or wider, ISO 1600, and a shutter speed of about five seconds.

Iceland is one of the most reliable places to see the northern lights. You can even book northern lights hotels in Iceland to watch the sky from where you stay. However, photographing the northern lights takes some preparation, as a phone in auto mode often misses a faint aurora.

Northern lights forecast in IcelandFind the best times and get directions with Iceland’s most accurate aurora forecast

The right camera settings can help you capture better photos of the aurora in Iceland. If you need guidance, many photo tours in Iceland offer assistance.

This guide includes advice from Iurie Belegurschi, an award-winning nature photographer and the founder of Iceland Photo Tours. His favorite subject is night photography, especially the northern lights in winter.

Whether you’re selecting the right camera and lens for northern lights photography or learning the recommended settings, having some insight into how to photograph the aurora borealis can elevate both your images and your overall winter trip.

Key Takeaways

• The best camera settings for northern lights photography are manual mode, an aperture of f/2.8 or wider, ISO 1600, and a shutter speed of about five seconds.

• The best camera for northern lights photography is a full-frame mirrorless or DSLR camera with good high-ISO performance and a fast, wide-angle lens.

• A sturdy tripod, a remote or a 2-second timer, and spare batteries are essential northern lights photography gear in Iceland.

• Recent iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy phones can photograph the northern lights with night mode and a tripod.

• There are several phone apps that can be used to mimic the settings of a DSLR camera, including Northern Lights Photo Taker.

• The best time to photograph the northern lights in Iceland is from September to April, on clear nights away from light pollution.

Essential Gear Checklist for Aurora Photography

To photograph the northern lights, you need a sturdy tripod and a fast lens that lets in a lot of light.

• Camera body: A full-frame mirrorless or DSLR camera manages high ISO noise significantly better than crop-sensor (APS-C) or Micro Four Thirds cameras in low-light environments.

• Fast wide-angle lens: A focal length of 14 to 24 mm lets you capture wide sky arcs and grand Icelandic foreground landscapes. An aperture of f/2.8 or wider lets in more light, so you can use shorter exposures.

• Sturdy tripod: Use a heavy-duty aluminum or carbon fiber tripod, because Icelandic wind gusts can be strong. Hang your backpack from the center column hook, and let the bag touch the ground, so it does not swing.

• Spare batteries: Carry at least three spare batteries in an inner jacket pocket close to your body heat.

• Shutter release: Use a remote, a cable release, or a 2-second or 5-second timer.

• Headlamp: Use a red-light mode to protect your night vision.

Best Camera Settings for Northern Lights Photography in Iceland

The best camera settings for northern lights photography are manual mode, f/2.8 or wider, ISO 1600, and a shutter speed of about five seconds. Use these settings as a starting point, take a test shot, and adjust one setting at a time.

A fast shutter speed keeps the shape of a fast-moving aurora sharp. A longer exposure collects more light, but it blurs fast movement into a smooth glow. A bright moon or a strong aurora lets you lower your ISO, which reduces noise in your photos.

In darker conditions, a longer exposure with a lower ISO may produce a cleaner image, but it can also blur the aurora’s movement. Check your camera screen to avoid overexposure, which can wash out the aurora’s green color and make it appear white.

As Iurie advises:

Before you head out, check the northern lights forecast in Iceland for aurora activity and cloud cover. Clear skies are essential for northern lights photography, even when the aurora forecast predicts strong activity.

Best White Balance for Northern Lights Photos in Iceland

The best white balance for northern lights photos is a manual setting of 3500 to 4000 K. This range keeps the aurora green and the night sky dark blue. You can still fine-tune the white balance when you edit your RAW files.

The Incandescent preset (about 3200 K) gives the northern lights cooler, bluer tones. The Fluorescent preset (about 4000 K) gives a more neutral look. Avoid auto white balance, because it can change the colors of the aurora from one shot to the next.

How To Photograph the Northern Lights: Step by Step

Photographing the northern lights in Iceland is easier when you follow the same setup routine every night. These steps work for any DSLR or mirrorless camera.

1. Check the forecast: Check the northern lights forecast in Iceland for aurora activity and cloud cover.

2. Find a dark spot: Drive to a dark spot away from city lights, and park in a designated parking area.

3. Set up your tripod: Place your camera on a sturdy tripod.

4. Turn off image stabilization: Turn off lens stabilization (VR or IS) and in-body image stabilization (IBIS). On a tripod, stabilization can add small vibrations that blur long exposures.

5. Shoot in RAW: Set your camera to RAW. RAW files keep more detail than JPEG files, so you can fix colors and reduce noise when you edit.

6. Choose your settings: Switch to manual mode, and set an aperture of f/2.8, ISO 1600, and a shutter speed of five seconds.

7. Focus on a star: Focus manually on a bright star in live view, and turn the focus ring until the star is a small, sharp point.

8. Set the white balance: Set a manual white balance of 3500 to 4000 K. Auto white balance can change the colors of the aurora from one shot to the next.

9. Use a shutter delay: Use a 2-second or 5-second self-timer, or a remote or cable release. This stops your hand from shaking the camera when you press the shutter.

10. Take a test shot: Check the photo and the histogram on your screen, and adjust your ISO or shutter speed.

How To Avoid Star Trails in Northern Lights Photos

To avoid star trails, keep your shutter speed below the 500 Rule limit for your lens. Stars appear as short lines instead of sharp points when the shutter stays open too long.

The 500 Rule helps you estimate the longest shutter speed you can use before stars begin to blur. Divide 500 by your lens’s focal length to calculate the limit in seconds.

Choose a wide-angle lens, such as a 14 mm, 16 mm, or 20 mm lens, because shorter focal lengths make star movement less noticeable than standard or telephoto lenses. Open your lens to its widest aperture, such as f/1.8, f/2.0, or f/2.8, to let in more light.

If your image is too dark with a short exposure, increase the ISO to 1600, 3200, or 4000. A little image noise can be reduced during editing, but motion blur is much harder to correct.

How To Make a Northern Lights Time-Lapse or Video

To create a northern lights time-lapse, use your camera’s interval timer to take a series of photos with manual settings and a consistent exposure. Start with a shutter speed of 2 to 5 seconds and a 1-second interval between shots.

Keep your exposure settings fixed to avoid flickering, then combine the images in editing software. Around 250 photos produce a 10-second time-lapse at 25 frames per second.

How To Focus Your Camera on the Northern Lights

To get sharp northern lights photos, switch off autofocus and focus manually on a bright star or distant light. Autofocus often struggles in Iceland’s dark skies, so follow these steps to get the stars and aurora in focus.

1. Switch your lens and camera to manual focus (MF).

2. Turn on live view, and point your camera at the brightest star or a distant light.

3. Zoom in on the star with your camera’s magnification function or focus peaking.

4. Turn the focus ring slowly until the star is a small, sharp point.

5. Tape the focus ring in place so it does not move in the cold or in your bag.

Many lenses focus slightly past infinity, which makes stars look soft. Take a test shot, zoom in on your screen, and check that the stars are sharp before the aurora appears.

Focusing at infinity on a bright star usually works well for the night sky, but nearby foreground objects may need a different approach. As Iurie explains:

Focus stacking involves taking separate photos focused on the foreground and the sky, then blending them during editing to keep both areas sharp.

How To Photograph the Northern Lights With Your Phone

You can photograph the northern lights with a recent smartphone. Most new iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy phones have a night mode that takes long exposures automatically.

Place your phone on a small tripod or a steady surface, because any movement blurs the photo. Use these smartphone settings to get the best northern lights photos in Iceland:

• On an iPhone 11 or later, Night mode turns on automatically in low light. Tap the Night mode icon, and drag the slider above the shutter button to Max. On a tripod, your iPhone can use exposures of up to 30 seconds.

• On a Google Pixel, open Night Sight and place your phone on a steady surface. Your Pixel switches to Astrophotography mode and can expose for up to about four minutes.

• On a Samsung Galaxy, use Pro mode or the free Expert RAW app. Expert RAW has an Astro mode, which combines several minutes of exposure into one image. In Pro mode, start with a shutter speed of 10 seconds and an ISO of 800.

• On any smartphone, turn off your flash and tap on a bright star to set your focus. Use your phone’s self-timer, so pressing the shutter does not shake the phone.

Best Apps for Northern Lights Photos on Your Phone

Camera apps give you more manual control over your phone’s camera for northern lights photography. These apps are only for iPhone.

1. Northern Lights Photo Taker: This app has simple presets for weak, medium, and strong northern lights displays.

2. NightCap Camera: This app is built for low-light photos and has an Astronomy mode for the northern lights and the stars.

3. Slow Shutter Cam: This app lets you set long shutter speeds for northern lights photos and light trails.

Find more useful apps in our guide to the top 10 apps for traveling in Iceland.

Best Cameras for Northern Lights Photography in Iceland

The best camera for northern lights photography is a full-frame mirrorless camera, such as the Nikon Z6III or the Sony Alpha a7 V, paired with a fast, wide-angle lens.

Best Full-Frame Cameras for the Northern Lights

A full-frame sensor gathers more light than a crop sensor, so it keeps noise low at the high ISO settings the northern lights need. The five cameras below are the best options for aurora photography in Iceland.

• Nikon Z8

  • Sensor: 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor

  • Key features: Its Starlight View feature helps the autofocus work in very dark conditions

  • Best for: The Nikon Z8 is best for experienced photographers who want top-quality northern lights images

• Nikon Z6III

  • Sensor: 24.5-megapixel full-frame sensor

  • Key features: It offers strong low-light performance and a fully articulated screen

  • Best for: The Nikon Z6III is best for photographers who want full-frame low-light quality at a lower price

• Sony Alpha a7 V

  • Sensor: 33-megapixel full-frame sensor

  • Key features: It has fast autofocus and good detail at high ISO settings

  • Best for: The Sony Alpha a7 V is best for photographers who want a modern all-round camera for night photography

• Sony Alpha a7S III

  • Sensor: 12.1-megapixel full-frame sensor

  • Key features: Its large pixels give excellent high-ISO performance in very low light

  • Best for: The Sony Alpha a7S III is best for filming the northern lights in real time

• Nikon D850

  • Sensor: 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor

  • Key features: It offers excellent low-light performance and backlit buttons that help when you shoot in the dark

  • Best for: The Nikon D850 is best for photographers who prefer a DSLR camera

Best Cameras for Northern Lights Beginners

These three cameras are the easiest way into northern lights photography, with simple controls and strong high-ISO performance. Two use full-frame sensors, and one uses a smaller APS-C sensor, so you can start at the price that suits you.

• Canon EOS R8

  • Sensor: 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor

  • Key features: It is light and handles high ISO settings very well

  • Best for: The Canon EOS R8 is best as a first full-frame camera for the northern lights

• Nikon Z5II

  • Sensor: 24.5-megapixel full-frame sensor

  • Key features: It offers good low-light performance and in-body image stabilization

  • Best for: The Nikon Z5II is best for beginners who want an entry-level full-frame camera

• Canon EOS R50

  • Sensor: 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor

  • Key features: It is small, affordable, and easy to use

  • Best for: The Canon EOS R50 is best for beginners who pair it with a fast, wide-angle lens

Best Affordable Cameras for the Northern Lights

You do not need the newest camera body to photograph the northern lights in Iceland. The models below are the most budget-friendly cameras for aurora photography.

• Sony Alpha a7 IV

  • Sensor: 33-megapixel full-frame sensor

  • Key features: It produces sharp images with good detail at high ISO settings

  • Best for: The Sony Alpha a7 IV is best for photographers who want full-frame quality at a lower price than the a7 V

• Sony Alpha a7 III

  • Sensor: 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor

  • Key features: Its RAW files keep good detail at high ISO settings

  • Best for: The Sony Alpha a7 III is best for photographers on a budget who want a full-frame camera

• Sony Alpha a6700

  • Sensor: 26-megapixel APS-C sensor

  • Key features: It has in-body image stabilization and a compact body that is easy to pack

  • Best for: The Sony Alpha a6700 is best for travelers who want a small, capable camera

• Nikon Z50II

  • Sensor: 20.9-megapixel APS-C sensor

  • Key features: It is lightweight and offers good low-light performance for its price

  • Best for: The Nikon Z50II is best for travelers on a budget

• Nikon D750 and Canon EOS 6D Mark II

  • Sensor: The Nikon D750 has a 24.3-megapixel full-frame sensor, and the Canon EOS 6D Mark II has a 26.2-megapixel full-frame sensor

  • Key features: They offer good image quality at high ISO settings and are widely available

  • Best for: These cameras are best for photographers who want a good-value DSLR

Buying a better lens usually improves your aurora photos more than upgrading your camera body.

Best Compact and Action Cameras for the Northern Lights

Compact and action cameras fit in a pocket, but their small sensors gather less light than a full-frame camera. They work best on bright aurora nights and for northern lights time-lapses rather than detailed stills.

• Sony RX100 VII

  • Sensor: 20.1-megapixel 1-inch sensor

  • Key features: It is a pocket-size camera with full manual settings, but its smaller sensor gathers less light.

  • Best for: The Sony RX100 VII is best for photographing a bright aurora with a small camera.

• GoPro HERO13 Black

  • Sensor: 27-megapixel 1/1.9-inch sensor

  • Key features: It has night modes, but it captures less detail of the aurora than a larger camera.

  • Best for: The GoPro HERO13 Black is best for northern lights time-lapses.

DSLR vs. Mirrorless Cameras for the Northern Lights in Iceland

Both DSLR and mirrorless cameras take excellent northern lights photos. A mirrorless camera shows your exposure on the screen or in the electronic viewfinder before you take the shot. This live preview saves time when you adjust your settings in the dark.

Mirrorless cameras also offer focus peaking and focus magnification, which make manual focus on a star easier. DSLR cameras use less battery power because they do not run an electronic viewfinder all the time.

Choose a weather-sealed camera for northern lights photography in Iceland. Many landscape cameras are weather-sealed against rain, snow, and cold.

Best Lenses and Gear for Northern Lights Photography

The best lenses for aurora borealis photography are 14 mm to 24 mm wide-angle lenses with an aperture of f/2.8 or wider. A wide aperture lets in more light, so you can use a lower ISO.

An f/4 lens gives darker, noisier northern lights photos. Fisheye lenses can create unusual, curved northern lights photos.

Popular lenses for the northern lights include the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G, the Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S, and the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art. Manual Samyang lenses, sold as Rokinon in the US, are affordable and sharp in low light.

Iurie prefers an ultra-wide zoom lens for the northern lights:

A wide-angle lens also lets you include Iceland’s landscapes in your northern lights photos. Kirkjufell Mountain and the Geysir Geothermal Area provide striking foregrounds for photos. If you don’t want to buy expensive equipment, renting a high-quality lens can be a more affordable alternative.

Tripod, Remote, and Batteries for Northern Lights Photography

A sturdy tripod is essential for northern lights photography in Iceland. Choose a tripod with strong leg locks and non-slip feet, because Iceland’s wind can shake lightweight travel tripods. Never leave your camera and tripod alone, because a strong gust can knock them over.

Use a wireless remote or your camera’s 2-second timer to avoid shaking the camera when you press the shutter. Many mirrorless cameras also support remote shooting through a smartphone app. For time-lapse photography, use your camera’s interval timer.

Cold weather drains camera batteries faster, so bring at least three fully charged spares and keep them warm in an inner pocket. A battery grip or an external battery pack in a warm pocket extends your shooting time in extreme cold.

Mirrorless cameras often use more power than DSLRs, making a USB power bank useful if your camera supports USB charging. Iurie also shares this cold-weather tip:

Condensation forms on and inside your lens when you bring a cold camera into a warm car or building. Put your camera in a sealed plastic bag before you go indoors, and let it warm up slowly. This protects your lens and sensor from moisture.

Composition and Editing Tips for Northern Lights Photos

A strong foreground turns a good northern lights photo into a great one. Mountains, waterfalls, churches, and icebergs give your aurora photos a sense of place and scale. Place the horizon low in your frame, so the northern lights fill most of the photo.

Iurie recommends using foreground elements to guide the viewer’s eye through the image:

Scout your location in daylight, so you know where to set up in the dark. Take both horizontal and vertical photos, because a vertical frame often shows a tall aurora better.

Best Places To Photograph the Northern Lights in Iceland

You can photograph the northern lights anywhere in Iceland from September to April, when the sky is dark and clear. If you are staying in the capital, Grotta Nature Reserve is a popular choice among the places to see the northern lights in Reykjavik, as it sits on the dark western tip of the city. 

Light pollution weakens the aurora in photos, so darker spots outside the city give you better results. If you are renting a car in Iceland, avoid parking areas full of tour buses. Headlamps, car lights, and phone screens can all ruin your long exposures.

Many of the best places to photograph the northern lights in Iceland are famous natural landmarks with low light pollution. These locations give you striking foregrounds for your aurora photos:

• Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: Icebergs float in a calm glacier lagoon in Southeast Iceland. On calm, clear nights, the water can reflect the aurora, making it a memorable spot to see the northern lights at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

• Vestrahorn Mountain: Jagged peaks rise above black sand dunes on the Stokksnes Peninsula in Southeast Iceland.

• Reynisfjara Beach: A black sand beach with basalt columns and sea stacks lies near Vik in South Iceland. Sneaker waves at Reynisfjara Beach are dangerous, so stay far from the water, especially in the dark.

• Thingvellir National Park: Rift valleys and rivers frame the aurora on the Golden Circle. Thingvellir National Park is about 25 miles (40 km), or 40 to 50 minutes, from Reykjavik.

• Gullfoss Waterfall: A powerful two-tier waterfall glows under the northern lights on the Golden Circle. The spray from Gullfoss Waterfall can freeze on your lens, so bring a lens cloth.

• Kirkjufell Mountain: A cone-shaped mountain stands above Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The waterfall in the foreground and the peak behind it give you a layered composition.

• Namaskard Pass: Steaming vents and mud pots sit near Lake Myvatn in North Iceland. The rising steam adds color and texture to aurora photos.

Winter nights are longer in North Iceland. This gives travelers in areas such as Akureyri and Lake Myvatn more hours to photograph the northern lights.

Those extra dark hours only help when the sky is clear, and cloud cover follows a distinct regional pattern. Southeast Iceland is the least cloudy region in the country during the aurora season, and the sky there clears far more often than in the north or the Westfjords.

How To Photograph People Under the Northern Lights

To photograph a person under the northern lights, ask them to stand completely still for the whole exposure. Light their face briefly with a dim flashlight. Use a shutter speed of 5 seconds or less, so small movements do not blur the person.

Use a headlamp with a red-light mode while you shoot. Red light protects your night vision and does not ruin other photographers’ long exposures. Turn off your car headlights when other people are shooting nearby.

How To Edit Northern Lights Photos

Editing your RAW files brings out the colors and detail of the northern lights. Start by adjusting the white balance so the sky looks dark blue and the aurora looks green. Then adjust the exposure, contrast, and highlights.

Use noise reduction to remove grain from high-ISO northern lights photos. Programs such as Adobe Lightroom include AI noise reduction tools. Avoid pushing the saturation too far, because oversaturated aurora photos look unnatural.

When To Photograph the Northern Lights in Iceland

The best time to see the northern lights in Iceland is from September to April. The aurora occurs all year, but from about May to August, Iceland’s nights are too bright to see it. This period includes the midnight sun in Iceland.

Iurie recommends visiting during the darker months and allowing plenty of time for a shoot:

A strong aurora can appear soon after dusk or shortly before dawn. Twilight helps you show more of the landscape in your northern lights photos. A faint aurora needs full darkness, and your eyes need about 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to it.

Your camera sees a faint aurora better than your eyes do. Take a test photo of the northern sky to check for northern lights activity you cannot see yet.

Best Months To Photograph the Northern Lights in Iceland

The aurora depends on solar activity, which cannot be predicted far in advance. Seasonal conditions in Iceland still change your northern lights photography experience from month to month. Here is what to expect during the northern lights season in Iceland.

September and October

September and October offer milder temperatures, less snow, and easier driving conditions in Iceland. Reykjavik has 8 to 15 hours of darkness in these months. You can photograph the northern lights above lake reflections and fall colors in Iceland in September and October.

November to February

November to February are Iceland’s darkest months, with around 20 hours of darkness in late December. These long nights give you the most time to photograph the northern lights. Iceland in December and the other winter months bring more snowstorms, wind, and cloud cover.

Roads in remote areas of Iceland may be icy or closed in winter. Snowy landscapes add a beautiful foreground to your northern lights photos.

March and April

Reykjavik has about 14 hours of darkness in early March and 7 hours by late April. March is a favorite month for northern lights photography, with clear nights and longer days. By the end of April in Iceland, the nights are too bright for a faint aurora.

Geomagnetic activity is not even across the season. March, April, and September are the most active months for the northern lights in Iceland, based on 95 years of Kp index records. March is the most active month of the year.

What To Wear for Northern Lights Photography in Iceland

Aurora borealis photography means standing still outside for hours. Winter nights in Iceland are often below freezing (32 F or 0 C), and wind makes it feel colder. Even in September and April, nights are often near freezing. Our guide to what to wear in Iceland lists the layers that keep you warm and dry.

Two pairs of gloves work best. Thick gloves keep your hands warm while you wait for the aurora, and thin liner gloves let you change camera settings without exposing your fingers.

Best Northern Lights Tours for Photography in Iceland

Iceland offers a wide range of northern lights tours for photographers. Most photography tours in Iceland in winter also include northern lights photography.

Land-based tours are better than northern lights boat tours for photography. A boat moves on the water, which makes long-exposure photos blurry. Super jeep tours reach remote, dark areas that buses cannot drive to.

Many northern lights tours also include free photos taken by your guide. In our northern lights tour operator study, photos came up in about 16% of reviews of David The Guide's small-group tour, against about 6% on the two biggest bus tours. These top-rated northern lights tours from Reykjavik offer good conditions for photography:

1. The Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik: Your guide picks the route each night from the cloud and aurora forecasts, so the bus drives to clear sky rather than a fixed stop. If the lights do not appear, you can rejoin free for up to three years.

2. Northern Lights Tour With Free Photos and Refreshments: A photographer travels with the group and emails you free aurora photos within seven days, so you can concentrate on your own shots. This tour also runs from August through May.

3. Northern Lights Super Jeep Tour from Reykjavik with Free Photos: The super jeep reaches remote spots that buses cannot, and the tour supplies tripods and a professional photographer. Entry to the Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center is included.

Best Self-Drive Tours for Northern Lights Photography in Iceland

Winter self-drive tours in Iceland let you photograph the northern lights at your own pace. You choose your locations and stay out as long as the aurora is active.

A self-drive tour gives you more nights to photograph the northern lights. Our study on how many days you need in Iceland estimates a 76% to 95% chance of seeing the northern lights over five nights. Three nights give you a 58% to 83% chance.

These self-drive tours last five to seven days and give you several nights to look for the aurora in Iceland:

• 7-Day Northern Lights Self-Drive Tour of South Iceland, the Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes Peninsula: Visit Iceland’s most iconic locations with chances to see the northern lights.

• 6-Day Northern Lights Self-Drive Tour on the South Coast of Iceland with Ice Caving: Combine northern lights hunting with black sand beaches, glaciers, and ice caves in Iceland.

• 5-Day Northern Lights Winter Self-Drive Tour with the Golden Circle and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: Travel across South Iceland in search of the northern lights.

Final Tips for Photographing the Northern Lights in Iceland

The northern lights are unpredictable, so patience is the most important skill in northern lights photography. Practice your camera settings at home before your trip to Iceland. You can then change settings quickly when the aurora appears.

Visit the Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center before you book a tour or start a self-drive trip. The center teaches you about the aurora borealis and how to read the forecast. Staff there also give advice on camera settings for the northern lights.

Give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness, and stay ready even if the sky looks empty. The northern lights can appear suddenly and with great intensity.