A professional snapper has shared his top tips for capturing the Northern Lights after Thursday night's (October 10) spectacular display.
If you missed the awe-inspiring Aurora Borealis or are green with envy at the photos splashed across and TikTok today, you might be in luck. The Space Weather forecasting service suggested that while last night was likely to have been the most intense display due to a severe geomagnetic storm, it's still having an 'ongoing effect' into Friday (October 11).
They predict the aurora will be visible on Friday and will gradually diminish until Sunday - so there's a good chance of another show later.
So, if you're keen to head out and snap your own image of the Northern Lights - here are some handy hints from our photographer Iain Watts that could help you capture the perfect shot.
Preparation
Iain insists that nailing the best photo of this natural spectacle is all about planning and preparation. An Aurora forecasting app can give you a heads up on when the northern lights will be visible in your area, reports .
"Aurora Watch UK is great", he recommends. It's worth checking your weather apps before heading out as cloud cover can hinder your chances of getting any decent shots.
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Location
The ideal spot to see and photograph the lights is as far away from city lights as possible. If you're not in the countryside, make a beeline for the coast and look out to sea.
Framing
Consider what you want to be the focal point of your photo - something that draws the viewer's attention and pulls them into the scene. This could be anything from the iron men on Crosby Beach, a lighthouse, or even just yourself illuminated by a head torch.
Stability
If possible, use a tripod to keep your camera steady. If you don't have one, try to rest your camera on a stable surface.
Bringing along a book or another solid object to prop up your phone can make a of difference.
Adjustments
Your phone's camera should automatically switch to Night mode, but if it doesn't, you can manually activate it. You're free to play around with your exposure settings, but if you're using a phone camera, consider downloading a long exposure app to do the heavy lifting for you.
ReeHeld and Spectre Camera are both available for download on the app store. If you prefer to handle it yourself on an using the camera app's Night mode:.
You also have the option to take a long exposure photo using the Live Photo function in the standard camera app. Here's how you can do it:.
You can also take a long exposure photo by using the Live Photo function in the standard camera app. To do this, you can:
For camera users
- Set your ISO at 1600+
- Always use a sturdy tripod so you can set your camera up for a long exposure
- Manual focus the camera on infinity
- Set an exposure of up to 15 seconds - play around with what works - it all depends on how bright the Aurora is along with the ambient light.
- Ideally use a trigger so you don’t have to touch the camera and introduce and camera shake
