A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon a photo of the Aurora taken in Bude, North Cornwall, revealing that this stunning phenomenon could be seen as far south as my home county. It has always been my dream to witness and photograph the Northern Lights, but I never imagined I would have the chance to experience it so close to home so, inspired by this discovery, I delved into researching how and where to photograph the Aurora.

Understanding the Aurora Phenomenon

This mesmerising display of colours in the night sky is created by charged particles from the sun interacting with gases in the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists monitor solar activities, such as flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CME), to predict their impact on Earth's magnetic field. Using real-time observations and satellite data, experts forecast the appearance of the Northern Lights.

I found several helpful apps that analyse this data and send alerts when an Aurora is forecast. I found the Aurorawatch one of the easiest to understand and use and on Friday, May 10, when it began flashing red, it signaled a strong possibility of a spectacular display visible to the human eye throughout the UK. The weather conditions were ideal with clear skies and a thin crescent moon, ensuring the Aurora would shine brightly.

Scouting the best location

During the winter, I had already begun preparing for this moment by scouting locations with minimal light pollution near to my home. Bedruthan Steps stood out as an excellent spot, so that's where I headed. As I drove along the coastal road from Newquay, it was clear that something extraordinary was unfolding. The Aurora forecast had made the news, cars lined the roadside, and people gazed up at the sky, capturing the magical sight on their phones.

When I arrived at Bedruthan Steps car park, it was bustling like a summer's day! The shot I had envisioned included the beach and rocks of Bedruthan, so I gingerly made my way down the dark path to the overlook, where another photographer had already set up.

At that point the Aurora was barely visible. In fact the other photographer told me that nothing was happening because there was a line of cloud blocking it. When I looked more closely the line of cloud had a faint green tint. That was it! That was the Aurora!

A magical dance: The Aurora reveals itself

I tried to calm my excitement and set up my tripod and camera without fumbling too much in the dark. For the few minutes all that could be discerned was a faint green glow above the moon, which was reflecting beautifully in the sea. But then something extraordinary happened. I looked behind me and above the hill I could make out streaks of red and pink, and then it seemed like the whole sky was filled with them.

The predominant green hues stem from oxygen molecules interacting with the electrically charged particles from the sun at lower atmospheric levels, while on rare occasions and when the solar storms are at their strongest, nitrogen molecules unveil shades of red, violet, and blue, and they were visible to the naked eye.

The whole display lasted nearly an hour, and as I drove home I couldn't wait to download the images and start editing them, but even without the images, witnessing this rare display of nature was truly awe-inspiring and unforgettable.

Interested in photographing the Aurora? Here are some tips.

1. Preparation is Key: Harnessing Technology for Aurora Forecasting. Learn about the Aurora and get an alert app. These alerts come at short notice so keep your equipment ready, batteries charged and don’t forget a head torch. Check the Aurora, weather, and moon forecasts. A full moon isn't ideal as it can outshine the Aurora. I use an app called The Photographer's Ephemeris which tracks moonrise, sunset, dusk times and so on. There are different phases of twilight and the app tells you when the time of maximum darkness is, after what is known as Astronomical Twilight. This is the best time to capture the Northern Lights.
2. Gear Up: Essential Equipment for Capturing the Aurora. High-end phones with night modes can capture good Aurora photos, but for better results, you will need a DSLR or mirrorless camera, preferably full frame. A super wide-angle lens and a sturdy tripod are essential. I used a Canon EOS 5d MkIV and a Canon 16-35 f4L Zoom. Ideally, I'd use a lens with a wider aperture and a newer mirrorless camera for better noise reduction.
3. Scouting the Perfect Spot: Finding the Ideal Location for Your Shot. The Aurora can be fleeting and you don't want to miss its peak so choose a location nearby, ideally within 15 minutes. It’s good to have some foreground interest: trees are good as a silhouette or frame, a small building or a statue can work too. If I was to get a second bite of the cherry I would go to a beach and try and get the Aurora reflected in some water or rock pools. Have a look on Instagram for some inspiration. Don’t forget that the hero is the Aurora, don’t let your foreground be too intrusive.
4. Mastering the Art: Camera Settings for Stunning Aurora Photography. Aim to keep the stars sharp and noise low. Use this rule: for a full-frame camera, divide 400 by your lens's focal length to find the maximum shutter speed. For example, 400 / 16 = 25 seconds. I tested different settings, from ISO 6400, 8 seconds at f4 to ISO 1600, 13 seconds at f4 and found the 6400 ISO to work well. Keep an eye on the camera's histogram for blown highlights and underexposed shadows.
5. Bringing Magic to Life: Post-Processing Techniques. for Aurora Images You must shoot in RAW to give you the most latitude in post processing. The biggest problem you will have is noise, so experiment with different noise reduction settings in Lightroom to get the best results. The latest version of Lightroom has very good AI noise reduction. Finally, adjust the white balance carefully as small changes can make a big difference. It’s a good idea to do some processing as soon as you get home as you will still have the actual scene fresh in your mind so you can try and match the colours. I set this to around 4000k, adjusting the tint to taste as I tried to remember which colour was more dominant, green or magenta. Dehaze is good for getting some contrast and punch into the sky, but go easy on the clarity. Avoid oversaturating colors. Let nature's beauty shine.

Finally, don't become so engrossed in getting the perfect shots that you miss out on the full experience. Put your camera aside for a moment, look up, and marvel at one of nature's most spectacular light shows.

I hope you get the opportunity to see the Aurora and maybe capture some breathtaking photographs soon. Happy hunting!

Links: Aurorawatch. The Photographer's Ephemeris