Framing emerald curtains above fjords is a thrill—this guide shows you the gear, settings and local know-how to bring those Arctic colours home.
Every winter night our Northern Horizon guides watch guests gasp at the first pulse of green across the Tromsø sky—then fumble with ISO dials. To save you that panic, we’ve gathered years of camp-side coaching into one practical, human-tested playbook.
Before you zip up the thermal suit, make sure your daypack holds:
DSLR or mirrorless body with manual mode
Wide-angle lens (f/2.8 or faster)—think 14 mm to 24 mm
Sturdy tripod (we lend them on our Minibus Aurora Tour)
Spare batteries kept warm in an inner pocket
Remote shutter or two-second timer to avoid shake
Pro tip: Smartphones work in a pinch—just switch to RAW and a 10-second exposure.
Camera Settings That Actually Work
Start here, then tweak for brightness:
| Setting | Start Value | Why it Works |
|---|---|---|
| Aperture | f/2.8 | Lets in maximum light |
| ISO | 1600–3200 | Bright enough, still clean |
| Shutter | 5–10 s | Freezes light pillars; stars stay pin-sharp |
| WB | 3800 K | Keeps snow white, Auroras true |
| Need longer than 10 s? Widen ISO a notch before dragging the shutter—those greens can smear. | ||
Need longer than 10 s? Widen ISO a notch before dragging the shutter—those greens can smear.
Finding Clear Skies – Local Apps & Spots
Tromsø weather flips quickly. Guides like Luca swear by:
Yr.no cloud map (hour-by-hour)
Aurora Forecast KP index push alerts
Drive west to Grotfjord or over Kvaløya’s ridges if coast clouds linger. On bad nights we chase into Finland—our Private Tours do this on request.
Composing the Shot – Make It Human
A lone cabin, a reflective fjord or a bundled-up friend in the foreground adds scale. Keep the horizon low (bottom third) so the Aurora owns the frame.
Browse our real results in the Gallery—all taken on tour with settings above.
Post-Processing – Keep It Natural
Lightroom tweaks:
Lift Shadows +25 to reveal terrain
Nudge White Balance cooler if greens look yellow
Add a subtle radial dodge around the Arc for pop—easy on the Saturation!
Ready to Test Your Skills?
Explore our hand-picked Tours & Packages and turn these tips into your own Arctic adventure.