How to Capture the Northern Lights on Your iPhone, According to Photography Experts

"Witnessing the celestial ephemera with your own eyes is a magical experience like no other, but we can't blame anyone for wanting to at least try to capture the phenomenon on camera. And while iPhone pictures and videos will never compare to experiencing the northern lights in person, there are a few things you can do to improve your shots-and dazzle folks back home."

"First off, make sure your iPhone camera is set to night mode, which can only be enabled when lighting conditions allow. A crescent moon symbol should appear automatically in lowlight conditions-if it's crossed out, it may not be dark enough to use night mode yet. If it's yellow, it's already active. You can adjust the level by changing the seconds indicator that will appear on your screen."

Wintertime presents prime conditions for viewing the aurora borealis, and 34 percent of U.S. travelers place the northern lights atop their bucket lists. Capturing the aurora on an iPhone is improved by enabling night mode when lighting permits and by watching for the crescent moon icon to indicate activation. Hold the phone steady and increase exposure time to brighten the scene, while recognizing longer exposures can soften active aurora details. Keep the flash off. Reduce exposure using the camera's plus/minus control (about -0.7 is a good starting point) to preserve color and detail, and use a tripod or stabilizer for sharp images.

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