Unexpected Ways for Photographers to Use Light After Dark

quote123 (43)in #photography • 8 years ago

First thanks for reading my posts! Would be great if you join my steemtalk channel on discord, where you can talk to steemians and exchange your experience with this wonderful platform https://discord.gg/GTdw2Pt

How do pro photographers incorporate elements of light into their nighttime photography? Learn the best tricks from these pros as they share their favorite tips for shooting after dark.

The post Unexpected Ways for Photographers to Use Light After Dark appeared first on The Shutterstock Blog.

How do pro photographers incorporate elements of light into their nighttime photography? Learn the best tricks from these pros as they share their favorite tips for shooting after dark.

At night, the ordinary becomes surreal. For decades, photographers have used artificial light to create eerie, cinematic moments from darkness. In the 1930s, Berenice Abbott used the lights from the Empire State Building to paint a modern picture of New York City. At approximately the same time, Brassai captured his city, Paris, illuminated by street lights.

Headlights, street lights, and neon signs are fickle, flickering things over which no photographer has much control, and yet artists continue to seek them out for one simple reason. In photographs, colorful light can elevate even a banal street corner into a mysterious, atmospheric stage. We asked six Shutterstock contributors to tell us how they incorporate artificial light into their nighttime photographs. Along the way, they shared their best stories and tips for shooting after dark.

1. “The camera cannot move or be affected by wind or any kind of vibration, so be sure to position your tripod on a stable and firm surface.”

Dave Thornton Photography

Unexpected Ways for Photographers to Use Light After Dark — Use Trustworthy Equipment

</figure>

Image by Dave Thornton Photography. Gear: Canon 5D Mark IV camera, Canon 16-35mm lens. Focal length 34mm; exposure 10 sec; f13; ISO 800.

What’s the story behind this photo?

I actually shot this by pure chance. I was in Chester here in the UK, and I was on my way to cover the city’s firework display for our local newspaper. It was November 2017, and I took a shortcut up onto the Roman walls to make it to the display on time. I looked at the scene and saw some amazing post-autumn colors on the leaves: shades of deep brown, orange and green, lit by two single small lights. I waited around for five minutes until I got a clear shot. My tripod was set, and the shot was framed, so it was just a matter of waiting for the few remaining people to climb the stairwell so I could shoot.

Pro Tip:

First and foremost, a sturdy and reliable tripod is essential. The camera cannot move or be affected by wind or any kind of vibration, so be sure to position your tripod on a stable and firm surface. It may sound obvious, but this means no suspension bridges or even areas that you know will attract lots of passersby. After-dark shots are 99% long exposure, and you don’t want moving subjects.

Unexpected Ways for Photographers to Use Light After Dark — Look for Areas of High Contrast

</figure>

Image by Dave Thornton Photography.

Plan ahead, and go out at a time that is reasonably quiet. Be patient, and don’t rush that shot. You will get your moment. Pick a place with streetlights to get started, and look for highly contrasted scenes that are dark at the edges. Keep the lit areas central. These photos work well because they allow viewers to feel almost as if they could step inside the shot. If it’s been raining, that’s a bonus; you will get some amazing reflective surfaces, giving the image depth, realism, and atmosphere. Buy a lens with as many moveable blades of glass as possible. The higher the number of moving parts, the more of a starburst effect you will get.

Instagram

2. “Set the camera to shoot in RAW mode to get the most details out of the image.”

Joachim Bago

Unexpected Ways for Photographers to Use Light After Dark — Set Your Camera to RAW Mode

</figure>

Image by Joachim Bago. Gear: Sony a7 II camera, Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens. Exposure 4 sec; f1.8; ISO 3200.

What’s the story behind this photo?

I took this image with a friend of mine on a cold winter night in Sweden. He was standing on the ice of a frozen lake with a flashlight pointed forward. I titled the image The Seeker. It represents the human search for other beings, the search for other dimensions, and maybe the search for ourselves.

Pro Tip:

Before you start shooting at night, you should know how to operate the camera in manual mode. It’s necessary to understand shutter speed, aperture, ISO, manual focusing, and white balance. You will save yourself a lot of time and frustration by doing a little studying at home.