According to Icelandic landscape photographer Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson, the secret to successful aurora photography is a combination of preparation, patience, and just a little bit of luck.

You’ll need to head into the wilderness, away from urban areas to avoid light pollution. Ragnar recommends wearing plenty of layers. “It’s a good idea to be overdressed for the occasion,” he says. “You can have all the fancy equipment you want, but if you’re chilled to the bone, you won’t be able to focus on the magical experience and pay attention to your camera.”

So once suitably suited and booted, what kind of camera do you need? A new digital SLR is by far the best option – you won’t be able to learn from your mistakes with film, while a compact camera’s functionality is too limited. “Using a wide-angle lens of at least 24-28mm is essential,” Ragnar explains, “because you’ll be using an exposure of between five and 30 seconds, you’ll need a sturdy tripod to keep your camera still. The key is to shoot with the biggest aperture and vary the exposure time and ISO - a lower ISO is better, as is a shorter exposure, but these things do not go together so you’ll need to make a decision on the spot of which to choose.”



Because of the exposure settings, Ragnar adds, it’s also vital to use a cable or remote shutter release. This means you’ll be able to keep the shutter open for longer without having to touch the camera body, thus avoiding potential camera shake in your images: the scourge of many a night-time photographer.