Photograph the Northern Lights like a pro with your iPhone advice

ATLANTA – If you’re in Georgia, you might be in for an interesting place. The northern lights could be visible tonight and overnight as far south as metro Atlanta and northern Alabama.

To make the most of this amazing phenomenon, here’s how to take breathtaking shots with your iPhone, with expert advice from Travelfoss, travel guide and 11 live photojournalists.

RELATED: Northern lights possible over Georgia tonight | What do you know?

Although Night mode is available on iPhone 11 and later models, the quality of your shots may vary. For better results, consider using iPhone 13 or later, which offers enhanced camera capabilities. The difference in image quality can be significant, especially in low-light conditions.

Night mode is your best friend when it comes to capturing the northern lights. This feature automatically adjusts your iPhone’s camera settings for ideal low-light conditions, resulting in sharper, more detailed photos. To activate Night Mode, just make sure it’s enabled in the camera settings. For iPhone 11 and later, this feature is readily available.

For best results, adjust the exposure time to maximize the potential of your shot. Access the hidden settings menu in the iPhone Camera app by tapping the top arrow. Locate the Night mode icon and set the exposure time slider to maximum, usually 30 seconds for tripod settings. Extended exposure time allows your iPhone to capture the full brightness of the northern lights.

In some scenarios, such as when you are surrounded by bright snow, you may need to adjust the exposure further to prevent overexposure. Access the hidden settings menu again and change the exposure setting to a negative value, which will balance the brightness of your image.

To make your photography experience easier, make sure your iPhone maintains specific settings like exposure adjustment and Night mode. Head to Settings > Camera > Keep settings and toggle the required options to preserve your preferred configurations.

Stability is key when taking long exposure shots of the northern lights. Investing in a tripod will ensure your iPhone stays steady throughout the shooting process, resulting in sharper, more professional photos. Choose a sturdy tripod made of durable materials, such as metal, to withstand cold weather conditions.

With the right settings and equipment, your iPhone has the power to capture stunning photos of the northern lights, even in unexpected locations like Georgia.

Editor’s note: The original version This story was originally published in May 2024. 11Alive is republishing this story as Georgians search for potential… To see the northern lights Thursday and overnight.

Last May, you could look up at the sky in Georgia and see a phenomenon rarely seen this far south.

That was because geomagnetic storm G5 was spotted across the United States on May 10, the first time the phenomenon has occurred here since 2003. Also known officially as the aurora borealis, the northern lights are usually found in high latitude regions like the Arctic and Antarctica.

Check out the pictures below.

RELATED: Photo gallery of the northern lights over Georgia