NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHYThe Basics

Main Options

Fast shutter speeds + flash Long shutter speeds + tripods

Long Shutters….

Low ISO – less noise + longer exposure 30 second exposures Captures movement Moving lights create “lines” Moving “dark” objects disappear Stationary objects look “normal”

ISO

Noise at high ISO – not great at night Use ISO 100/200 Shutter at ISO 200 is ½ that at ISO 100

White Balance

Street lights are “warm” Use “Tungsten” or “Incandescent” Makes things look “normal” and “cool” Experiment with other settings

Wide Apertures

Wider apertures give shorter exposures More chance of seeing “dark” objects Lights appear “fatter” Points of light are “blobs” Possible able to “hand hold”

Small Apertures

Long exposures Dark objects do not appear Moving lights look “finer” and “thin” Points of light turn into “Stars” Need a tripod

Composition

All about lines Use road markings and moving cars Think in Diagonal Lines Diagonal coming out of corners is strong

Technique….

Get an exposure that works – meter or trial/error

Light at night stays constant Camera on tripod Compose a shot Wait for a car to come and hit the

shutter Review the shot and learn

Technique - Exposure

Initial setup Select “M” manual Set your shutter speed to 15 seconds ISO 100 F11 Take a photo of the scene

Technique – Exposure 2

Is the shot too bright? Change aperture to F16 – try again

Is it too dark? Change aperture to F8 or shutter speed Change shutter speed to 30 seconds Change ISO to 200/400

Exposure

Try different exposure Try different apertures, and see what

happens