How to take the best photos of the Northern Lights

MINNEAPOLIS — The skies across Minnesota and much of the country were lit up this weekend as the Northern Lights put on an astonishing show.

From coast to coast, even people on the other side of the Atlantic were treated to a stunning array of blues, purples and greens.

As of Sunday evening, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted that Minnesota may be able to see them again.

So if you grab a camera and head out to take some photos, how can you make sure you get the most out of these rare events?

According to National Geographic, if you plan to use a phone or camera, grab a tripod. Usually, a long, steady shot is required to capture the Northern Lights and if you move even a little bit, the photo can become blurry.

Ideally, pair the tripod with a remote shutter release or timer. You will then no longer have to worry about shaking when taking the photo.

If you’re using a camera with a lens that you can change, use the widest angle lens possible. This allows you to capture as much of the sky as possible, from horizon to horizon if you’re using a true wide angle.

If you’re taking photos with a phone, hold it sideways to capture all the colors at the edges of the aurora.

If you’re using an iPhone 13 or newer, you can simply go to your phone’s camera settings to enable this low light feature. You can then modify the exposure time to maximize the potential of your photo.

Access the hidden settings menu in the iPhone’s camera app by tapping the up arrow. Locate the night mode icon and set the exposure time slider to the maximum, usually 30 seconds if you’re using a tripod. This extended exposure time allows your iPhone to capture the full brilliance of the Northern Lights.

Echoing all of this advice, viewer Tamie Steffen Hornstein, who posted the photo attached to this article in the Facebook group That’s So Minnesota, also recommends setting your camera to the highest ISO possible when you go out to capture northern Lights.

RELATED: Here’s Where and When to See the Northern Lights in Minnesota

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