How to take pictures of the Northern Lights with Google Pixel and other Android phones

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a natural light display in the sky, predominantly seen in the high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). This breathtaking phenomenon is caused by charged particles from the sun entering the Earth’s atmosphere and colliding with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen, causing them to glow.

Capturing the mesmerizing dance of the Aurora Borealis is a dream for many photographers, and with the advancements in mobile phone technology, taking incredible photos of the Northern Lights is now more accessible than ever. This article will guide you through the process of photographing the Northern Lights using your Google Pixel or other Android phones, empowering you to capture the magic of this natural spectacle.

Understanding the Basics

Before we dive into the specific settings and techniques for capturing the Aurora Borealis, let’s understand the basic concepts behind photographing this ethereal light show.

1. Timing is Key

The Northern Lights are most active during periods of high solar activity, which is often associated with sunspots. These solar flares release massive amounts of energy and particles that interact with the Earth’s atmosphere. You can use websites like the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) to check for the current geomagnetic activity levels.

It is important to remember that even when solar activity is high, the visibility of the Aurora Borealis depends on several factors including location, cloud cover, and light pollution. Clear dark skies are ideal for optimal viewing and photography.

2. Light Sensitivity

The Northern Lights are relatively faint, so your phone needs to be sensitive to light. The “aperture” of your camera, measured in “f-stops,” determines how much light enters the camera lens. A smaller f-stop number means a larger aperture, allowing more light to reach the sensor.

Modern Android phones, like the Google Pixel series, boast exceptional low-light performance. They use sophisticated image processing algorithms and large sensors to gather as much light as possible. However, understanding how to manually adjust settings for capturing the Aurora Borealis can significantly enhance your results.

3. Shutter Speed

Shutter speed, the duration for which your camera’s sensor is exposed to light, is crucial for capturing the movement and detail of the Northern Lights. Slower shutter speeds allow more light to enter the sensor, but they can lead to blurry images if your camera or subject is moving. To avoid blur, you need a stable camera, often achieved with a tripod or a steady hand.

Since the Northern Lights are dynamic and constantly changing, your camera’s ability to capture them in motion will influence your photo. Longer exposures can create streaks of light and capture the overall movement, while shorter exposures will freeze the Aurora in time.

Mastering the Art of Nighttime Photography with Your Android Phone

Let’s break down the practical steps to capturing breathtaking shots of the Northern Lights with your Android phone.

1. Choose the Right Location

For the best chances of viewing and capturing the Aurora, head to areas with low light pollution and clear skies. Far away from city lights, national parks, and remote areas often provide ideal locations for optimal aurora viewing.

2. Understanding Your Phone Camera

Modern Android phones come equipped with excellent camera technology and various manual control features. The “Pro Mode” in most camera apps allows you to fine-tune settings such as shutter speed, ISO sensitivity (which determines the light sensitivity), and aperture (controlling how much light enters the lens).

Google Pixel phones, in particular, feature an incredible Night Sight mode that uses AI algorithms and long exposures to capture exceptional detail even in extremely low-light conditions. While this automatic mode works remarkably well for night photography, it doesn’t always provide complete control over specific settings for capturing fast-moving subjects, like the Aurora.

3. Tripod or Stabilization

While Android phones excel at stabilizing images through digital means, utilizing a tripod significantly enhances image quality and minimizes blur, especially with longer exposures. Tripods are vital when shooting in low light conditions because a long shutter speed is essential. This ensures sharp and detailed images.

If you’re using a tripod, enable your camera app’s “timer” or “remote shutter” features to reduce camera shake caused by physically pressing the shutter button.

4. Essential Camera Settings for Capturing the Aurora

Here’s a step-by-step guide to adjusting your camera settings for the Aurora:

• **Switch to “Pro Mode” or Manual Controls**: Access your camera app’s manual settings, enabling precise control over key camera settings like shutter speed, ISO, and aperture.
• **Aperture:** Since the Aurora Borealis can be quite faint, try using the widest aperture your phone offers, resulting in a lower “f-stop” number (for example, f/1.8 or f/2.0). The widest aperture lets in the maximum amount of light. However, bear in mind that this setting can reduce sharpness in certain situations.
• **Shutter Speed:** For the Aurora, start with a long shutter speed of around 5 to 10 seconds to capture the dynamic movement and luminosity of the lights. Adjust based on the Aurora’s intensity and how fast it’s moving. You can experiment with faster shutter speeds to freeze moments in time or slower shutter speeds for motion blur effects.
• **ISO:** Choose a low ISO setting (between 100 and 400) for a cleaner image with minimal noise. However, in dimly lit environments, you might have to raise the ISO to around 800 or 1600 to let in more light. The ISO is essentially the camera’s light sensitivity. Lower values (e.g., 100) mean less sensitivity to light but produce a cleaner image, while higher values (e.g., 1600) are more sensitive to light, resulting in a grainy image. Remember to adjust these values depending on your surroundings.
• **Focus:** Use your phone’s touch-to-focus feature or manual focus to achieve sharp detail in your image. Focus on a prominent object within your frame to improve image clarity.
• **White Balance:** Select the “cloudy” or “fluorescent” white balance setting for nighttime photography. The “fluorescent” option often produces more natural-looking colours for the Aurora.

By carefully adjusting these camera settings, you can significantly enhance your chances of capturing a magnificent shot of the Northern Lights.

5. Experimentation and Patience

The Aurora is a constantly shifting display of light. Its behaviour varies throughout the night, influenced by various factors like solar activity and atmospheric conditions. Therefore, don’t get discouraged if your initial attempts don’t produce the desired outcome. Experiment with different settings and observe how the Aurora changes to understand the perfect shot.

Most importantly, practice patience. Patience is crucial in capturing the Northern Lights as their appearance and intensity can fluctuate.

6. Composition and Aesthetics

When composing your shot, remember that the background plays a critical role. You might find inspiration in photographing the Aurora reflected in a lake or river for a captivating scene. Experiment with different angles and viewpoints to achieve the most visually compelling images.

Think about the visual balance in your composition. Consider placing the Aurora as a leading element in your photograph while still incorporating a sense of balance and depth. This could involve framing the scene with trees, mountains, or any surrounding natural elements to create a powerful and well-composed image.

7. Beyond the Basics

While capturing the Aurora is exciting, you can add even more elements to your shots to take them to the next level. For instance, adding foreground elements like people, silhouettes, or trees can give your photo a captivating narrative and perspective.

8. Using Night Sight on Your Pixel

Google Pixel phones are renowned for their exceptional Night Sight mode, particularly in low-light situations. While Night Sight excels at capturing sharp, well-exposed images, it might not be the best option for photographing a rapidly changing subject like the Aurora.

Night Sight generally captures multiple images and merges them for a final photograph, often taking a longer duration, making it less suitable for fast-moving scenes.

9. Alternative Apps for Manual Controls

Beyond the native camera app, there are third-party photography apps like Open Camera and Camera FV-5 that offer advanced controls over ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and other settings. You might find these applications helpful to tailor your approach for specific shooting scenarios.

10. Editing and Enhancements

Post-processing your images can enhance their beauty further. While Android phones typically provide powerful in-built editing tools, you can explore more robust editing apps like Adobe Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed. However, use editing tools with caution and prioritize preserving the natural colours of the Aurora. Emphasize subtle edits to enhance your photograph without altering its essence.

Consider using “luminosity masks” in your editing process to selectively brighten or darken specific parts of the image, allowing you to refine the colours and details of the Aurora itself.

Conclusion

The Northern Lights are an awe-inspiring spectacle of nature, and with the advanced technology found in Google Pixel and other Android phones, capturing them has never been easier. Understanding basic concepts, honing camera skills, and a touch of creativity can help you immortalize these majestic light shows. So, plan your aurora chase, learn the tricks of the trade, and be prepared to capture the enchanting beauty of the Northern Lights in your own unique way.