{"id":7173,"date":"2005-01-09T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2005-01-09T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.wordpress\/?p=7173"},"modified":"2018-03-09T12:15:20","modified_gmt":"2018-03-09T17:15:20","slug":"nighttime-is-the-right-time-for-fun-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/nighttime-is-the-right-time-for-fun-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Nighttime is the Right Time for Fun Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Want dramatic photos of city scenes? That\u2019s easy! Photograph at night. When city lights are turned on, buildings, streets lights, signs, and skylines take on a magical glow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sure, <\/span>nighttime scenes are photogenic<\/span><\/a>, but capturing those scenes creatively with your camera takes a little know-how. Here\u2019s a rundown on a few techniques that have worked well for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

Basic Night Photography Tips<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"dark<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Shoot Late at Night<\/span><\/h4>\n

A good time to take pictures is actually not after the sun has completely set, but rather during the Golden Hour<\/span><\/a> when there is still some light in the sky. That\u2019s the time when you can capture city lights along with a hint of light in the sky. The images you\u2019ll get under these conditions are often more dramatic and picturesque than those taken against a dark sky.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use a Slow Shutter Speed<\/span><\/h4>\n

A shutter speed of as long as several seconds can enhance nighttime scenes that include moving cars. Long shutter speeds blur taillights and headlights and let them streak through the scene, creating a sense of motion and adding drama to the scene. If you plan to use long exposures, you\u2019ll need a tripod<\/span><\/a> to stabilize your camera. To eliminate camera shake during a long exposure, use a <\/span>cable release<\/span><\/a> or actuate your camera\u2019s self-timer. Another option for steady shots at shutter speeds faster than around 1\/2 sec is to use an image-stabilizing lens.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carefully Increase the ISO<\/span><\/h4>\n

When setting the ISO, bear in mind that as the ISO increases, grain in film cameras and noise in a digital picture also increase. To reduce digital noise, use your digital camera\u2019s noise-reduction feature (if it has one). For the cleanest film shots, use a film with a relatively low ISO.<\/p>\n

Set Your Exposure Compensation to -1\/2 or -1<\/span><\/h4>\n

No matter what camera (analog or digital) you use, here is a general rule for nighttime photography when shooting in an automatic mode: Set the exposure compensation control on your camera to -1\/2 or \u20131, especially when the sky and street take up a fair portion of the scene. That reduction in exposure will help prevent the highlights (lights) in your scene from being washed out\u2014something that is very difficult to rescue in the digital darkroom.<\/p>\n

\"night<\/p>\n

Here are three quick suggestions for night shooting under different circumstances:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n