How to photograph Northern Lights in Banff

Rundle Mt with Northern Light

What is a Northern Light?

"is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions. Auroras display dynamic patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky".

What is the cause of Northern Lights?

When the electrons reach Earth's thin upper atmosphere, they collide with nitrogen and oxygen molecules, sending them into an excited state. The excited electrons eventually calm down and release light, which is what we see as the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis.

The Camera

Any camera with Manual control will be the best option to deal with different settings that can helps to get more light coming through to the sensor.

Tripod

99% mandatory as you will need to use long exposure (depending of the aperture lens you have)

Settings

- Go to the highest aperture for example 2.8, 1.8 or higher.

- Reduce the shutter speed (that's why you need a tripod to don't get any shake during the capture process)

- Increase the ISO - make sure the noise it doesn't blow up in your picture, but you can probably fix it in post in a photography software (I can write another blog about it)

- Focus mode in manual bring with you a small flashlight or do some test shots to see how your pictures looks like in regards of the focus. When you get it in focus, leave it in manual, so it doesn't change when you are shooting.

Location

If you are Beginner Photographer a close location in Banff is the Minnewanka Lake, like 10 minutes away, the only issue it get so busy every time when we have Northern Lights Alert and it makes difficult to get a spot for your car and also with too many people coming in and out is hard to control the lights for the cars.

The ideal location is everything that is far away of the city's lights and if you want to create something more unique and creative I can teach you how to use simple accessories for your pictures for example light painting. Comment if you are interesting to learn how to do it.

Photo taken in Minnewanka Lake ©Pixel Pumas Pro 2017