Why night photography rocks!

What makes night photography special and why are photographers so passionate about it? In this blog we'll discuss just that and also go over some important things to know if you want to shoot at night.

The very first time I tried night photography I remember being surprised by the amount of light and the variety of colors that could be captured! I was immediately captivated and was eager to explore the different creative options available with night photography.

Back to the basics

One thing is for sure about night photography and that's getting your exposure right! A basic understanding of aperture, shutter speed and ISO is a must and in fact, playing around with those settings is what makes night photography challenging but also fun! If you want to read further about exposure, make sure to check out a previous blog here.

Cityscapes

For anyone that lives in or near a big city, there are always great opportunities to capture a variety of cityscapes while in the dark. With the ambient light that mixes with the city's artificial lights, an incredible backdrop is set for some seriously stunning pictures.

Blue hour

Blue hour happens at a specific time during which the sun isn't visible, yet there's a deep blue hue that covers the sky. This occurs in the morning before sunrise and in the evening after sunset. The window to shoot during blue hour is really small and that's why preparation is key. I always make sure to arrive at my location earlier. That way, not only do I get to set up properly, but I'm also able, once blue hour arrives, to take a few practice shots, determine the right aperture, shutter and ISO and still have time to capture a few good pictures before running out of time.

Long exposures and light trails

I'm sure we've all seen pictures in which colorful lines seem to be drawn across the image. Of course it should come as no surprise that those lines are actually cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, or any moving object carrying a light. The lack of light while shooting at night forces longer exposures. Shooting at night will definitely require capturing more light and one way to do this is by shooting with an open shutter for an extended period of time. This will sharpen stationary object and any moving object carrying a light will give out those really impressive light trails.

What you need

- A camera that has manual functions so that the exposure is properly adjusted.

- Ideally, a mounted lens. In my experience, manual focus is a must in night photography.

- A wide angle lens will definitely come in handy.

Night photography also requires some equipment that not only is necessary, but detrimental to the outcome of your pictures.

- Lens hoods. They should be mounted on all lenses that will be used in order to avoid getting those unwanted lens flares in your pictures, unless of course that's the effect you're going for.

- A shutter release remote. Once the equipment is all set up, the last thing any photographer wants to be doing is touching/moving/shaking the camera.

- Tripod. Probably the most important thing. Nothing we just spoke about would produce the wanted quality without a tripod.

See you when it's dark!

Many photographers are reluctant to shooting at night. I know I was intimidated by it! Of course, like anything, it takes some practice. However, the results can be so gratifying! It is definitely something I recommend to all photographers that want to challenge their creativity and expand their knowledge!