A Photographer’s Guide to Capturing the Northern Lights in Austurland
How to set up your shot of the aurora borealis
Unless you’re a frequent night photographer, it pays to practise your settings and familiarise yourself with what the camera can do before heading out for your Austurland Northern Lights hunt. This is even the case - especially, even - with a smartphone. Make sure you allow sufficient light into the camera to ensure the colours develop.
Whether you use night mode on a smartphone or adjust the shutter speed, ISO and aperture on a DSLR, you’ll benefit from a tripod to help keep the camera steady. If some smartphones detect any shaking, such as from the wind, they’ll cut down the number of seconds the shot can develop. A sturdy tripod and cable release can be beneficial no matter how you’re creating your shots.
Where to go in East Iceland to achieve the best composition for your image
The trick to getting a decent shot is to consider foreground interest as well as what’s going on above it. Having an object to focus on, whether that’s a church, bridge or fencepost, will add a crispness to your image that elevates it considerably. In Borgarfjörður Eystri that could be Lindarbakki turf house, for instance, or if they’re bright enough, perhaps the Hafnarhólmi marina.
You also want to select a place that has a clear view of the skies to the north and where you aren’t hemmed in by mountains. For instance, if you’re based in Seyðisfjörður, you might find that driving up out of the port to the higher ground above it helps enormously. In a larger settlement such as Egilsstaðir, aim for the outskirts to escape any light pollution.
Though you might imagine how spectacular Studlagil Canyon would look as the foreground in a Northern Lights picture, the road down towards it can be slippery in wintry weather. You’ll need to be a confident driver and also be careful of your footing as you hike.
Tips for staying safe while you’re chasing the Northern Lights in Austurland
If you’re planning on venturing into the countryside in the hope of seeing the Northern Lights then you need to think about potential hazards to ensure you return safely. Much of what you should consider is common sense, but it pays to do a mental risk assessment just in case.
For instance, though remoter highland spots deliver in terms of dark skies, you might not feel comfortable hiking over uneven ground to reach them. Instead, seeking out a more accessible spot might be preferable. However, there’s a trade off: well lit places will be safest but you won’t see the colourful aurora in all its glory because of the light pollution.
Another thing to consider is how you’re dressed. Choose robust footwear such as hiking boots with a thick tread that should keep you steady on snowy ground. Pull-on crampons will give you extra traction if it’s icy. Warm layers from your thermal underwear right up to the windproof jacket are essential to keep the cold out - you could be outside for an extended period of time.