Capturing the northern lights is not easy. When they appear, you can of course photograph them with a phone — which everyone carries — and get an image on the screen that looks good, leaving everyone happy. But if you plan to enlarge a phone photo or use it in print, unfortunately it simply isn’t print-quality. You could be in Finland, Alaska, or even Greenland, because this unique high-Arctic dance of light looks much the same here as it does in Sweden if there are no recognizable landmarks in the image.
So what do you need to capture a truly good photograph of the northern lights? A sturdy tripod, a good camera, and patience. Equally important are solid shoes and warm clothing, because the wait for the perfect shot can be long. The photograph that Icelandic Times / Land & Saga captured this evening took just under three hours in the same location, using the same camera settings. It was simply a matter of waiting — waiting for the northern lights to finally smile across the sky.
Photos & text : Páll Stefánsson
Reykjavík : 11/02/2026 – GFX 100 RF – 4.0/35mm
