Tips to Photograph Noctilucent Clouds

Photography Tips

The term noctilucent translates to night shining. It’s true that with Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) they are actually only seen shining in the middle of the night. They are formed when ice particles are formed around particles in the mesosphere of our atmosphere at extremely low temperatures during summer. They can be typically observed from latitudes between 45 to 60 degrees in either hemisphere right around midnight. In this video, photographer Alyn Wallace talks about everything you need to know about photographing Noctilucent clouds:

Luckily, you do not need any special equipment to photograph the Noctilucent clouds. However, since they are only formed some 15 degrees above the horizon, you will need a longer lens to take an interesting shot. Wallace also walks you through how you can adjust your settings based on the atmospheric and lighting conditions.

Besides gear and camera settings, he also talks in-depth about where and when you should look to photograph Noctilucent clouds. He shares some resources you can use to help yourself in this process.

“Remember, the best time to see NLCs is when the sun is at least six degrees below the horizon.”

Do you happen to live in an area where NLCs are formed? If you do, let us know if you try photographing them following the tips that Wallace shares in the video.