Want to head to Fairbanks Alaska to See and Photography the Aurora? I have you covered!
Shooting Astrophotography can be slightly intimidating, but don’t worry…. I got you! If you are not someone who does it often, I have a few tips to get you started!
There are some things you should have and know before you go out and set up your camera and tripod to shoot astrophotography, especially with others. Let’s go over the basics.
People go to Fairbanks, Alaska to see the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) because it’s one of the most reliable places on Earth to see them. Here’s why it stands out:
Why go to Fairbanks Alaska to see and photograph the Aurora? So many reasons!
🌌 Location in the Auroral Oval
Fairbanks sits directly under the auroral oval, the ring around the Arctic where auroras occur most frequently and most intensely. This means strong displays are common—often visible overhead, not just on the horizon.
🌙 Dark Skies & Minimal Light Pollution
The area around Fairbanks has very low light pollution, especially just a short drive outside town. Dark skies dramatically improve visibility and color intensity.
❄️ Clear, Cold Weather
Fairbanks has a dry, cold climate, especially in winter. Cold air holds less moisture, which means clearer skiescompared to coastal Alaska or northern Europe.
🕒 Long Viewing Season
You can see auroras in Fairbanks from late August through April—a much longer season than most places.
🎯 High Success Rates
On clear nights with solar activity, Fairbanks can have aurora visible multiple nights per week. Many tour operators report 80–90% success rates during peak season.
🛖 Aurora Infrastructure
Fairbanks is set up for aurora chasing:
- Guided aurora tours
- Heated viewing lodges and yurts
- Hot springs (like Chena Hot Springs) for viewing while soaking
- Aurora forecasts and local expertise
🌲 Bonus: Unique Arctic Experience
Beyond the lights, visitors enjoy:
- Dog sledding 🐕
- Snowmobiling
- Ice museums
- Arctic Circle trips
- True winter wilderness scenery
⭐ Compared to Other Places
- Better odds than Iceland or Norway due to weather and location
- Easier access than remote Arctic Canada
- More consistent displays than lower-latitude destinations
If you want, I can also explain the best time of year, what increases your chances, or how Fairbanks compares to Iceland or Tromsø.
Here’s a short, practical list of camera tips for photographing the aurora in Fairbanks in winter:
- Use a tripod – long exposures require total stability
- Shoot in manual mode – control shutter, aperture, and ISO
- Use a wide, fast lens – wide angle with f/2.8 or lower is ideal
- Start with these settings: 5–15 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800–3200
- Manual focus at infinity – autofocus won’t work in the dark
- Bring extra batteries – cold drains them fast (keep spares warm)
- Use a timer or remote – prevents camera shake
- Check images often – adjust settings as aurora brightness changes
- Avoid warming your lens – prevent fog/condensation
- Dress warmer than you think – you’ll be standing still for a while
I will go into more details below!
First off let’s to into photography etiquette
- When you arrive at your destination and others are setting up, you will want to keep the light use to a minimum. That said, if not using light causes a safety concern, use it, but try to keep it down and to a minimum.
- Bright white lights can mess up your night vision. Red lights can help you not lose your night vision, but red lights are not great when you are around other photographers. Just try to keep use to a minimum.
- If you have to use a light, ask others around you first. Some people may be shooting timelapse, longer exposures, or interval shooting, and you can ruin a longer shot for some people.
- When you are moving around, be aware of your surroundings, other people, and their equipment.
Make sure you have the proper camera equipment for Astro
📷 1. Camera
Best choice:
- A DSLR or mirrorless camera with full manual control
- One that lets you adjust shutter speed, aperture, and ISO separately
Why: Aurora photography needs long exposures and wide apertures—phone cameras struggle unless you use specialized modes or apps.
Lenses
📌 Recommended Features:
- Wide angle — 14–35mm (full-frame) or equivalent
- Fast aperture — f/2.8 or wider (lower f-number lets more light in)
💡 Lens Options:
- 14–24mm f/2.8 — excellent for big skies
- 24mm f/1.4–f/2.8 — great balance of wide view + low light
- Zooms (e.g., 16–35mm f/2.8) — versatile for landscapes + auroras
🦵 3. Sturdy Tripod
A solid, stable tripod is essential because you’ll use long exposures (5–30+ seconds).
- No tripod = blurry stars and aurora trails.
🖐️ 4. Remote Shutter Release
This helps avoid camera shake when you trigger long exposures.
- Wired remote or wireless trigger both work
- Many cameras also allow 2-second timer as a substitute
🧊 5. Extra Batteries
Cold weather drains batteries fast—sometimes in under an hour.
- Bring several spares
- Keep extras inside your coat next to your body to stay warm
🧤 6. Memory Cards
- High-capacity cards (32GB+)
- Fast write speeds help if you’re capturing many long exposures
🧰 7. Optional but Helpful Gear
- Headlamp with red light mode — preserves night vision
- Lens cloth — for clearing frost or condensation
- Hand warmers and battery warmers
- Intervalometer for time-lapses
❄️ Tips for Winter Shooting
- Avoid lens fog/condensation — let your camera acclimate when moving between temperatures
- Dress warm — you’ll be outside for long exposures
- Be ready — auroras can appear and change fast
- Scout locations in daylight
Tips on if you are renting a car!
- Choose a 4WD/AWD SUV
- Confirm winter tires are installed
- Ask for engine block heater availability
- Bring:
- Ice scraper & snow brush
- Jumper cables
- Blanket/hand warmers
- Flashlight & snacks
- Always check weather and road conditions before heading out
- Carry emergency supplies (blanket, food, phone charger)
- Stay in cell phone reception and always scout out places in the daylight before going there at night
- Always check weather and road conditions before heading out
If you’re interested in hiring a local tour guide in Fairbanks for nightly aurora tours or joining one of my photography retreats, feel free to contact me. You’re also welcome to email me with any questions about planning your trip to Fairbanks—I’m happy to help. aimeedanielson@me.com
Want to head to Fairbanks Alaska to See and Photography the Aurora? I have you covered!
Shooting Astrophotography can be slightly intimidating, but don’t worry…. I got you! If you are not someone who does it often, I have a few tips to get you started!
There are some things you should have and know before you go out and set up your camera and tripod to shoot astrophotography, especially with others. Let’s go over the basics.
People go to Fairbanks, Alaska to see the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) because it’s one of the most reliable places on Earth to see them. Here’s why it stands out:
Why go to Fairbanks Alaska to see and photograph the Aurora? So many reasons!
🌌 Location in the Auroral Oval
Fairbanks sits directly under the auroral oval, the ring around the Arctic where auroras occur most frequently and most intensely. This means strong displays are common—often visible overhead, not just on the horizon.
🌙 Dark Skies & Minimal Light Pollution
The area around Fairbanks has very low light pollution, especially just a short drive outside town. Dark skies dramatically improve visibility and color intensity.
❄️ Clear, Cold Weather
Fairbanks has a dry, cold climate, especially in winter. Cold air holds less moisture, which means clearer skiescompared to coastal Alaska or northern Europe.
🕒 Long Viewing Season
You can see auroras in Fairbanks from late August through April—a much longer season than most places.
🎯 High Success Rates
On clear nights with solar activity, Fairbanks can have aurora visible multiple nights per week. Many tour operators report 80–90% success rates during peak season.
🛖 Aurora Infrastructure
Fairbanks is set up for aurora chasing:
- Guided aurora tours
- Heated viewing lodges and yurts
- Hot springs (like Chena Hot Springs) for viewing while soaking
- Aurora forecasts and local expertise
🌲 Bonus: Unique Arctic Experience
Beyond the lights, visitors enjoy:
- Dog sledding 🐕
- Snowmobiling
- Ice museums
- Arctic Circle trips
- True winter wilderness scenery
⭐ Compared to Other Places
- Better odds than Iceland or Norway due to weather and location
- Easier access than remote Arctic Canada
- More consistent displays than lower-latitude destinations
If you want, I can also explain the best time of year, what increases your chances, or how Fairbanks compares to Iceland or Tromsø.
Here’s a short, practical list of camera tips for photographing the aurora in Fairbanks in winter:
- Use a tripod – long exposures require total stability
- Shoot in manual mode – control shutter, aperture, and ISO
- Use a wide, fast lens – wide angle with f/2.8 or lower is ideal
- Start with these settings: 5–15 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800–3200
- Manual focus at infinity – autofocus won’t work in the dark
- Bring extra batteries – cold drains them fast (keep spares warm)
- Use a timer or remote – prevents camera shake
- Check images often – adjust settings as aurora brightness changes
- Avoid warming your lens – prevent fog/condensation
- Dress warmer than you think – you’ll be standing still for a while
I will go into more details below!
First off let’s to into photography etiquette
- When you arrive at your destination and others are setting up, you will want to keep the light use to a minimum. That said, if not using light causes a safety concern, use it, but try to keep it down and to a minimum.
- Bright white lights can mess up your night vision. Red lights can help you not lose your night vision, but red lights are not great when you are around other photographers. Just try to keep use to a minimum.
- If you have to use a light, ask others around you first. Some people may be shooting timelapse, longer exposures, or interval shooting, and you can ruin a longer shot for some people.
- When you are moving around, be aware of your surroundings, other people, and their equipment.
Make sure you have the proper camera equipment for Astro
📷 1. Camera
Best choice:
- A DSLR or mirrorless camera with full manual control
- One that lets you adjust shutter speed, aperture, and ISO separately
Why: Aurora photography needs long exposures and wide apertures—phone cameras struggle unless you use specialized modes or apps.
Lenses
📌 Recommended Features:
- Wide angle — 14–35mm (full-frame) or equivalent
- Fast aperture — f/2.8 or wider (lower f-number lets more light in)
💡 Lens Options:
- 14–24mm f/2.8 — excellent for big skies
- 24mm f/1.4–f/2.8 — great balance of wide view + low light
- Zooms (e.g., 16–35mm f/2.8) — versatile for landscapes + auroras
🦵 3. Sturdy Tripod
A solid, stable tripod is essential because you’ll use long exposures (5–30+ seconds).
- No tripod = blurry stars and aurora trails.
🖐️ 4. Remote Shutter Release
This helps avoid camera shake when you trigger long exposures.
- Wired remote or wireless trigger both work
- Many cameras also allow 2-second timer as a substitute
🧊 5. Extra Batteries
Cold weather drains batteries fast—sometimes in under an hour.
- Bring several spares
- Keep extras inside your coat next to your body to stay warm
🧤 6. Memory Cards
- High-capacity cards (32GB+)
- Fast write speeds help if you’re capturing many long exposures
🧰 7. Optional but Helpful Gear
- Headlamp with red light mode — preserves night vision
- Lens cloth — for clearing frost or condensation
- Hand warmers and battery warmers
- Intervalometer for time-lapses
❄️ Tips for Winter Shooting
- Avoid lens fog/condensation — let your camera acclimate when moving between temperatures
- Dress warm — you’ll be outside for long exposures
- Be ready — auroras can appear and change fast
- Scout locations in daylight
Tips on if you are renting a car!
- Choose a 4WD/AWD SUV
- Confirm winter tires are installed
- Ask for engine block heater availability
- Bring:
- Ice scraper & snow brush
- Jumper cables
- Blanket/hand warmers
- Flashlight & snacks
- Always check weather and road conditions before heading out
- Carry emergency supplies (blanket, food, phone charger)
- Stay in cell phone reception and always scout out places in the daylight before going there at night
- Always check weather and road conditions before heading out
If you’re interested in hiring a local tour guide in Fairbanks for nightly aurora tours or joining one of my photography retreats, feel free to contact me. You’re also welcome to email me with any questions about planning your trip to Fairbanks—I’m happy to help. aimeedanielson@me.com
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