Edit
To provide some context given the messages below. I was a professional photographer, and understand that getting a good photo is a skill. Exposure time, timing, location, and many other factors come into play when capturing a great image.
Seeing the aurora was a fantastic experience. The purpose of this post is to help reduce FOMO of those who could not see it. Many people who don’t know these things will imagine dancing lights in the sky of brilliance, and will be saddened by what they missed. While they did miss something, it’s important for them to know exactly what they missed.
Edit2 I should also note this is why I enjoy when photographers post gear, conditions, and settings alongside results. It tells viewers what was real.
I have the opposite thing when I take a picture of the moon… Looks brighter, bigger and more detailed to my naked eye than it does on film even with proper exposure and stuff. Always have to touch it up just to get it to look right.
If it’s a phone, that’s probably because the small lens can’t handle the contrast. I bet if you use digital zoom it helps some.
Using the standard lens on my SLR does the same. It comes off and can be replaced with other lenses though, I just don’t have anything other than a fisheye and the one that came with the camera. I don’t think the fisheye would be helpful here lol