Chasing the Northern Lights: Top 10 Tips for Finding and Photographing the Aurora

Want to know how to predict the Northern Lights? Get a few decent photos on your phone or with a real camera? Learn from my experience!! 

Back in May 2024, I went searching for the Northern Lights on a roadtrip through Canada, during the strongest aurora storm since the 1980s. It was unreal. The lights were so active that night that they were overhead and even on the southern horizon. One of the best experiences of my life, and now I'm obsessed. 

That night, I didn't really get any good photos, but I learned a lot. Thankfully, there was another burst in Vermont in October 2024, and I was prepared this time. 

Here are my top 10 tips for chasing the Northern Lights: 

1. Get your apps: you're gonna want something for both the aurora itself and cloud cover. Search "aurora" in your app store and get one or two of the popular ones. And turn on your notifications for these, as you want them to tip you off of incoming storms. 
   
   
2. But know, the apps don't know *everything*. The Northern Lights are storms, and just like weather storms, you can't predict every last detail. The other night the app was reporting a 4% chance of seeing aurora while I and other photographers were squealing with delight on the beach because the show was so spectacular. Don't be discouraged by those low chances, (or the fact that the map only shows aurora to your north, that was also true during this incredible burst) and see #5 below. 
   
   
3. Get good at cloud tracking, too. Perhaps you can drive a little bit to a clearer location, or know that it'll be clearing up after 10 pm and can enjoy your pizza before you head out (bring that cold pizza with you). Or perhaps you need to set your alarm for midnight. I like Astrospheric which gives you an hourly forecast for clouds. 
   
   
   
   
4. Find a dark, north-facing spot with limited light pollution, with the help of this map. Greenish areas are fine, ideally north of cities so the light pollution doesn't block your northern horizon. Public parks or campgrounds on lakes work well, if they aren't surrounded by streetlights. You can sleuth on google maps for spots, but... 
   
   
5. Find a local facebook group. I wish I had done this sooner! In Vermont we have a group, and people will post real-time sightings and are usually good about sharing where popular spots to look for them are. That's a good barometer if things start to pop. 
   
   
6. If you want phone pictures, prep yourself by making sure there is ample space on your phone, LOL. Ask me how I know. A tripod of some sort, even those selfie stick tripods, will help immensely but isn't strictly necessary with the newer phones. The shot below was on my iPhone 14 pro, handheld. 
   
   On an iPhone you'll want to use Night Mode. You can change the Max time from the default 3s to 10s (handheld) or 30s (if it detects that you are on a tripod). In settings>camera>preserve settings you can also tell it to preserve night mode settings, which will keep that 10s adjustment so you don't have to reset it every time. But, with no fanciness and straight out of the camera, this is a great 3s handheld iPhone photo:  
   
   
   
   

7. Gear up: don't forget a few basics to keep you happy. Learn from my mistakes.

1. Headlamp with red-light mode. The red light will keep your eyes (and those of everyone around you, thank you) adjusted to the dark.
2. Warm clothes. Seriously, don't underestimate this. After years in Vermont both me and another experienced photographer were shivering and under prepared for how cold it gets standing around in the dark at 2 am. If you're near a lake, expect all the wind. Just throw all your warm stuff in the car. I'm taking gloves, hats, scarves, winter coats, and good socks.
3. Snacks & drinks, bonus points for a warm thermos of hot chocolate
4. Phone bank: if you have it, bring extra power for your phone. It's already down to 22% and you may be using it a lot. Plus nobody wants to be standing around in the dark with a dead phone.
5. Beach chair (you may or may not use it, but throw it in the car)
6. Passport, if you think there's even the slightest possibility you'll want to veer over the border into Canada
7. Hand warmers if you're in a really cold spot
   
   
8. Find a good spot, and wait.  I don't recommend chasing them in a car, like I did. You can't see them while driving, and when you do find them you won't necessarily be in a good spot to hang out and watch them and your eyes aren't going to be adjusted. Better to wait in a good spot for them to come to you. They change constantly so you if conditions are good, don't just swing through the park and think nothing's there. They could easily pop in 15 minutes.
   
   
9. Keep your eyes adjusted to the dark as much as you can (and help others by not blinding them with bright lights). It'll make a huge difference in what you see. Only use the red light on any headlamps, turn down the brightness on your phone, and look at any screens as little as you can.
   
   
10. Big camera shooters, you'll want the widest lens you have and of course a tripod and cable/remote release. I've had good luck with ISO 1600, 10-15" shutter speed, and the aperture wide open (like f/3.5 or f/2.8 on your camera). Play around with that, though, it depends a lot on the camera and the brightness of the aurora. Don't be afraid to shoot verticals, either, especially when you get pillars shooting up: 
    
    

Finally, don't forget that your camera will see the lights before you do. This is an excellent way to test the sky to see if the northern lights are peeking out: take a quick snap with your phone. You may not see the colors yet, but your camera will!

Does this mean you can't see the northern lights with your naked eye? Absolutely not. It's different, but you can absolutely see the aurora with your naked eyes when the storm is really popping. Seeing them has been one of the best experiences of my life. The colors will be more vibrant on cameras, but the dancing beams and pillars of light that you can catch with your naked eyes will be worth every moment, I promise you.  

Happy hunting!