Night Photography tips
Night Photography is part of Omnilargess Digital Camera Bootcamp and I thought everyone would enjoy some great tips on night photography. There are few more seats available for this amazing workshop on February 4. Register now to secure your spot.
Why do we take night photos?
While they’re not difficult, they can be a challenge. Photography by definition is painting with light, and at night…well, there is very little light! This means we have to be more creative to achieve our goal and capture an outstanding image.
What’s the big fascination with night photography?
I believe it’s partly for the challenge, as photographers love challenging the light. This is also why not many people attempt night photography. Everybody shoots pictures during the day and as it gets dark they often stop or turn on their flash units. With night photography you’re taking pictures that most people don’t attempt; images which have potential to be interesting, dramatic and even mysterious. Night photography is not simply getting a picture in low light; it is about creating a new vision which is different from other photographs. In night photography you’re trying to do something special.
Tips for Night Photography
1-Tripod
When there’s only a little light you call on every method possible to make the most of it, and using a tripod is first on the list. You’re almost always going to need a tripod, especially for creating selective blur with slow shutter speeds—such as moving lights writing their magic lines and shapes. And even with a tripod, to prevent the slight vibration of the shutter release button, it is recommended to use the camera’s self-timer, a remote trigger or cable release to trip the shutter. When using a tripod be sure the Image stabilization function of your camera/lens is turned off.
2-Turn off the Autofocus
In night photography the autofocus sensor keeps searching to find something to focus on. It can cause delay or the camera may not even take the shot as it is waiting to focus first. Just set the camera to Manual Focus, choose your focus manually and you are ready to rock.
3-Exposure Mode
I recommend using Manual Exposure for night photography. In Manual exposure, you set your aperture value first and then control the shutter speed.
4-Metering Mode
Metering mode is not as crucial in night photography as it is in day time photography. The best over all results come with using Centre Weighted metering as your camera sets the exposure for the centre of the viewfinder, which is probably the most important part of the scene anyway.
5-White Balance
Try them all and see what suits your style and preference. Auto white balance will tend toward more warmth for yellow and orange lights in a scene. If you are shooting in artificial light, a good starting point is either the incandescent or fluorescent setting. If you are not happy with how they look, try the other settings. If you want to capture the deep blue colour of the night sky, set your White Balance to “Day Light/Direct Sun”.
6-ISO
I recommend to use the lowest possible ISO, as the low sensitivity to light not only allows you to use longer exposures, it also provides the best possible Dynamic Range for post processing.
That is all for now. Our next Digital Camera Bootcamp starts February 4. Check our Upcoming Classes HERE to find a workshop that you want to take.Register now to book your spot, as it is going to be an amazing photography adventure!
Ted and the Omnilargess Team