How to Photograph the Northern Lights and Keep Warm Doing It

Northern Lights photography is not like other night photography; it has challenges that go way beyond normal night photography challenges – namely…the cold! You only get Northern Lights in the winter when you have those gorgeous dark skies. In addition, the aurora oval revolves around the geomagnetic north pole placing you in some of the coldest environments on earth. All of this means you are going to be waiting out in the cold for the perfect photograph of the northern lights.

If your dream is to photograph the northern lights, then you’ll need to be in the right place, have the right camera equipment, and be prepared with your camera settings. And you’ll want to ensure that you stay warm while you are working on your perfect photograph.

I have spent a lot of time photographing the northern lights in Alaska. I’ve even been lucky enough to see the southern lights on a cruise to Antarctica! From these experiences I’ve accumulated an extensive list of tips for ensuring your aurora photography turns out great, you stay warm, and have fun. I’m excited to share these tips for shooting the Northern lights while staying cozy.

What are the Northern Lights?

I’m no scientist – but I can tell you aurora borealis is a recipe made up of the sun, solar bursts, solar wind, the earth’s magnetic fields, and our atmosphere. If you want an in-depth explanation, check out this Northern Lights Defined article.

Indigenous Explanations of the Northern Lights

In addition to the scientific explanation, there are also Indigenous explanations too. The Alaskan Native people and Inuit believe that the Northern Lights are the spirits of their ancestors hunting in the night sky, and that’s why they are active and moving.

Another version is the spirits of the ancestors watching over their loved ones on earth. The spirits are so friendly, it is said you can invite them for a ‘dance’. When you dance, they will join you dancing and you can essentially ‘dance them out’.

When I was told this, I wondered if the Hokie Pokie dance would work – it’s the only dance I know! At least if you choose to ‘dance them out’, it’s also a great way to stay warm simultaneously!

Where to Find the Northern Lights

You find the northern lights under the aurora oval. The oval thickness changes periodically, but in general, you’ll find the aurora oval around the Earth’s geomagnetic poles. You’ll also need clear skies in order to see the northern lights. This…