How to Photograph the Northern Lights with a Samsung Phone

Gone are the days when you needed a bulky DSLR to capture the magic of the Aurora Borealis. Modern smartphones, especially high-end Samsung Galaxy devices, have incredibly capable cameras that can produce breathtaking astrophotography. With the right knowledge and a few key settings, you can turn your phone into a powerful tool for Northern Lights photography.

This guide will walk you through the essential gear, the exact camera settings in Pro Mode, and pro tips to help you bring home unforgettable images of the celestial dance. Get ready to master your Samsung’s camera and capture the night sky like never before.

Before you even touch your phone’s camera settings, having the right accessories is crucial. The techniques for aurora photography rely on stability and long exposure times, which are impossible to achieve handheld.

A Sturdy Tripod is Non-Negotiable

This is the single most important piece of gear. To capture the faint light of the aurora, your phone’s camera shutter needs to stay open for several seconds. Any movement during this time, even the slightest hand shake, will result in a blurry, smeared photo. A sturdy tripod with a secure phone mount eliminates this movement, allowing the camera sensor to soak in the light and produce a sharp, clear image. Don’t try to prop your phone on a rock or a car hood; the stability of a tripod is essential for crisp, professional-looking results. Invest in a decent one—it will make all the difference.

Remote Shutter or Built-in Timer

Even with a tripod, the simple act of tapping the shutter button on your screen can introduce a tiny vibration that blurs the image. To avoid this, you need a hands-free way to take the picture. The easiest method is to use the built-in camera timer. Set it to 2 or 5 seconds; this gives the phone enough time to stop vibrating after you press the button. If you have a Samsung phone with an S Pen, you can use its button as a wireless remote shutter, which is an excellent option. Alternatively, a cheap Bluetooth remote shutter works perfectly as well.

Power Bank and Warm Gear

Cold weather is the enemy of battery life. The freezing temperatures common during aurora viewing can drain your phone’s battery in a fraction of the normal time. A fully charged portable power bank is a lifesaver, ensuring you don’t run out of juice at a critical moment. It’s also wise to keep your phone in a warm pocket when you’re not actively shooting. Remember to dress warmly yourself! Patience is key in aurora photography, and you’ll be standing outside in the cold for a long time.

Auto mode won’t work for the Northern Lights. You need full manual control, which is found in Samsung’s ‘Pro’ or ‘Expert RAW’ camera modes. Here are the exact settings to dial in.

Step 1: Set Shutter Speed (S)

Shutter speed determines how long the camera’s sensor is exposed to light. For the aurora, you need a long exposure. Start with a shutter speed of 10 seconds. If the aurora is faint and slow-moving, you can increase this to 15, 20, or even 30 seconds to gather more light and make it appear brighter. If the aurora is very bright and dancing quickly, a shorter shutter speed of 5-8 seconds might be better to capture its detailed shapes without them blurring together. Experiment to see what works best for the conditions.

Step 2: Adjust ISO

ISO measures the sensor’s sensitivity to light. A higher ISO makes the image brighter but also introduces more digital ‘noise’ or graininess. A good starting point for aurora photography is ISO 800 or 1600. If your photo is still too dark with a 15-second shutter, you can try pushing the ISO up to 3200, but be aware that image quality will start to degrade. The goal is to find the right balance between a bright enough image and an acceptable amount of noise. Always start with a lower ISO and only increase it if necessary.

Step 3: Nail Manual Focus (MF)

Your phone’s autofocus will fail in the dark; it will hunt for something to lock onto and never find it. You must use manual focus (MF). In Pro Mode, slide the focus control all the way to the infinity symbol (it looks like a small mountain). This sets the focus for distant objects, like the stars and the aurora. To confirm your focus is sharp, point your phone at the brightest star or a distant light, zoom in on the screen, and make sure it looks like a sharp point of light. Once set, don’t touch the focus again.

Step 4: Set White Balance (WB)

Leaving white balance on auto can sometimes result in the sky looking brownish or yellow. To get those classic deep blues and vibrant greens, set your white balance manually. A good starting point is a Kelvin temperature between 3500K and 4500K. This cooler temperature will counteract light pollution and render the colors of the aurora more accurately. You can adjust this setting live to see what looks best on your screen before you take the shot. Avoid the ‘AWB’ (Auto White Balance) setting for the most consistent results.

• A sturdy tripod is absolutely essential to prevent blurry photos during long exposures.
• Use Pro Mode or Expert RAW to get full manual control over the camera.
• Set a long shutter speed, typically between 10 and 30 seconds.
• Start with an ISO between 800 and 1600, increasing only if necessary.
• You must use Manual Focus (MF) and set it to infinity (the mountain icon).
• Shoot in RAW format for maximum flexibility when editing your photos later.
• Use the 2-second timer or an S Pen to trigger the shutter without shaking the phone.

Q: Can I just use Night Mode instead of Pro Mode? A: While Night Mode is great for cityscapes, it’s not ideal for the aurora. It often tries to brighten shadows too much and can produce unnatural-looking results. Pro Mode gives you the precise control needed to capture the aurora accurately.

Q: What is the ‘Expert RAW’ app and do I need it? A: Expert RAW is a separate, free app from Samsung for newer Galaxy S-series phones. It offers even more advanced controls and saves files with more image data, making it perfect for those who want to seriously edit their photos in software like Adobe Lightroom.

Q: My photos are still blurry, even on a tripod. What’s wrong? A: If your photo is blurry, it’s almost always due to one of two things: camera shake or incorrect focus. Ensure you are using a timer or remote shutter to take the picture. Then, double-check that your manual focus is set precisely to infinity.

Q: Should I turn my screen brightness down? A: Yes, it’s a great idea. A bright phone screen will ruin your night vision, making it harder to see the faint aurora with your own eyes. Turn your screen brightness down as low as you can while still being able to see the controls.

• Samsung’s Official Guide to the Expert RAW App
• NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center – Aurora Forecast
• PetaPixel Guide to Smartphone Astrophotography