How to Photograph at Night

Taking pictures in low-light conditions requires attention to light sources and an understanding of how light affects film. The amateur with some camera experience can take pictures at night by following a few guidelines.

Things You'll Need

• Notebooks
• Pens
• White Index Cards
• SLR Camera
• Film
• Tripods

Instructions

1. Use a tripod with slow film (under ISO 100) for landscapes and architecture and fast film (ISO 400 or above) for moving subjects. Fast film has a much more noticeable grain than slow film, but the long exposure times required for slow films preclude using it for moving subjects.

2. Adjust the film speed to a higher film speed and multiply the exposure time accordingly if no meter reading is possible.

3. Try taking a light meter reading from a piece of white card and multiplying the suggested settings by 6 to get an approximate reading if you're using moonlight to light your subject.

4. Assume that moonlight illuminates at 1/5000th the rate of sunlight so that a photo taken at a shutter speed of 1/1000 in sunlight would require 5 seconds in moonlight.

5. Underexpose your film by increasing the film speed rating on your camera (for example, if the speed of your film is ISO 400, change the film speed setting on your camera to ISO 800) to boost exposure without resorting to flash. Use the higher film speed as a gauge when setting the aperture and shutter speed.

Tips & Warnings

• Get to know the characteristics of the film you are using. Various brands and speeds of film will react differently to low-light conditions.

• Take notes as you photograph and compare your results with your settings and exposure times.

• Dusk provides the greatest latitude for capturing details and achieving a range of effect when using color film.

• Bracket exposures where possible. Shoot moving subjects at one setting and adjust the development of the entire roll by developing a couple of frames and using them as indicators of how to develop the rest of the roll.