GoKawiilThe northern lights -- or the Aurora Borealis, to use the more technical name -- is a stunning phenomenon that fills our skies with myriad tones of pinks and greens. It's more often seen in northern areas like Iceland, Alaska or Norway during winter months, but in recent years the aurora has been clearly visible across a large part of the US and Europe, with CNET's team getting some gorgeous viewings in Missouri, Kansas and New York. I myself had an amazing time photographing the aurora when it put on a show in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The aurora can be an incredible spectacle to capture on camera, and it's possible to get amazing photos using just your phone with no extra equipment. I've been a professional photographer for over a decade and have shot the aurora all over the world, so I've put together my best advice for taking your best-ever photos of the northern lights.
How to take aurora photos with your phone
Most modern camera phones have extremely capable night modes that let them capture bright images even when it's dark outside. On most iPhones, that mode will kick in automatically when it detects that there's not enough light (you'll see a little moon symbol light up in yellow), while some Android phones may require you to shoot using a specific night-time photography mode that needs to be manually activated. Not sure how your phone's night mode works? Google the model and "night mode" in advance to check how to do it.
Most modern camera phones will have some kind of night mode built in. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
With night mode activated, you should be able to tap on the screen to set the exposure, take the picture and watch as your phone captures a long exposure that brings out the beauty of the aurora with little effort on your part. But there's a lot you can do to make those images even better.
Read more: Take Your Best Night Mode Photos With Any Phone
First, while you don't need a tripod when using a phone, keeping a steady hand will definitely help. Try leaning on a wall or at least bracing yourself by tucking in your elbows and trying to maintain a strong core while the image is taken. Holding your breath can help too.
Stick to using the main image sensor, as this will almost certainly be how your phone captures its best-looking images. The ultrawide lens may allow you to capture more of the night sky, but these cameras will typically use smaller image sensors and narrower apertures, which won't help your photos. Most "standard" lenses on smartphones are around 24mm, which should be enough to capture a nice image.
If you're shooting with a recent iPhone, take your image using Apple's ProRaw format. This saves more image data, while giving more control to adjust white balance and colors using either Apple's built-in editing tools or in apps like Snapseed or Adobe Lightroom. Most Android phones offer some kind of DNG raw photography, and I strongly recommend you use this.
... continue reading