Northern Lights: An Eye vs Camera Comparison

Unveiling the Magic of the Northern Lights: An Eye vs Camera Comparison

Introduction

Gazing into the night sky, you might think you're seeing the stars. But if you happen to be in a place where the Northern Lights are dancing, you’re actually witnessing something much more magical. The Northern Lights are one of nature’s greatest wonders: colorful, shifting ribbons of light that can take your breath away.

How to Increase Your Chances of Seeing the Northern Lights?

Did you know that over 80% of tourists miss the Northern Lights due to the lack of Aurora knowledge? Don't let that be you! The right time and the right place are the key. Northern Lights Online Course and Aurora mobile app designed for beginners will significantly increase your chances.

Online Course

Designed For Beginners

Mobile App

Designed For Beginners

Update: Hey there, we've added 10 free videos from our Ultimate Northern Lights Online Course to this post. In the videos, we explain the mysteries of the Aurora Borealis in simple terms for beginners. You'll learn things like what the Northern Lights really look like and how long the show lasts. Also covered are common shapes, Aurora forecasting, tips for finding the best viewing spot, and more. We made the videos short and right to the point. Enjoy learning new things about one of nature's most incredible light shows.

Aurora in Reality

€19.99

Ultimate Northern Lights Course

Course
99 Lessons
Includes 1 additional product

Learn all you need to know to see the Northern Lights. The full package online course. This course includes Basic, Intermediate and Advanced knowledge about the Northern Lights. Great for Beginners. Includes Certificate.

View product

Includes 1 Additional Product

Aurora Myths & Legends (Ultimate Collection)

But trying to see what you know from photos spread all over the internet is no easy task. While cameras can capture the beauty of the Aurora Borealis through long exposures and careful adjustments, your eyes can see the show only in real-time.

In this article, we'll be comparing what it's like to witness the Northern Lights with your naked eye versus through a camera lens—and offering up some tips on how to take incredible photos of them too!

What Are the Northern Lights?

Have you ever heard of the famous phenomenon known as the Northern Lights? Though a captivating site to behold, it may be hard to understand exactly what this celestial spectacle is.

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, is a natural light show that occurs in the northernmost regions of Earth, near the poles. This dazzling display of lights is actually caused by electrons colliding with the Earth's atmosphere and creating bursts of light. The vibrant colors are made up of red, green, yellow and blue - giving us a truly breathtaking experience when we look up into the night sky.

What makes this natural wonder even more remarkable is that you can only see it during certain parts of the year. You must use a camera with a long exposure time to capture this spectacle and to see it with your eyes is more challenging than you would think.

Lumyros Aurora App

All-in-one tool for Aurora hunting. Try the new experience.

Explore All Features & Get Now ↗

What Aurora Shapes Can You See?

Conditions for Viewing the Northern Lights

If you're feeling inspired to experience the Northern Lights for yourself, you'll need to know the basics of aurorae viewing. For starters, the best times to see them are between late September and late March, when it's dark enough for that natural light show to shine. You'll also need clear nighttime skies with no city lights or smog to contaminate the view.

Luckily, there are some great locations that offer easy access to the Northern Lights. Scandinavia is literally located in an Auroral zone, so you can catch a glimpse of them from most places in Norway, Sweden and Finland. But you can also witness them in Canada and Alaska in North America; Iceland, Greenland and Scotland in Europe; and even Australia. Wherever you go, make sure you're comfortable for long durations of skywatching!

How Northern Lights Forecast Works?

How Do the Northern Lights Look Like With the Naked Eye?

How does the Northern Lights look like with the naked eye? It's breathtaking, unlike anything you've seen before. The northern lights appear as an ever-changing dance of lights in the night sky—shades of pink and green twirling together in a beautiful pattern, each Aurora Borealis more remarkable than the one before.

Lumyros Aurora App

All-in-one tool for Aurora hunting. Try the new experience.

Explore All Features & Get Now ↗

How to Find the Best Place for Aurora Viewing?

Intensity and Movement
What makes the northern lights totally unique is their intensity and movement. In person, they can range from a faint glow to great waves of bright light sweeping across the whole sky, never looking quite the same twice. Plus, depending on where you're standing and what angle you're looking at them from, they'll look different each time—it's truly magical!

Experience vs Photos
But here’s the thing – all of this intensity and beauty can be captured in pictures but your eyes will not be able to see what you know from Aurora photos. The reason is that camera collects light for several seconds (besides most of the Northern Lights photos which you can see online are also edited) but your eyes see the show in real time. You can still see the Northern Lights with the naked eye but it will never be the same as in photos.

Can You See Aurora in the City?

€2.99

Northern Lights Beginner

Course
27 Lessons

Learn the basic knowledge you need to know to see the Northern Lights. This course includes Basic knowledge about the Northern Lights. Great for Beginners. Includes Certificate.

View product

How to Photograph the Northern Lights?

Have you ever wondered how to get the best photos of the Northern Lights? Well, you're in luck. The truth is, capturing the magic of the Northern Lights with your camera can be tricky. But with a few helpful tips, you'll be able to capture some truly breathtaking images.

Equipment:

It’s important to have the right equipment for the job. You’ll need a sturdy tripod to keep your camera steady and avoid blurring, as well as a wide-angle lens and a remote shutter release for long exposures. A fisheye lens can also help you capture more of the sky in your photo if you like.

How long Are Northern Lights Visible?

Location:

It's also important to choose your location carefully — try and position yourself away from light pollution, if possible. If not, try and find a place where there are few buildings or trees blocking out too much of the sky. That way, you’ll have an uninterrupted view of the spectacle unfolding in front of you!

Settings:

Finally, when it comes to settings on your camera, opt for RAW mode instead of JPEG if possible — that way, you can make adjustments later on during post-processing (like white balance shifts). Switch off image stabilization on your lens and set your ISO between 500-1600 — otherwise, noise will interfere with your photos. Try different shutter speeds (1/2 seconds to 15 seconds) until you're happy with what you've captured!

Lumyros Aurora App

All-in-one tool for Aurora hunting. Try the new experience.

Explore All Features & Get Now ↗

northern lights naked eye camera compared

Comparing the Differences Between Eye vs Camera Views of the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights can be indescribably beautiful, but they can also look entirely different through the lens of a camera than how they appear to the human eye. Here are some of the differences between reality and photos of the Northern Lights.

Colors

When it comes to colors, a camera is able to capture more vibrancy and hues than what you'd normally see with just your eyes. While your eyes typically perceive mostly greens, purples and yellows within the Aurora Borealis, cameras are able to pick up on more subtle shades—soft blues, pinks and oranges that might be missed otherwise.

Eye vs Camera view Compared

Brightness

When you view the Aurora Borealis in person, you don't need to squint or shade your eyes from its brightness—the sky glows more like a soft hue. But in photographs, it might look much brighter—so bright that you may need to adjust your screen’s brightness setting for comfortable viewing!

Movement

The movement of the lights isn’t always easy to capture due to its fleeting nature; sometimes it may seem wispy while other times they take on a more dynamic shape or vibrant color spikes. However, with long-exposure photography, you can get an idea of how quickly or slowly the lights move and expand as if in real-time.

Aurora Photography with a Smartphone: How to be ready & Is Tripod Essential?

Tips on Getting a Great Shot of the Aurora Borealis

So you're in the Arctic on a mission to capture the Northern Lights. The lights are shimmering and dancing, but how can you make sure you get the best shot with your camera?

Here are some tips on getting that perfect shot of the Aurora Borealis:

Shoot Manual Settings

For the best quality, use a DSLR and make sure to switch your settings to manual. This allows you full control of the focal length, ISO, aperture and shutter speed.

Choose Your Focus Wisely

The right focus will show off both the beauty and scale of the Northern Lights. To do this, focus one-third of the way into your scene. This will make sure that elements both close up and far away appear in focus. If you’re using autofocus, switch off ‘Single Point’ mode as this will focus on whatever it is closest to—which may not be what you actually want in frame!

How Far Away Can Be Aurora Visible?

Positioning Is Key

Make sure to find an interesting foreground element that stands out against the sky. This creates depth in your photograph and helps add a point of interest for viewers. It could be mountains, trees or even a frozen lake!

Go Wide

The more you can fit into one frame—the better! Using a wide-angle lens (14mm or wider) is great for capturing wide-angles views of the Northern Lights with all their detail intact.

By following these steps and continuing to experiment with different options for shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings—you should soon have some incredible shots to capture this natural phenomenon at its best!

How to Understand Real-time Aurora Activity?

This unforgettable sight has captivated people for centuries, and it’s easy to see why. But capturing the beauty of the Aurora Borealis on camera can be a tricky task—the right mix of technique and luck is needed to get good shots. This is why it’s important to plan ahead and come prepared with the right gear.

Start by bringing a tripod, as a steady base is necessary to ensure sharper shots during longer exposures. Then, it’s a good idea to pack a variety of lenses to capture the stunning views from various perspectives. A telephoto lens can be great for capturing more of the details, while a wide-angle lens can be used for landscape shots.

Moreover, bring extra batteries and memory cards so you’ll have plenty of room and power to capture the best Northern Lights shots possible. And, bring along some photography accessories to protect your equipment from the cold and humidity.

Lastly, familiarize yourself with your camera before you go, experiment in different light settings and, above all, be patient. Photographing the Northern Lights requires a lot of commitment and luck, but the reward will be memories and stunning photographs.

Northern Lights Online Tools: Chasing Aurora Like a Pro

The most useful Northern Lights online tools for a successful Aurora hunt. Are you about to hunt the Northern Lights on your own? Then you will find these resources helpful. If you are trying to see Aurora for the first time we recommend signing up for the Northern Lights Online Course where is explained step-by-step all you need to know to see the Northern Lights in an easy way.

Northern Lights essential online tools designed for beginners to help you see Aurora like the handy Aurora Mobile App and Northern Lights Online Course will help you to understand how Aurora works and to monitor real-time activity.
The Northern Lights Forecast for 3 days and long-term Aurora forecast for up to 27 days ahead can be found here: Geophysical Institute Forecast, NOAA Aurora Forecast, Spaceweatherlive Forecast or in the Northern Lights App.
Find the best Aurora spots with the light pollution map and cloud cover prediction.
Northern Lights activity in real-time: Real-time Aurora activity (worldwide magnetometers), Solar Wind activity, Sun's activity, Aurora live Boreal webcams list or Aurora App.
Additional resources to know when it will be dark enough Darkness graph & Map and how much the moon will illuminate the sky Moon Phase + Moonrise & Moonset.
If you decide to go with professional Aurora hunters here you can find the top-rated Aurora Tours.

Conclusion

We hope this article has opened your eyes to the reality of the breathtaking, awe-inspiring show that is the Northern Lights. While photographs do a great job of capturing the magic and beauty of the Aurora Borealis, your eyes won't see the same as camera does.

The next time you're planning a trip to see the Northern Lights, remember that no matter how many photos you take, the real spectacle is best enjoyed with the naked eye, even though you won't be able to see all the different shades compared to the camera. The vibrant layers of color and movements are sure to leave you mesmerized. Don't forget to take a moment to appreciate the rare beauty of mother nature at its finest.

If you’re looking for a unique adventure and a truly special experience, the Northern Lights should be at the top of your list. An incredible natural light display, they are visible in the night sky in several countries including Canada, Iceland, Norway and Finland.

Find out more about the Northern Lights and Aurora Myths

€19.99

Ultimate Northern Lights Course

Course
99 Lessons
Includes 1 additional product

View product

Includes 1 Additional Product

Aurora Myths & Legends (Ultimate Collection)

€9.99

Aurora Myths & Legends (Ultimate Collection)

Course
21 Lessons

Learn about the Top 19 Aurora Myths and Legends. But that's not all. Have you ever thought about how did it happen that people started to believe in these Myths and Legends? What had happened that night? 19 of Aurora Myths and Legends were turned into tales and are right here for you in this collection.

View product

⟵ Back to Blog page