5 Tips for Night Photography
For those who love photography, compared to the noon they prefer night out to take pictures generally. Because night is the most fascinating times for photography, This is mainly because the changes between light and shadow in these periods are more subtle and beautiful, which can not only transform various beautiful sceneries but also create a fantastic effect that is never boring. Even though it can be a little hard and more challenging to take a photo, when you see the wonderful photos, a kind of inexplicable touched also arises spontaneously. And that's probably what makes night photography so fascinating. Next, we'll share how to capture the beauty of the night scene!
Try to prepare a tripod
A tripod can be a very important device for taking night shots, and you have to be solid enough to get the most out of it, otherwise the photo might be more blurry than be taken when the camera is held by your hand. Tripods can be used for a wide range of purposes, including cameras, external flash bulbs, and even personal items.
A night shot usually requires a longer exposure, and the night shot is a low-light scene. The camera needs to be stable to take a clear picture. To avoid damaging the image due to the vibration, make sure to use a tripod to reduce the shaking.
Learn to use outside light sources
It is easy to encounter the situation of insufficient light and poor shooting effect during night scene shooting. This time, you can use outside light sources, such as street lights, car lights, or fireworks and so on.
- High-pole street lamp
When you are walking on the street at night, the most common light source is the large light on the road, which is usually the brighter light source. So it also allows you to use a lower ISO to improve the picture quality. You can stand in parallel with a pole lamp, using the continuity of the light to create a deep visual traction, and then wait for the key figure to pass under the lamp to complete the composition.
- Ground lamp
In addition to the common high-pole street lamp as a light source, we can also use low-angle light, the advantage of such light source is low height. With the right Angle of view, you can use it to light up people's faces from low places, such as hiding floor lamp, flower bed floor lamp, etc. Of course, you can also use the flash lamp, but it is hard to get such a natural effect.
- Backlight
Backlighting can be used in the golden time, or with the help of a large artificial light source. The biggest characteristic of backlighting is that the atmosphere is particularly thick, as if can feel the warm light through the picture to the reader. It is worth mentioning that if you go out to shoot in cold weather, the camera will get foggy when you move indoors and outside. At this time, you can often get unexpected effects by using backlighting.
- Window lighting
Window lighting is also a very good light source. The commodity display cabinet and bus stop signs are window lamps in fact. This kind of light is characterized by a large area of uniform intensity of lighting, which is very suitable for shooting portraits or silhouettes. The contrast between light and dark is really interesting. A large area of light source as the background, as if as a picture frame to cooperate with the main character.
- Use the water to reflect light
Many people are used to thinking that rain is not suitable for taking pictures. In fact, rain has its own charm. In particular, the water on the ground formed a natural mirror, coupled with the lights of the streets at night embellished, a series of strange images leap into view.
- Pay attention to artificial light sources
At night in the city, the lights are everywhere, like an old lady who brings a flashlight when she walks at night. You can also use this coincidence to capture wonderful light. The city light source is various, the special arrangement and shape of a few lamplights is the most suitable background exactly among them. There it is, like a stage already prepared, waiting for people to go up and "perform" while resolutely pressing the shutter!
Make good use of manual functions
Since night scenes are low-light and high-contrast scenes, automatic focus (AF) shooting often leads to loss of focus, so manual (MF) mode must be replaced timely to overcome the failure to focus.
One of the most common techniques for night photography is long exposure (the shutter speed is 10 seconds, 30 seconds, or hours), which allows you to take pictures of car tracks, star tracks, waves, etc. Long exposure not only can smooth the waves, or tracks the car's red taillights, but also show some light that is normally invisible.
In night photography, the correct exposure mode should be used according to the shooting target, so as to get the ideal image. In general, if want to easily make a few night photo as a souvenir, using automatic or P gear. But if want to take an image with hazy beauty charm, it is recommended to use aperture priority (AV), shutter priority (TV) or manual exposure mode (M), because the manual control can make image effect more changes.
With the size of the aperture, various image changes can also be changed at night. For example, when the aperture is small, due to the wide range of focus, when it is used in night shot, it is easier to take a clear image of a large area, and it can also capture the starry effect emitted by a single point light source. As for aperture is large, because the focus range relatively becomes smaller, so the photographer is very easy to take a fuzzy front or rear fuzzy image which can make the image show a unique kind of hazy feeling, especially against the background of light more beautiful. However, it should be noted that the large aperture is not suitable for large-view photography, but rather for small or partial photography, so as to fully express its charm.
Set white balance
Automatic white balance is not recommended when shooting night scenes. Because in a dark environment, automatic white balance can easily become inconsistent, resulting in aberration in photos. You can use the "tungsten lamp" mode of white balance when shooting night scenes. But of course you have to choose the best model for the situation.
Take a chance and explore the unknown
What’s my exposure time? This is the number one question asked by a night photography novice setting up his or her camera for the first time. A basic understanding of the functions of aperture and shutter speed take on mind-expanding dimensions at night, when stopping down your aperture can turn street lights into starbursts and setting your shutter speed to bulb offers you the ability to capture the unseen. Contrary to the view of photography as an exact science, nocturnal image making provides an opportunity to experiment, explore, play, and have fun. You need to use your imagination. So, instead of freezing up and following someone else’s exposure suggestions by rote, explore all the variables at your fingertips with your own camera. And then keep record of it.
Hope this article can help you if you want to take photos at night. More click here.