Northern Lights

Hey everyone! Like many of you, seeing the Northern Lights was a huge bucket list item for me, and I was absolutely thrilled to finally witness them firsthand. My Samsung S22 Ultra was my companion, and while my initial attempts at photography were more of a pleasant surprise than a planned masterpiece, I've since delved deeper into how to truly capture the aurora's magic with this amazing phone. If you're heading out to chase the aurora with your Samsung S22, here's what I've learned and what settings I recommend to get those stunning shots, moving beyond just the automatic 'night mode' results. My goal is to help you minimize the guesswork and capture the vibrant colors and ethereal glow that I was initially hoping for and eventually achieved. 1. Embrace Pro Mode on Your Samsung S22 Ultra: While Night Mode can give you decent results in low light, for the Northern Lights, you really want the control that Pro Mode offers. It allows you to manually adjust key settings crucial for astrophotography. Here’s what to look for: ISO: Start with an ISO around 800-1600. If the aurora is faint, you might go up to 3200, but be mindful that higher ISO introduces more noise (graininess). My sweet spot usually lands around 1000-1200 for a good balance. Shutter Speed: This is perhaps the most critical setting. For bright, fast-moving aurora, you might get away with 5-10 seconds. However, for fainter or slower aurora, I found that 15-20 seconds worked wonderfully. If it’s very dim and you’re on a perfectly stable tripod, you could even try 25-30 seconds. Experiment! The longer the shutter is open, the more light your sensor captures. White Balance (WB): The aurora often has blues and greens, and sometimes purples and reds. To bring out those natural colors, try a cooler white balance, typically in the range of 3000K-4000K. You can adjust this slightly to your preference; I found around 3500K gave me a nice, cool tone without making everything look too blue. Focus: This is super important. In the dark, autofocus will struggle. Switch to manual focus (MF) and set it to infinity. Look for the little mountain icon or slide the focus bar all the way to the right. This ensures distant objects like stars and the aurora are sharp. 2. Stability is Key: Use a Tripod! Seriously, don't even try shooting the Northern Lights handheld with long exposures. Even the slightest shake will result in blurry photos. A cheap, lightweight phone tripod will make a world of difference. I used a small flexible one that I could wrap around a fence post or stand on the ground. 3. Self-Timer or Remote Shutter: Even pressing the shutter button on your phone can introduce camera shake during long exposures. Use the 2-second or 5-second self-timer in Pro Mode. This gives your phone time to stabilize after you press the button, ensuring a sharper image. 4. Keep an Eye on Your Battery: Cold weather drains phone batteries incredibly fast. Make sure your Samsung S22 is fully charged before you go out. I also recommend carrying a portable power bank to keep it topped up. Keep your phone in an inside pocket when not shooting to keep it warm. 5. Find a Dark Spot: Light pollution is the enemy of aurora photography. Get as far away from city lights as possible. The darker your surroundings, the more vivid the aurora will appear in your photos. 6. Composition Matters: While the aurora is the star, including some foreground elements like trees, mountains, or even a silhouetted structure can add depth and interest to your photos. It helps give scale to the magnificent sky show. My first attempt was just about seeing them, but with these settings in mind, my subsequent photos were so much more vibrant and detailed. It really felt like I was capturing the true essence of Mother Earth's incredible light show. Don't be afraid to experiment with your Samsung S22 Ultra’s Pro Mode; it's a powerful tool for astrophotography once you get the hang of it!