Photography At Night
When I bought my new DSLR I was real excited as finally I could capture those stunning moments forever. I soon realised though night time was causing a massive downer (heads up-a better camera is so not equivalent to better photos!).
The camera requires slower shutter speed and increased light in low-light.
This leads to pictures being blurry or destroys the natural lighting. I have read different tips for taking photos in the dark and I realised taking pictures in dim-light requires some skill, knowledge of equipment vis-à-vis the surroundings and loads of practice.
So down below are some of my key tips for taking photos in the dark! In case you know them already then treat it like a refresher read and if not then start practicing now!
The Aperture
A key tip for taking photos in the dark is keeping your aperture at minimum, with a long exposure. This will deliver fantastically sharp focus in the scene.
I know instinctively we would increase ISO and keep the aperture wide open to allow maximum light.
Trust me if you keep the aperture small it will help you avoid exposing the standing lights. What you get is the natural fracturing of lights into stars effect when you follow this technique.
Also keeping the ISO at a normal level will help you to minimise noise and increase your exposure. The only I would do the opposite is if I want to avoid any motion in my picture.
Light Sources
If you require light in your picture use a manual one and use it off camera to fill light. In one of the key tips for taking photos in the dark I came across painting light with a flashlight.
I would suggest use it to illuminate dark areas subtly and use a broad beam which gives a wider paint stroke. Finally be creative by using tools like sparklers, firecrackers etc. which creates amazing shapes in your shot as the light registers slowly.
Timing
I generally look at two times specifically just before and after the sun sets. The variety of colours that are available is stunning and the details are more visible. I plan in advance so I don’t miss my crucial time, and it gives me enough time to become comfortable with my shot and settings with the change in the light.
You can use the extra time to play around with your aperture and shutter speed to know which is perfect for the light you are working with. One of my key tips for taking photos in the dark here is try going on location a day earlier and go back again and mix and match your features, you never know what will come out!
Long Exposure
I am a strong believer that exposure calculation for low light is an art form. So the more you practice the more instinctively you will estimate the exposure that will work for you. My default exposures are 10-30 seconds and helps me to create a certain ambience.
It allows the light to build in my picture and I can play around with my flash and motion in the meantime. One of my key tips for taking photos in the dark here is use a tripod, as you can’t possibly stay still for so long!
Motion
My favourite night-time shot is taking a motion-picture creating streaks of light. The long exposure allows the car lights to register across the entire frame while keeping the car invisible. One of the key tips for taking photos in the dark of motion is to keep the F-stop high which decreases overexposure & increases image sharpness thus enhancing the streaking!
Almost all digital cameras including the point-and-shoot ones come with boat load of features. The key tip for taking photos in the dark is that a little creativity and ingenuity can create pictures worthy of the Pulitzer!