Capturing the Northern Lights is one of the most magical experiences you can have in Iceland, and with a bit of preparation, you can bring home photos that truly do the moment justice. Whether you’re staying at Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, Stykkishólmur Inn on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, or Ísafjörður Inn in the Westfjords, you’ll be perfectly placed to chase and photograph the aurora in some of the country’s most dramatic landscapes.
The key to photographing the Northern Lights is a mix of timing, location, and the right camera settings. In West Iceland, the aurora season typically runs from late August to mid-April, with the darkest months (November to February) offering the longest nights. Clear skies and low light pollution are essential. That’s where staying with Ourhotels.is really helps: our inns are located away from the harsh glow of big cities, giving you darker skies and stronger contrast for your photos.
Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður is an ideal base for your first attempts. Just a short drive from Borgarnes, it sits in a peaceful rural area with wide-open views to the north. Step outside the inn on a clear night and you’ll often find yourself under a sky full of stars, with the Northern Lights dancing above the mountains and river plains. This open landscape is perfect for including interesting foregrounds in your photos, such as farmhouses, snowy fields, or the curves of the Hvítá river.
On the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Stykkishólmur Inn offers a different kind of photographic opportunity. The charming harbor, colorful houses, and nearby islands create a beautiful frame for the aurora. Here, you can experiment with compositions that combine the Northern Lights with reflections in the sea, the town’s lighthouse, or the silhouette of fishing boats. The mix of natural and man-made elements can give your photos a strong sense of place and make them stand out.
Farther north and west, Ísafjörður Inn in the Westfjords places you among steep mountains and deep fjords. This dramatic scenery can turn a good aurora photo into a breathtaking one. When the lights appear over the fjord, you can use the surrounding peaks to frame the sky, or capture the glow of the aurora reflecting off the water. The remoteness of the Westfjords also means less light pollution and often clearer, crisper skies—ideal conditions for night photography.
No matter which Ourhotels.is location you choose, the basic camera setup is similar. A DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual controls will give you the best results, but many modern smartphones can also do a decent job if they have a dedicated night or “pro” mode. For cameras with manual settings, start with a wide-angle lens (14–24mm on full frame, 10–18mm on crop sensor) and the widest aperture you have, ideally f/2.8 or lower. Set your ISO between 1600 and 3200 to begin with, and use a shutter speed of around 5–15 seconds depending on how bright and fast the aurora is moving. Shorter exposures (5–8 seconds) help keep the aurora’s shapes crisp, while longer ones (10–20 seconds) can be useful when the lights are faint.
A sturdy tripod is essential. Even the slightest movement will blur your images at these long exposure times. If you have one, use a remote shutter release or your camera’s 2-second timer to avoid shaking the camera when you press the button. Turn off image stabilization when the camera is on a tripod, and switch your focus to manual. A good trick is to focus on a distant light or bright star using live view, then zoom in on the screen to fine-tune the focus until it’s tack sharp.
White balance can be set to auto, but many photographers prefer a cooler setting (around 3500–4000K) to keep the greens and purples of the aurora looking natural. Shoot in RAW format if possible; this gives you more flexibility to adjust exposure, contrast, and color later without degrading the image. Don’t worry if your first shots look a bit dark on the camera screen—slightly underexposed images are easier to fix than blown-out highlights.
Composition is where your choice of location really shines. Around Hvítá Inn, look for leading lines like roads, fences, or rivers that guide the viewer’s eye into the sky. Near Stykkishólmur Inn, use the harbor, church, or lighthouse as a focal point beneath the aurora. In Ísafjörður, experiment with placing the fjord or mountain ridges in the lower third of the frame, leaving plenty of space for the lights above. Including a person in the foreground—perhaps a travel companion looking up at the sky—can add scale and emotion to your images.
Patience is part of the process. The Northern Lights are unpredictable; they can appear suddenly, fade, and then return stronger than before. Staying at Ourhotels.is properties in West Iceland gives you the advantage of being close to excellent viewing spots all night long. You can step outside, check the sky, warm up with a hot drink inside, and head back out when the activity picks up. Our staff are used to aurora-chasing guests and are often happy to share tips about local viewing spots or recent conditions.
Before you head out, check the aurora forecast and cloud cover. Even a strong aurora won’t be visible through thick clouds. Dress warmly in layers, with good boots, gloves, and a hat—standing still with a camera at night can get cold quickly, especially in the Westfjords and on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Bring spare batteries and keep them warm in an inside pocket; cold weather drains them faster than you might expect.
When you return to your room at Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, or Ísafjörður Inn, take a moment to review your photos and note which settings worked best. Over a few nights, you’ll quickly refine your technique. Many guests find that combining a stay at more than one Ourhotels.is location lets them capture a variety of landscapes under the aurora—from open farmlands to fishing villages and dramatic fjords—creating a truly unique Northern Lights portfolio.
By choosing Ourhotels.is as your base in West Iceland, you’re not only placing yourself in some of the country’s most photogenic regions, but also giving yourself the time and flexibility needed to wait for the perfect moment. With the right preparation, a bit of patience, and the dark skies around Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, and Ísafjörður Inn, you’ll be ready to photograph the Northern Lights in all their unforgettable beauty.
