The sun\u2019s \u201cweather\u201d runs through roughly 11-year cycles, known as the solar cycle. During solar minimum, the sun has fewer storms and fewer auroras. Solar maximum sees an uptick in sun storms and a spike in both northern light sightings and intensity. Imagine explosions of aurora color, from green and purple to red and pink, and lights moving in all directions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scientists have predicted that this current solar cycle\u2019s peak activity will hit in 2024, from now to October. That said, the year or two just before and after solar maximum is a solid time for aurora hunting, too. With that in mind, let’s talk about locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Best Aurora-Chasing Destinations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Auroras are largely seen within donut-shaped circles above the geomagnetic north and south poles. Typically 65 to 70 degrees north or south of the equator. When aurora activity is particularly strong, like the predictions for 2024, you can often see the auroras further toward the equator. Including in places such as the U.S.-Canada border. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to latitude, looking for aurora-chasing locations with minimal light pollution is important. Artificial light can obscure the swirls of the Northern Lights. Here are some of the best destinations to chase the northern lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Virtually all of Iceland sits within the auroral oval. That means you won\u2019t go wrong with aurora hunting here, especially since the island enjoys little to no light pollution. I\u2019ve chased these swirls across the country; some of my favorite spots include the wild and craggy Westfjords, where you can stay on the Heydalur Horse Farm and photograph the lights and <\/em>Iceland\u2019s signature ponies. Or, head south to catch the lights above the dramatic southern-coast sights, such as Seljalandsfoss waterfall. You can see the lights here from roughly mid-September to April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On a recent trip to South Greenland, I enjoyed a string of more than seven nights of northern lights photography\u2014with some of the best aurora backdrops I could\u2019ve asked for. Think: Farmhouses, mountains, and icefjords, with vibrant ribbons overhead. While Greenland is remote, it’s not as hard to get here as you think. Arrive at South Greenland’s Narsarsuaq Airport via direct flight from Iceland or Copenhagen. The best time to plan your trip is mid to late September; many experiences, such as the region\u2019s can\u2019t-miss farm stays, close come October.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve chased the lights in spots like Bergen, Norway, but I\u2019ve yet to make it up to Troms\u00f8\u2014although I hope to change that with a trip this year. The northern Norway town of Troms\u00f8 lies right within the auroral oval. That means you can enjoy the lights even during less powerful displays. The season here runs from September to early April, and guides throughout the region offer a host of unique aurora adventures:\u00a0 sailing, dogsled trips, and reindeer sled rides, to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to aurora hunting in and around Fairbanks<\/a>\u2014another auroral oval destination with potential lights from fall through spring\u2014it\u2019s tough to beat Borealis Basecamp. These transparent-ceiling igloos let you scout for swirls from your bed and<\/em> provide an interesting foreground subject to photograph when the lights dance above. If you snooze through the show, Borealis Basecamp offers aurora wake-up calls. Another spot for lights hunting near Fairbanks is Chena Hot Springs, which hosts tours, such as a snow-coach aurora trip, onsite.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to jet set far or spend a lot of money to see the lights. Auroras are increasingly visible during solar maximum in northern border destinations like Minnesota and Michigan. I’ve seen the northern lights on three separate trips to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the past four years. My go-to spot for aurora hunting here is Fresh Coast Cabins, a collection of cozy accommodations with north-facing views over Lake Superior (which is essential for catching lights in the lower 48 states as they appear closer to the horizon). For Minnesota viewing, try Cook County\u2019s Northern Lights driving route. Since this region enjoys year-round nighttime darkness (unlike the midnight sun, which obscures lights from far-north locales like Alaska in the summer), you can chase lights in the Great Lakes all year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we have your Aurora-hunting destination planned let\u2019s talk about photography. Here are a few pointers to make your Northern Lights photography shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Given the low light, you\u2019ll need a longer exposure<\/a> to capture the northern lights. Your exact exposure will largely depend on the aurora activity. Use a longer exposure when the lights are relatively faint or moving slowly. A ten-second shutter speed<\/a> will capture the colors on display. If they’re moving quickly, as they increasingly are during solar maximum, you will want a quicker shutter; otherwise, the light movement blends together and looks muddled. I typically use a five-to-two-second shutter to capture the movement for strong aurora nights, particularly those where you can clearly see the lights moving with your eyes. That said, play around with it and leverage the real-time feedback to see how it looks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ISO<\/a> depends on your camera and its low-light capabilities. I use the Sony A7III<\/a> and Sony A7RIV<\/a> and typically aim for about ISO 800 to ISO 1000 when possible. However, sometimes, when my shutter is faster, I crank the ISO a bit higher because capturing the ethereal detail and movement is important to me. That\u2019s when I rely on Lightroom<\/a> and similar tools to help manage noise. You’ll need a higher ISO during new moon nights\u2014the best nights for lights chasing. You can still see the lights when the moon is full, and if the storm is strong, this can work in your favor, as the foreground will be better illuminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aperture<\/a> is another great way to let in light without compromising image quality. I use wide lenses with an aperture of f\/1.4 or f\/1.8 to let in as much light as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since it\u2019s dark, use manual focus to nail the sharpness\u2014just like you would with most astrophotography projects<\/a>. I swear by my Sony\u2019s focus-peaking tool, as it helps me finetune exactly what I\u2019m zeroing in on. If you don’t use focus peaking, you can also shine a light on a foreground object, such as a cabin, to ensure it’s tack-sharp before shooting. If you do this, I recommend a red-light flashlight because bright-white lights affect our vision. It takes around 20 to 30 minutes for our eyes to readjust to the darkness\u2014and we need our eyes adjusted to see those swirls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The auroras can move and sway in unusual patterns and shapes. I always use interval timer shooting to let my camera snap away while I sit back and enjoy the show. To do this, I recommend as little time as possible between shots (I usually aim for one second, but this will depend on how much memory you have available\u2014which is why it’s important to invest in large memory cards<\/a>.) I usually take around 10 test shots and double-check the results before letting my camera shoot in interval mode. I also bring two cameras on my Aurora trips to simultaneously capture different frames and foreground subjects. If you\u2019re into video, don\u2019t forget to turn your interval-timed shots into timelapses<\/a>, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photography equipment is critical for nailing your northern lights photography. In addition to my Sony cameras, I use a travel tripod like the MeFoto RoadTrip PRO<\/a>, a smaller tripod like the Joby Gorillapod<\/a> for my backup camera, and a variety of wide lenses like the Sony 14mm f\/1.8<\/a> and the Sony 20mm f\/1.8<\/a>. Try a lens warmer<\/a> to minimize condensation, pack some backup batteries since the cold can drain them quickly, and don’t forget your personal gear, such as a red-light headlamp and warm-weather clothing, to ensure a safe and cozy shoot.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You\u2019re in the right place. As a night sky enthusiast, I’ve hunted the northern lights all over the world, from Isle Royale National Park in Michigan to the world’s second-largest ice sheet, the Greenland Ice Cap. In this article, I’ll help you understand where, when, and how to chase auroras. I’ll also include tips on nailing those northern lights photos.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11111173,"featured_media":100503,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17771,17770,17781],"tags":[18401,14496,18402],"class_list":["post-100497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-astrophotography","category-photography","category-travel-photography","tag-aurora-borealis","tag-northern-lights","tag-solar-maximum"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Northern](\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Northern-Lights-in-South-Iceland_Stephanie-Vermillion2-1024x683.jpg\")
Iceland <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
South Greenland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Troms\u00f8, Norway<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fairbanks, Alaska<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Great Lakes, U.S.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Northern](\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Northern-lights-in-West-Iceland_Stephanie-Vermillion-1024x756.jpg\")
How to Photograph the Northern Lights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exposure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ISO <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aperture <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Manual Focusing <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Interval Timer Shooting <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Gear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n