Some travel experiences aren’t just about the destination; they’re about the moments that make you stop in awe, overwhelmed by the sheer majesty of the world. Chasing the northern lights, nature’s most jaw-dropping light show, is one of those experiences that has failed me spectacularly over the past decade. Multiple trips to Iceland and Alaska yielded nothing more than watching a clear night with no aurora, a moon-filled night (with no aurora), or a cloud-filled night obscuring nature’s big show. When you’re standing under that vast empty sky, seeing sheets of color dancing effortlessly, science doesn’t matter; All that matters is the overwhelming beauty of it all.
The Magic of the Aurora Borealis
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s get one thing straight: the northern lights are created by amazing celestial fuckery. Scientifically speaking, solar winds interacting with Earth’s magnetic fields create vibrant waves of color that slowly ripple across the sky. The sun’s 11-year cycle of solar output peaks at its apex, being aptly dubbed the ‘Solar Maximum’; during this peak time, aurora activity is at its highest and may be seen in areas farther away from the poles. Since the solar maximum is scheduled to peak in 2024-2025, and I was desperate to make hunting and photographing the Aurora borealis a reality.
The shit that makes the Aurora hard to see
The Aurora occurs high in the Earth’s atmosphere, so any clouds in the lower or middle atmosphere will block your view. Even light cloud cover can obscure the delicate, colorful patterns of the northern lights.
How to Avoid it: Check weather forecasts before heading out. Look for clear or partly cloudy skies. Some Aurora tracking apps also include real-time cloud cover data to help you plan your outing.
Artificial light from cities, towns, or even car headlights can wash out the night sky, making it difficult to see the faint colors of the Aurora. This is especially true for weaker auroral activity.
How to Avoid it: Head to remote locations far from cities or other sources of light pollution. National parks, wilderness areas, or isolated Arctic regions are ideal.
Artificial light from cities, towns, or even car headlights can wash out the night sky, making it difficult to see the faint colors of the Aurora. This is especially true for weaker auroral activity.
How to Avoid it: Head to remote locations far from cities or other sources of light pollution. National parks, wilderness areas, or isolated Arctic regions are ideal.
The northern lights are best seen during the darker months, typically between late September and early April. During the summer, regions above the Arctic Circle experience the “Midnight Sun,” where daylight lasts 24 hours, making it impossible to see the Aurora.
How to Avoid it: Plan your trip during the fall, winter, or early spring when nights are long and dark and offer the best chance for aurora viewing.
A bright, full moon can flood the night sky with light, reducing the contrast and visibility of the Aurora. While the Aurora can still be seen during moonlit nights, it’s not as vivid or dramatic.
How to Avoid it: Check the lunar calendar and aim to hunt for the Aurora during a new moon or when the moon phase is less than half full.
Location, Location, Location
Even in areas with intense aurora activity, obstructed views (mountains, buildings, trees) can hinder your ability to see the northern lights. You need a wide, unobstructed view of the horizon.
How to Avoid it: Find open, elevated locations like hills, fields, or frozen lakes. Avoid areas surrounded by tall trees, buildings, or other obstructions.
The Aurora is unpredictable and doesn’t operate on a set schedule. Even with ideal conditions, you may have to wait hours to see the lights, or they may not appear that night.
How to Avoid it: Dress warmly, bring snacks, and prepare for the possibility of a long wait. The northern lights often show up when you least expect them, so patience is key.
Misreading aurora forecasts or not understanding weather patterns can lead you to the wrong place at the wrong time. For example, a KP index of 3 might not be visible in southern locations but could be spectacular closer to the poles.
How to Avoid it: Learn how to interpret KP indices, solar wind data, and local weather conditions. Higher KP values mean stronger auroras that can be seen further south. I use NOAA’s space weather prediction center for the most up-to-date information.
Destinations to Chase the Northern Lights
How to Photograph the Northern Lights Like a Pro
Let’s face it: You want to capture the northern lights on camera to post on The ‘Gram to make your friends jealous; however, I’ve rarely run into people sporting more than an cell phone to do their photography work. Photographing the Aurora is an art, and it takes a shitload of patience and equipment to get it almost right.
All-in-one cameras (Camera+Lens) and cell phones aren’t going to produce quality images; A mid-range (or better) DSLR or mirrorless camera that can manually tweak the settings (F-stop, ISO, shutter) is essential.
What do I use? I shoot with a Canon R5 body.
You’ll need a decent wide-angle lens with the lowest f-stop you can afford (f/2.8 recommended; however, f1.4 and f/1.2 lenses are available).
What do I use? I shoot with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.
Shooting the Aurora requires long exposure, meaning you must shoot from a stable, non-movable foundation that will eliminate shakes and movements while the shutter is open to avoid blurring of fixed points (ie, stars, trees, etc) in your pictures. Most people recommend tripods, and I do too; however, plenty of other mounting brackets, clamps, and stands are much more compact and provide the same amount of stabilization.
What do I use? Mostly clamps or tripod.
This eliminates camera shake, giving you sharper photos. If you don’t have this, most cameras have a setting to enable a few-second countdown to wait to take the picture.
What do I use? My camera has a Bluetooth app for remote shutter control.
Start with the lowest aperture your lens will support (In my case, it was f/2.8). Set your ISO between 800–1600 and a shutter speed of 10–20 seconds. Adjust as needed depending on the brightness of the Aurora.
A technically ‘correct’ exposure means your image is neither too bright nor too dark. This may not always be the right look for a particular photo. Once you understand the fundamentals of how ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed affect your picture, you can be more creative in how you adjust them to achieve your desired effect.
Final Thoughts: Aurora Chasing Uncensored
Since my first encounter with the Aurora in 2012, I’ve been relentlessly chasing them over the years:
- 2012: Anchorage, Alaska: SUCCESS
- 2015: Reykjavik, Iceland: FAIL
- 2017: Reykjavik, Iceland: FAIL
- 2019: Anchorage, Alaska: FAIL
- 2021: Reykjavik, Iceland: FAIL’ISH
- 2023: Anchorage, Alaska: FAIL
- 2025: Kirkines & Tromoso, Norway: SUCCESS
While Norway ultimately completed the decade-long chase to photograph the Aurora, it is undeniably one of the best places for aurora hunting; however, it’s not the only game in town. If you’ve caught the northern lights bug (and you will), basically anywhere above the Article Circle has a prime viewing position to witness this mesmerizing show.
Even with the best preparations and planning, successfully chasing and being able to experience the Aurora requires a substantial amount of luck, and for those who have started chasing and haven’t been successful YET, keep the chase alive – when you witness the beauty of it, the experience will become etched in your memories for the rest of your life.
