Best Apps for Capturing Stunning Aurora Borealis Photos

The northern lights, aka Aurora Borealis, is one of the most beautiful natural phenomena in the world. As a tourist, it’s a great opportunity to witness and capture the breathtaking natural light show. If you are planning to travel to a destination where you can see the Northern Lights, you might want to capture this unique moment for your memories. With the advancements of smartphone photography, capturing Northern Lights photos is now possible with the help of apps. Here is a list of the best apps for capturing stunning Aurora Borealis photos.

1. Northern Lights Photo Taker

Northern Lights Photo Taker is an app specifically designed for capturing the Northern Lights. This app has a unique user interface with a variety of settings allowing you to take high-quality photos of the Aurora Borealis. It offers the feature of capturing lightning in the sky and has a night mode for capturing photos at night. The app also enables you to take ultra-wide-angle shots with a choice of over 15 filters. This app has received great user reviews on both the Android Play Store as well as the Apple App Store.

2. NightCap Camera

NightCap Camera is another great app for taking photos of the Northern Lights. It’s a camera app that is designed to capture low light and night time photos with ease. It offers several modes like Pure Night mode, Light Boost, and magic hour. NightCap Camera offers a manual control mode where you can control settings and shoot long-exposure photos that are essential for shooting the Aurora. It also provides a feature of reducing noise, which is common in low-light photography.

3. Aurora HDR

Aurora HDR is an app designed to capture photos of high-dynamic-range or HDR. This app allows you to capture stunning Aurora Borealis photos with its advanced processing techniques. The app offers several settings like exposure control, color controls, and a variety of filters. With the HDR mode, you can combine multiple photos taken at different exposure settings to create a well-balanced photo. This app is available for both iOS and Android.

4. Camera+ 2

Camera+ 2 is a camera app for iPhone users. This app has a unique feature of slow shutter mode, which enables you to capture long-exposure shots, which are perfect for Aurora Borealis photos. Its advanced processing techniques combined with manual control settings like exposure control and ISO control, help you capture the best Aurora Borealis photos. Camera+ 2 has received overwhelmingly positive user reviews in the Apple App Store.

5. VSCO

VSCO is a popular camera app available for both Android and iOS. This app offers advanced manual camera controls for those who like to have full control over their photography. With its slow shutter mode, it enables you to capture long-exposure shots needed for Aurora Borealis photography. It also offers several editing tools that allow you to enhance your photos easily. VSCO has a vast community of photography enthusiasts, and sharing your Aurora Borealis photos with the VSCO community is an added feature.

Conclusion

Capturing Aurora Borealis photos is all about patience and the right tools. These apps will make it easy for you to capture the Northern Lights in all their glory. Remember, that capturing great photos takes some skill and practice. So, it’s always advised to take several shots and make changes to the settings according to the conditions. We hope this list of apps will help you capture some stunning Aurora Borealis photos on your next adventure.

Best Apps for Capturing Stunning Aurora Borealis Photos: FAQs

The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon often seen in the polar regions, and it is an amazing and breathtaking experience to witness it. Capturing stunning Aurora Borealis photos is not an easy task, and it requires the use of proper photography equipment, skills, and most importantly, the best photography apps.

Many photography apps promise to capture the beauty of Aurora Borealis, but not all of them can deliver. In this post, we will look at some of the most frequently asked questions about the best apps for capturing stunning Aurora Borealis photos.

1. What are the best apps for capturing Aurora Borealis photos?

There are many apps out there that can help you capture stunning Aurora Borealis photos. Some of the best apps include:

– Camera+ 2: This app offers advanced manual controls, RAW support, and a variety of shooting modes, making it the perfect tool for capturing Aurora Borealis photos.

– ProCamera: This app offers advanced HDR options, night mode, and a variety of manual controls that can aid you in capturing amazing Aurora Borealis pictures.

– NightCap Camera: This app specializes in low light photography and captures the faintest of details. It has features such as long exposure, light boost, and noise reduction settings that make it a great choice for capturing otherworldly Aurora Borealis photos.

2. Do I need a special camera to capture Aurora Borealis photos?

While having a special camera and lens can certainly help in capturing stunning Aurora Borealis photos, it is not necessary. Many modern smartphones have powerful cameras that can take great photos in low light conditions with the help of the right app.

But if you want to capture the best possible Aurora Borealis photo, a DSLR camera and wide-angle lens with a fast aperture of f/2.8 or wider is recommended.

3. Do I need a tripod to capture Aurora Borealis photos?

Yes, using a tripod is essential when capturing Aurora Borealis photos. As Aurora Borealis photos require long exposure times, even the smallest movement can ruin your shot. A stable tripod will help you capture sharper, clearer images that aren’t blurry.

If you don’t have a tripod, you can improvise by placing your phone or camera on a flat surface, such as a rock or a steady surface.

4. What are the best settings for capturing Aurora Borealis photos?

When it comes to Aurora Borealis photography, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The ideal settings depend on several factors such as the brightness of the aurora, the camera used, and the surrounding light conditions.

However, here are a few general tips for capturing amazing Aurora Borealis shots:

– Use a high ISO setting (around 800-3200) to capture the faint auroras.

– Set a wide aperture (f/2.8 or lower) to allow more light to come through.

– Set a slow shutter speed of around 20-25 seconds to capture enough light.

– Use manual focus instead of auto-focus to avoid the camera focus changing between shots.

– Shoot in RAW format, so you have more flexibility to adjust the image later.

5. What time of year is best for capturing Aurora Borealis photos?

The best time of year to capture Aurora Borealis photos is during the winter months, specifically from late September to mid-April. This is because the night sky is generally darker, and the aurora is more visible as a result.

It’s also important to consider how far north you are, with areas such as Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland being the most popular places to see the Northern Lights.

Conclusion

Capturing stunning Aurora Borealis photos requires a combination of the right photography equipment, skills, and the best apps. By using some of the best apps such as Camera+ 2, ProCamera, or NightCap Camera, and knowledge of the best settings to use, you can capture these otherworldly phenomena and create breathtaking pictures.

Always remember that even with the best equipment and knowledge, the Aurora Borealis is still a natural phenomenon that can be tricky to capture at times. Still, with patience and persistence, you can capture stunning photos of this elusive phenomenon.