How to Photograph Lights at Night

Basic photographic equipment will allow you to shoot lights at night.

Once you've mastered shooting pictures in daylight with your digital camera, consider expanding your experience into night photography. A major component of capturing images at night is learning how to properly expose for the wide variety of existing evening light. By supplementing your camera with a tripod and remote-shutter release, pictures of fireworks, neon signs, holiday lights, car headlights/taillights and more are easily within your grasp.

Things You'll Need

• Digital camera, preferably a single-lens reflex (SLR)
• Tripod
• Remote-shutter release

Instructions

1. 

   A digital SLR will offers greater flexibility for night light photography.

   Shoot with a digital single-lens reflex to more easily manipulate your shutter speed and f-stop, or possibly change lenses and add filters. Although night light photography is not difficult, having the right equipment will guarantee that you are successful.

2. 

   Some lights are bright enough to permit you to handhold your camera.

   Take an exposure reading using your camera's built-in meter to determine if the available light is bright enough for you to handhold your camera. The rule of thumb states that you should shoot with a minimum shutter speed of 1/60th of a second in order to avoid motion blur when holding your camera. If your camera body or lens incorporates image-stabilization technology, you can get away with using a shutter speed slightly slower than 1/60th of a second.

3. 

   Night light photography often requires the use of a tripod.

   Attach your camera to a tripod if the lighting conditions do not allow you to shoot with a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second or faster. (Most night light photography will require the use of a tripod.) Once attached, lock your camera into place to avoid dislodging it while shooting. Familiarize yourself with using your tripod prior to taking photos.

4. 

   A remote-shutter release should be used to combat camera shake.

   Employ a remote-shutter release in conjunction with your tripod and set your camera to self-timer. (Consult your camera manual for directions on selecting self-timer mode.) In low-light situations (as with lightning), you might be using an extremely slow shutter speed. By pressing a remote-shutter release button, you can remotely trip your camera's shutter and avoid any possible camera shake.

5. 

   Set your white balance based on the type of available night light.

   Set your camera's white balance according to the existing light (for example, tungsten or fluorescent) to acquire color that is true. You may also choose to experiment for a unique look. Eric Hartwell of PictureCorrect suggests, "Try different white balance settings to see what effect it has on the final image."

6. 

   Vary your camera's shutter speed to bracket your shots.

   Bracket your pictures. Shoot the exact same image multiple times, but change the exposure by a partial or whole stop to ensure that the shot is successful. With night light photography, your bracketing will be accomplished by varying the shutter speed.

7. 

   Using a star filter at night will create unique images.

   Attach a star filter to your camera lens to transform strong light sources into starbursts. Focus on the light and rotate the filter until you achieve your desired effect. Because the outcome is so unique, you might want to use a star filter sparingly. If you don't have this filter, a similar result can be accomplished using editing software.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have access to a tripod, consider increasing your camera's ISO. The ISO determines how quickly an image will be recorded to the camera's sensor. The disadvantage of using a high ISO is the possibility of introducing grain into your pictures. However, graininess is becoming less of an issue with each new generation of cameras. If grain is visible in your night light photos, try incorporating it into your image to create a gritty, urban feel.

• When shooting lights at night, you can often avoid busy backgrounds which would be more visible in daylight photography.

References

• Fodor's: Lights at Night
• <Hyper>gURL: Photographing Night Lights
• PictureCorrect: Low Light and Night Photography

Resources

• "The Digital Photography Book;" Scott Kelby; 2009
• Cs.mtu.edu: Special-Effects Filters: Star Filters