[LATEST] how to photograph northern lights with android (pro tips)?

How to Photograph Northern Lights With Android (Step-by-Step Guide)

Capturing the Northern Lights with an Android phone feels almost magical.

Those glowing green waves across the sky look unreal, but the good news is that modern Android cameras are powerful enough to photograph them beautifully—if you know the right settings. This guide walks you through everything: from preparing your phone to fine-tuning manual settings and making your final shot look stunning.

how-to-photograph-northern-lights-with-android

1. Understand the Northern Lights Before Shooting

The aurora isn’t constant. It flickers, fades, and suddenly bursts with brightness. Knowing this helps you set the right expectations.

Aurora happens high in the atmosphere when charged particles from the sun collide with gases.
The stronger the solar activity, the brighter and more colorful your photos will be.
Check the KP index (aurora strength). KP 3–4 is decent; KP 5+ gives you the best chance for strong lights.

Apps like My Aurora Forecast or SpaceWeatherLive can help you track this.

2. Prepare Your Android Phone

Don’t rush—one minute of prep can make a huge difference.

✔ Turn on Airplane Mode

This saves battery and prevents notifications from shaking the phone.

✔ Fully Charge Your Phone

Cold weather drains the battery quickly. A power bank helps.

✔ Clean the Camera Lens

Even a tiny smudge can ruin low-light shots.

✔ Use a Tripod

A must-have. Long exposure shots need complete stability.

3. Switch to Manual or Pro Mode

Most Android phones (Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Vivo, Oppo, Realme) include Pro/Manual mode.
This is where you control everything that matters:

ISO
Shutter speed
White balance
Focus
Exposure

If your phone doesn’t have Pro Mode, install a manual camera app like Open Camera.

4. Best Camera Settings for Northern Lights on Android

Here’s the sweet spot for capturing auroras:

✔ ISO: 800–1600

Start around 800. Increase if the aurora is faint.
Higher ISO brightens the shot but adds noise—find the balance based on conditions.

✔ Shutter Speed: 5–15 seconds

5–7 seconds for bright, fast-moving lights
10–15 seconds for faint lights

Longer exposure = brighter aurora, but too long will blur the movement.

✔ Aperture

This is fixed on phones, so use what’s available. Usually f/1.6–f/2.0 on modern devices.

✔ Focus: Manual → Infinity

Auroras are far away, so set focus to ∞ (infinity).
If your phone doesn’t show an infinity icon, manually slide the focus bar to the max.

✔ White Balance: 3500K–4000K

This gives you natural-looking colors.
Feel free to adjust slightly depending on the scene.

✔ Exposure: Slightly +

A small exposure bump helps brighten foreground and sky.

5. Compose Your Shot Like a Pro

Aurora shots aren't only about the sky. Add depth.

Try These Compositions:

Include trees, mountains, water, or cabins in the foreground.
Use leading lines like roads or rivers.
Shoot vertically for tall aurora pillars.
Shoot horizontally for wide arcs across the sky.

Foreground details make the aurora look more dramatic and real.

6. Keep Your Phone Stable

Even the slightest shake will blur your photo.

Use:

Tripod
Phone mount
Bluetooth shutter remote
Timer (3–10 seconds)

A timer is simple and works perfectly if you don’t have accessories.

7. Take Multiple Shots

Auroras change every few seconds.
Shoot again and again with slight variations:

Change ISO
Shorten or lengthen shutter speed
Reframe angle
Adjust white balance

You’ll be surprised how different each picture looks.

8. Shoot in RAW (If Available)

RAW photos give you more detail and flexibility when editing.

Most flagship phones and many mid-range models now support RAW in Pro Mode.

9. Edit Your Aurora Photos (Gently)

You don’t need heavy editing. Just enhance what’s already there.

Use apps like:

Lightroom Mobile
Snapseed
Google Photos (simple edits)

Adjust lightly:

Increase contrast
Reduce highlights
Boost clarity
Add a touch of saturation
Reduce noise without making the image soft

Editing helps reveal details your eyes might’ve missed.

10. Bonus Tips for Stunning Aurora Photos

Keep your phone warm between shots (cold kills performance).
Avoid nearby lights—they wash out the aurora.
Get away from cities; dark places give you 10× better results.
Use gloves that let you tap the screen.
Arrive early and set up before the lights appear.

Capturing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) with an Android phone is entirely possible, but you'll need to move beyond simple point and shoot. The secret lies in taking full control of your camera's settings using Manual or Pro Mode, as the spectacle of the aurora demands specific adjustments for a successful long exposure shot.¹

📸 Essential Setup and Stability

The first and most non-negotiable step is stability. Because you'll be using long exposure times to gather enough light, even the slightest movement will result in a blurry mess.

Tripod is a Must: Get a small, sturdy phone tripod. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it must keep your phone perfectly still.
Remote Trigger or Timer: Don't ruin a long exposure by physically tapping the screen! Use your camera app's timer function (e.g., 2 or 5 seconds) or a remote Bluetooth shutter release to take the photo without touching the phone.
Location, Location, Location: Find a spot with minimal light pollution. City lights will severely compete with the aurora's faint glow and can wash out your picture.
Check the Forecast: Keep an eye on both the weather forecast (you need clear skies!) and an aurora forecast app (look for a high Kp index).

⚙️ Key Android Camera Settings (Pro Mode)

Switching to your phone's Manual or Pro Mode is crucial as it unlocks the ability to override automatic settings that are unsuitable for night sky photography.

Setting	Recommendation	Why it's Important
Shutter Speed	5 to 15 seconds	This determines how long the sensor collects light. Longer times gather more light, but if the aurora is moving quickly or is very bright, use a shorter time (e.g., 5 seconds) to prevent a blurry green blob. For faint auroras, you may go up to 20 or 30 seconds.
ISO	800 to 3200	This is the sensor's sensitivity to light. Start around ISO 1600 and adjust. Higher ISO brightens the image but introduces more digital noise (graininess), so use the lowest value that still captures the lights.
Focus	Manual Focus to Infinity ( $\infty$ )	Autofocus will struggle in the dark. Switch to manual focus and set it to the infinity symbol. If you can't find that, zoom in on a bright star or distant light and manually adjust the focus until the star is a tiny, crisp point, then lock it.
White Balance (WB)	Auto or a Daylight/Kelvin setting	Auto is often surprisingly good, but you can try a Kelvin setting between 3500K and 4500K for a cooler, more natural look. You can also adjust this later.
Aperture (f stop)	Widest possible	On most phones, the aperture is fixed, but if you have control, use the lowest f number (e.g., f/1.7 or f/1.8). This lets the maximum amount of light hit the sensor.
Format	RAW (DNG)	If your phone supports it, shoot in RAW. This format retains the most image data, giving you much more flexibility to correct exposure, white balance, and noise in a post-processing app like Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed.

FAQ: How to Photograph the Northern Lights

1. Samsung phone camera settings for Northern Lights

To capture the aurora clearly on a Samsung phone, switch to Pro Mode and use:

ISO: 800–1600

Shutter speed: 5–12 seconds

Focus: Manual → Infinity

White Balance: 3500K–4000K

Tripod: Essential for long exposure shots

Timer: 3–10 seconds to avoid camera shake

Samsung’s Pro Mode gives you full control, which is crucial for low-light scenes like the Northern Lights.

2. Northern Lights camera settings (General)

Whether you're using Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi, or another Android model, these settings work reliably:

ISO: 800–2000 (depending on light strength)

Shutter: 5–15 seconds

Focus: Manual, set to maximum distance

WB: ~3500K

Use RAW format if your phone supports it

These settings help capture the glow, movement, and color of the aurora without overexposure.

3. How to take photos of Northern Lights on iPhone

On iPhone models with Night Mode:

Open the Camera app

Switch to Night Mode (it turns on automatically in low light)

Tap the timer icon to choose Exposure Time (use 3–10 seconds)

Lock focus on the sky

Keep the iPhone completely still or use a tripod

Shoot in RAW format (available in iPhone 14 Pro, 15 Pro, 16 Pro series)

More exposure time = brighter aurora images.

4. How to take pictures of Northern Lights with Samsung S24 Ultra

The S24 Ultra is excellent for aurora photography. Use:

Pro Mode → Manual

ISO: 800–1600

Shutter: 4–10 sec

Focus: Manual → Infinity

WB: 3500–4200K

Turn on RAW capture for more detail

Use a tripod and 3-second timer

The S24 Ultra’s large sensor and AI noise reduction help produce clean, sharp images even at higher ISO.

5. Samsung phone camera settings for Northern Lights (Reddit consensus version)

Based on what Reddit users commonly recommend (explained in fresh, original wording):

Stick to ISO 800–1250 for cleaner photos

Use shorter shutter speeds (3–7 sec) when lights are bright

Turn off Scene Optimiser—it sometimes misreads the sky

Always use a tripod

Shoot several frames with different ISO levels to compare

These tips come from real-world experiences of aurora chasers using Samsung phones.

6. How to take pictures of Northern Lights with Samsung S22 Ultra

The S22 Ultra also performs well with long exposure photography. Try:

ISO: 1000–1600

Shutter: 5–15 seconds

Focus: Infinity

WB: 3500K

Use Expert RAW for maximum detail

Enable tripod mode if available

If the aurora is fast-moving, reduce exposure time to avoid motion blur.

7. How to take pictures of Northern Lights with iPhone 16 Pro

The iPhone 16 Pro lineup has powerful low-light capabilities. Use:

Night Mode with exposure set between 5–15 seconds

Activate Pro RAW or 48MP RAW

Tap the screen to lock focus on the sky

Set ISO to Auto—the sensor handles noise well

Keep the phone completely steady

For extreme aurora brightness, shorten exposure to 2–3 seconds to maintain detail.

8. Northern Lights photo taker (Which app should you use?)

If your built-in camera app feels limited, these apps help improve aurora shots:

Expert RAW (Samsung) – Best control, best image quality

Open Camera (Android) – Manual settings + RAW support

Lightroom Camera – Full manual mode + excellent noise handling

Pro Cam (iPhone) – Manual ISO and shutter control

These apps give you finer control over exposure and focus, which is essential for capturing aurora colour.

Final Thoughts:

Photographing the Northern Lights with an Android phone isn’t about having the newest device—it’s about understanding the sky, using manual settings, and keeping your phone steady. With the right approach, you can capture magical images that look like they came from a professional camera.Don't forget that cold temperatures rapidly drain batteries! Keep your phone warm (in an inside pocket) until you're ready to shoot, and bring a portable power bank.

Start with Test Shots: Take a photo with the basic settings above. If the image is too dark, increase your shutter speed or ISO. If it's too bright and washed out, decrease the shutter speed or ISO.
Compose with the Foreground: While the aurora is the star, including a dark silhouette of trees, a building, or a person in the foreground gives the photo scale and context.
Avoid Digital Zoom: Digital zoom degrades the image quality significantly. You're better off cropping the photo later in an editing app.

TECHNOLOGY THAT TOUCH YOUR HEART

Friday, 14 November 2025