A Comprehensive Guide to Time-Lapsing the Northern Lights
At Wildscape Adventures, we believe capturing the Northern Lights in a time-lapse format is one of the most rewarding experiences in adventure photography. This guide will take you step-by-step through the entire process, from preparation and shooting to post-processing with Adobe Lightroom and LRTimelapse.
Let’s get started on this exciting journey!
Learn More About the Northern Lights First!
For those eager to dive deeper into the world of auroras, don’t miss our dedicated post on forecasting and photographing the Northern Lights! We provide detailed tips and techniques on how to track aurora activity, understand the science behind these spectacular displays, and capture stunning images of the lights in all their glory. We recommend viewing this guide if you have no experience photographing the northern lights.
1. Preparation: Set Yourself Up for Success
Choosing the Right Location
Research Potential Spots: Look for areas renowned for aurora activity. Some top locations include northern Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Alaska, and parts of Canada. Researching before your trip will help you find the best viewing sites.
Avoiding Light Pollution: To enhance your time-lapse quality, aim for remote areas far from city lights. Use light pollution maps such as Dark Site Finder to identify dark-sky locations.
darksitefinder.com
Weather Considerations: Check local weather forecasts. Clear, cold nights are ideal for aurora viewing. You can use weather apps to monitor cloud cover and conditions leading up to your shoot.
Aurora Forecasting: Use websites like SolarHam.com or check the NOAA Space Weather website to track solar activity and the likelihood of auroras. Higher KP indices (4 or above) indicate better chances of seeing the lights.
SolarHam.com
Optimal Timing
The best months for viewing the Northern Lights are between September and March. During these months, the nights are longer, and the auroras are more active. Try to shoot during the new moon phase to minimize moonlight interference.
2. Gear Essentials: What You’ll Need
A well-equipped photographer is a prepared photographer. Here’s a list of gear that will set you up for success:
Camera: A DSLR or mirrorless camera that allows for manual adjustments. Look for one with good low-light performance.
Wide-Angle Lens: Choose a lens with a focal length of 14-24mm and a fast aperture (f/2.8 or wider). This will capture more of the night sky and allow more light to enter the camera.
Tripod: A sturdy tripod is essential for stabilizing your camera during long exposures. Avoid lightweight tripods that may be unstable in windy conditions.
Intervalometer: This device automatically takes pictures at set intervals. Many modern cameras have built-in intervalometers, but if yours doesn't, you can purchase an external one.
Extra Batteries: Cold temperatures can deplete batteries quickly, so bring at least two or three fully charged spares and keep them warm in your pockets.
Memory Cards: Use high-capacity SD cards (preferably rated UHS-I or UHS-II) to accommodate large RAW files. Consider bringing multiple cards to avoid running out of space during long shoots.
Warm Clothing: Dress in layers, and bring gloves, a hat, and thermal wear. You’ll want to be comfortable while you’re out shooting for extended periods.
3. Camera Settings: Capturing the Aurora
To effectively capture the Northern Lights, you'll need to understand how to set your camera:
Manual Settings
Switch to Manual Mode: Full manual control is vital for capturing night photography, allowing you to adjust settings based on changing light conditions.
Be sure that all auto modes are turned off: autofocus, image stabilization, in-body stabilization, auto white balance, etc.
Recommended Camera Settings
Aperture: Set your lens to its widest aperture (f/2.8 or lower) to let in as much light as possible.
Shutter Speed: Start with an exposure time between 5-15 seconds. If the aurora is moving quickly, you might want to opt for shorter exposure times (around 5-8 seconds) to avoid blurring.
ISO: Begin with an ISO of 800 and adjust between 800 and 3200 depending on the brightness of the aurora and the surrounding light. Keep in mind that higher ISO values may introduce noise, so find a balance. If there is moonlight, consider an ISO lower than 800.
Focus: Use manual focus and aim at a distant star to achieve sharpness. Zoom in on a star using live view and focus magnification for precision.
White Balance: Set your white balance to around 3500K-4000K to capture the natural colors of the aurora. You can fine-tune this during post-processing.
Shoot in RAW: Always shoot in RAW format to retain maximum detail and flexibility in post-processing.
Setting Up the Intervalometer
Interval Timing: Set your interval to be 2-3 seconds longer than your shutter speed. For example, if you choose a shutter speed of 10 seconds, set your interval to 12-13 seconds.
Total Number of Shots: If you want a 10-second video at 24 frames per second (fps), you’ll need 240 images. More frames generally result in smoother motion, so consider shooting even more if time allows.
Before we dive into creating a time-lapse sequence, let’s take a moment to introduce you to LRTimelapse…
LRTimelapse is a powerful software designed to help photographers create smooth and visually compelling time-lapse videos by harnessing the sophisticated editing capabilities of Adobe Lightroom. At its core, LRTimelapse works by analyzing your entire image sequence, identifying keyframes for editing in Lightroom, and then seamlessly integrating those edits back into the sequence. This process allows you to adjust exposure, color balance, contrast, and more across the time-lapse, without manually processing each image. After setting your keyframes in LRTimelapse, you move into Lightroom to fine-tune those frames, leveraging its familiar interface and robust adjustment tools. Once your edits are complete, you export back to LRTimelapse, where the software automatically creates transitions between the keyframes, applies deflicker tools to even out any brightness shifts, and finally renders your time-lapse in high resolution. The tight integration between LRTimelapse and Lightroom ensures both a powerful editing workflow and a streamlined process, empowering photographers to produce stunning time-lapse videos with minimal hassle.
Step-by-Step Guide: Lightroom and LRTimelapse
1. Import Photos into LRTimelapse
Organize Your Images: Store your images in a single folder on your computer. Make sure they are named sequentially.
Open LRTimelapse: Launch the program and select the folder containing your time-lapse sequence. LRTimelapse will scan your images and create a preview of your time-lapse.
2. Create Keyframes
Setting Keyframes: Choose 2 -4 keyframes from your sequence. These will be the main images where you make adjustments in Lightroom. Select keyframes that best represent changes in light, color, and exposure.
Save Metadata: Save the metadata from LRTimelapse so that Lightroom recognizes the keyframes during the editing process.
Screenshot: LRTimelapse
“Keyframes Wizard” activated
Screenshot: LRTimelapse
“after keyframe metadata is saved”
3. Edit Keyframes in Lightroom
Import Keyframes: Drag the keyframes into Lightroom to start editing. You can filter by the star rating you assigned to keyframes.
Adjust Exposure: Make subtle adjustments to exposure and contrast for each keyframe. This ensures smooth transitions throughout your time-lapse.
Enhance Colors: Boost saturation and contrast for the auroras without overdoing it. Fine-tune the greens and purples to retain the natural beauty of the lights.
Sync Adjustments: Once you’re satisfied with the edits on your keyframes, sync the settings across all keyframes to maintain consistency.
Save Metadata Again: Save the updated metadata to reflect your edits back in LRTimelapse.
Screenshot: Lightroom
filters changed to “01 LRT Keyframes”
Screenshot: Lightroom
“scripts > 01 LRTimelapse Sync Keyframes”
Screenshot: Lightroom
“metadata > save metadata to files”
4. Return to LRTimelapse
Reload Metadata: Open LRTimelapse and reload your sequence to apply the Lightroom adjustments to the entire time-lapse.
Use Auto Transition: Click the “Auto Transition” button to create smooth transitions between your keyframes, making sure that all edits flow together seamlessly.
Deflicker: Use the deflicker tool to minimize any brightness fluctuations that may occur during the sequence, ensuring a consistent look.
Screenshot: LRTimelapse
“autotransition and visual preview complete”
Screenshot: LRTimelapse
“start of visual deflicker”
Screenshot: LRTimelapse
“visual deflicker complete”
5. Export the Time-Lapse
Export from Lightroom: Use the LRTimelapse export plugin to save your images in either TIFF or JPEG format.
Render in LRTimelapse: Choose your desired resolution (1080p or 4K) and frame rate (24 fps is a common choice), and hit the Render button. Your time-lapse video will be created.
Screenshot: Lightroom
“filter changed to 01 LRT Full Sequence”
Screenshot: Lightroom
“select sequence in file directory > select all > export button > preferred settings”
Screenshot: LRTimelapse
“this screen will automatically pop up after exporting out of Lightroom”
5. Optional Final Touches in Video Editing Software
If you want to add a professional touch to your final product, consider using video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro:
Trim the Sequence: Avoid unnecessary frames or sections to keep your time-lapse engaging and concise.
Color Grading: Apply color grading techniques to enhance the overall look of your video. This can include adjusting shadows, highlights, and overall tone.
Add a Soundtrack: Pair your time-lapse with a fitting soundtrack to create an emotional connection for viewers.
At Wildscape Adventures, we’re passionate about helping you make the most of your photography experiences, and capturing the Northern Lights in a time-lapse is one of the most exhilarating ways to do it. With this comprehensive guide, you now have the tools and knowledge to shoot stunning time-lapse sequences that showcase the beauty of the aurora.
For more opportunities to hone your skills and explore breathtaking landscapes, check out our offerings at WildscapeAdventure.com. We provide a variety of year-round tours and workshops designed to elevate your photography, whether you’re chasing the Northern Lights, photographing wildlife, or exploring spectacular natural vistas. Join us on your next adventure!
