Although some photographers specialize in it, many still avoid night photography and stick to daylight. That is not so strange. Namely, historically there were good reasons for that. It was hard to take photographs at night because there weren’t LCD screens on the camera and every mistake was expensive. Furthermore, when digital cameras appeared, the low light performance also made it difficult to have good night photography. Fortunately, the times have changed. Nowadays, you can see what you are doing and make numerous test shots with a digital camera. In addition, post-processing tools have also changed, so making night photos is enhanced and much more manageable. Night photographs are magical regardless of the theme. Shooting at night enables a slower pace, a great perspective, and a unique feeling. There are plenty of reasons and possibilities to catch interesting photo motives after sunset. We present you with some of them.
Amazing effects, impossible during the day
Things like motion blur, starburst effect, and light trails are easier to catch at night. For adequate exposure, these photos often need long shutter speeds. That can lead to impressive effects. Besides, you can use lights that aren’t on during the day at night. After sunset, you can take pictures that many photographers can’t handle. Yet, it would help if you had more than a basic understanding of exposure to get a quality night shot. A remote shutter release and a tripod are some necessities to think about when it comes to long exposure.
Intangible magic
Some photographers like doing photoshoots for various editorials at night. The night brings different energy and vibrations, so the shooting object seems more mysterious. Besides, the shadows are more profound and the tones in the background are darker. At night, emotions are enhanced, the mood is different, and things are sensed differently. It is about something intangible, different for every photographer.
Light painting
Using this technique, you can create unique night photography, although it requires a lot of practice. Your images will come out with a completely different look because you are actually “painting” light in the photo areas that would otherwise be dark. Yet, you can still catch the essence of the night sky without dulling the stars with ambient light. All you have to do is stick to the following procedure. Set your camera and prepare for taking a long exposure (about half an hour). Then, you click the shutter, turn on the flashlight, and shine it on the subject you want to light. Move the light around to all the areas you want to illuminate. While the camera is exposed, the flashlight has to hit each spot for a few seconds. The choice of lens depends on the theme. It is often necessary to experiment until you get the proper amount of light.
It is not weather-dependent
One of the conveniences of night photography is that it is not dependent on the weather like a photo taken during daytime. At night, it can be cloudy, windy, or clear – any sky will seem dark or black. In addition, you don’t have to look for particularly cloud shapes. On the other hand, particular weather is not convenient for photography regardless of whether it’s night or day. For instance, you probably don’t want to go outside during monsoon nights or storms. Yet, most backgrounds of your shots often aren’t as weather-dependent as the ones taken during the day.
Mundane places are more dramatic at night
In particular, most photographers have a problem with how to take their photos far from crowds of people. Therefore, photographing at night offers more possibilities for something like that. You will be surprised at how many ordinary spots during the day can seem stunningly dramatic at night. For example, bridges, skyscrapers, skylines, and facades in cities require specific lights. Besides, during the day, they look pretty flat and dull. However, all of that appears completely different at night, more mysterious and dramatic because of added lighting. On the other hand, the night sky in rural environments is nothing special during the day. But at night, it turns into a breathtaking starry sky that leaves you speechless.
The night is different, which many people overlook because they are accustomed to daylight photos. But after sunset, you can catch the stars and take a photo of the Milky Way or Aurora borealis. Cities and the sky appear in a new dimension and look more unusual. There is a list of reasons to opt for night photography that we didn’t mention. But anyway, take advantage of the night’s magic.
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