How to photograph the aurora without chasing it

The aurora is a natural event, and nobody can promise it. It depends on solar activity, clear skies and darkness. What you can control is where you are, how long you stay and how prepared you are when the sky does light up.

Plan around darkness and sky. Choose a place at high latitude with little light pollution, such as northern Norway, Swedish Lapland, Finland, Iceland or Canada. Stay several nights, because cloud will cancel some evenings. Forecasts from space-weather agencies and local cloud forecasts help, but treat them as odds rather than guarantees.

Use a tripod and a wide lens. A sturdy tripod is essential because you will use exposures of a few seconds. As a starting point many photographers use a wide-angle lens at its widest aperture, a high ISO in the range of about 1600 to 3200, and exposures from roughly 3 to 15 seconds, adjusting for brightness: faster for a bright, moving display, slower for a faint one. Focus manually on a distant light or star and check the preview.

Look after yourself and your gear. Cold drains batteries quickly, so keep spares inside your jacket. Wear layers, insulated boots and liner gloves that let you work the dials. When you come inside, let the camera warm up slowly in a bag to avoid condensation.

Finally, put the camera down for a while. The aurora moves, and standing under it is the point. Whether the sky offers a faint glow or a full curtain, you will have given yourself the best chance by being there, warm and patient. Join a reputable guide if you are unfamiliar with the area, and never walk onto lake ice without local advice.