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7 Night Photography Tips

Photography is about going beyond your imagination and exploring your creativity. Other than having a quality camera with enhanced features and sharp lenses, which are crucial in professional photography, your creativity matters a lot. And just like technology, the photography field is dynamic. You have to keep up with new appliances and ideas in the industry.

Try something new. If you have been only taking photos on broad daylight, the next time you should try in the middle of the night. In fact, there is a lot to discover and explore with your camera and lights during the night. This is where the flash does magic. With the artificial light source, you can create different environments and moods as well as effects in your photos.

Besides, you should hook up with other photography enthusiasts with similar minds. Whether you are a professional or beginner in photography, there is a lot you can gain from like-minded people.

Take time and go out in your local area for a photography tour with all your equipment. Even one day brings a whole new difference to your photography perspectives. You will add insights and ideas to your existing skills. Besides, practice makes perfect. Getting hands-on guarantees mastery of the skill than researching online on our own.

The night offers extensive and endless opportunities for you to explore your creativity. While researching and planning for a photography tour with fellow photographers, consider a night out.

There is magic in the night! Some of the creative ideas you should try with your camera on manual are; long exposure light trails, second curtain light trails, fireworks, light painting, zoom burst, smooth water, flash ghosting, and handheld panning.

 Here are some tips for you to practice:

1. Manual focus

To produce exemplary photos, you need to utilize settings on your camera. Irrespective of how quality you consider your camera, it cannot automatically focus on subjects during the night, particularly when the light is dim.

Depending on your camera type, turn it from automatic focus to manual focus. Labels may differ but AF/MF is common. The MF setting allows you to turn the focus ring until you are satisfied with the clarity of your desired subject.

Additionally, you should switch on the ‘live view mode’ to compensate for long distances or poorly lit areas. Usually, this setting is found on the LCD screen of your camera. Manual focus with these two techniques guarantees sharp photos in the night.

2. Shoot in RAW

There are various formats of storing your images after taking photos. RAW is the most preferable because it has more flexibility. When it comes to photo editing or post-processing, RAW allows you to extract as much detail as you need from the photo. Details are crucial in post-processing for enhancement of your photos. Besides, the format stores every detail you captured in a photo hence reliable.

3. Use a tripod

The last thing you want in the night is the noise. For proper photography in dimly lit areas, you need to increase exposure time as compared to daylight shots. A longer exposure time allows light to get to the sensor before capturing.

When you are using an external light (which is crucial), longer exposure ensures the flash is in synchronize with the camera sensor. Thus, a tripod stand is not discus-sable. You must have it in the night. Nights can be breezy hence the need for strong and firm tripod stands.

4. Turn off Image stabilization

Image stabilization also known as vibration control is important when it comes to hand-held shooting. However, night photo shoots are characterized with tripod stands. With a firm sturdy and strong tripod well placed in firm ground, you do need this setting. In fact, it will affect exposure and capture synchronization because of its brief adjustments, which cause movement.

5. Remove UV filter

This component is also crucial when shooting in the day. In professional photography, you control and determine your environment. Allowing sun rays to your lens compromises this technique.

However, you do not need this when shooting in the night. There are sources of light during the night that you might not control, these include; street light, moonlight, and signage, which can cause refraction. Consider acquiring a lens hood to ensure zero exposure of your lens to unwanted light.

6. Use remote release

Tack sharp photos are the ultimate goal in a night shoot. You do not want any slight vibration that can jeopardize a well-set shoot. The shutter button is a sure way of increasing vibration when capturing, you should avoid it at all costs, particularly in the night.

To avoid this, use a remote release. After setting and focusing your lens, keep your hands off the camera and capture using this device. Besides, you can use a built-in time, which is fairly reliable. Some cameras have additional features like WI-FI, where you have an option of using your smartphone to capture.

7. Use wide-angle lens

Apart from the sharpness of a lens, you should also consider the size. Lenses differ in size, which is measured in mm. Wide lenses capture wide views and more details in a photo. You also have an advantage of additional effects on your photo.

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For all passionate photographers seeking to capture a variety of shots of the night sky; these tips are useful regardless of whether you’re using a simple camera lens on a tripod or a telescope for deep sky shooting. No doubt it is crucial to have a minimum of a DSLR camera and a basic lens on a sturdy tripod rather than a telescope in order to shoot a quality astrophotography image. 

Tripod Stand

A sturdy tripod is extremely important for capturing night sky due to the long exposure in order to achieve the steadiness. Find a tripod with a ball head because, with this, you can point the camera straight up and stay away to avoid movements.

For beginners; first select an area with a wide swath of the night sky which could include your backyard, outdoor space or even your balcony for your set up. This spot should give you a chance to shoot a commonly known constellation.

A bright galaxy, nebular or star cluster are also attractive shots. For more detail and help in setting up and selecting a shot, the planetarium software is very useful.

For those who have been following this blog and are experienced in deep-sky astrophotography; you may find more tips and recommendations on the latest equipment but enjoy this post as a revision. The rest who are interested in useful tips that are practicable this post will provide the relevant information to feed your enthusiasm.

Proper Settings

The right settings to capture the night sky extend to the set-up of the DSLR camera and lens. Most concerned photographers asking about the proper settings are often targeting the Milky Way over a beautiful landscape. It is important to note that the same settings that work on a stationary tripod will also be appropriate for a telescope for imaging deep sky shots.

Despite my many years of experience in astrophotography with a DSLR camera, I have maintained some settings and techniques.  This is because there are certain aspects of technical practices that are generally applicable to a variety of astrophotography. This general techniques, as well as settings, are useful in shooting the night sky with a basic camera.

Camera Lens Aperture

A high-end camera lens is recommendable because, with the aperture wide open, it is able to give attractively clear images. I would recommend the Canon 200 f/2.8 but it depends on how much you are willing to spend.

It is crucial to take into consideration how lenses perform. When they are stopped down from their fastest aperture, they tend to perform better. Consequently, you will be able to achieve sharper images of stars even with less chromatic aberration. Some quick things to note on settings are;

• Set to manual mode

• Switch the white balance to daylight

• Use RAW image format

• The exposure length should be 30 seconds

• Use a fast aperture of F.2.8-F/4

• Use at least an ISO of 400-1600

Camera Delay Timer

Since we target long exposure images and aim to capture the deepest sky objects possible, we have to leave the camera shutter for a long period of time. This helps to collect the dim lights from space. However, complexity arises with the movement of the night sky. It either needs to remain perfectly still or move with the sky to attain the desired quality of starlight.

The slightest movement distracts the camera and might ruin the desired image. The slightest distraction may be caused by even touching the camera to take the shot. It is, therefore, crucial to use the in-built delay timer to capture such images without actually touching the camera. In most cameras, it ranges between 2 to 10 seconds.

A remote shutter may be an easier substitute for the timer. I consider the shutter release timer is more effective in controlling captures because it keeps you completely away from the camera to increase the chances of clear images without trails. These cables make it possible to shoot a series of shots and give durations longer than 30 seconds.

Manual Focus

Adjusting your focus of an astrophotography image is the first initial huge step in becoming conversant with taking good shots. Your camera lens needs to be on manual focus mode. Autofocus mode may not focus on the small and dim stars. 

To focus, first, find the brightest star in the sky or the moon before you turn the live-view mode of the camera.  Using the setting we have described earlier in this post, you will be able to view at least one bright star.

Zoom into the brightest star on your screen gradually. You may then adjust the focus of your lens until to have a small pinpoint of light. To achieve this sharp image, you will have to shift back and forth several times.

In order to ensure you have the smallest and sharpest possible pinpoint images, you may take test exposures to help compare the results. To distinguish between the sizes of the stars, keep the image preview zoomed in as you shift between the images.

Day Item White Balance

Day time white balance is commonly known as a RAW mode. You may, therefore, set your camera to RAW image format and achieve the white balance so you will not be caught up striving to attain these settings.

The white balance settings provide the most accurate color rendition of the image shot. It was designed to achieve to produce the accurate colors of the sun so they are appropriate for the stars.

There are cases where the sky may appear pink or a hue of orange. There is no need to worry as this means the shots were taken in a region with light pollution. In such a situation, you may use Adobe Photoshop color balance tool to restore your background into a neutral grey or blue color.

ISO settings

There are no specific definite solutions to selecting the appropriate ISO settings for the camera in astrophotography.  Since DSLR cameras mostly create noise with an increase in the ISO as well as the increase in sensitivity, avoid high ISO settings. 

Instead, first, find a balance between the amount of noise and the light collected. This balance will help find the correct ISO setting. Use at least an ISO of 400-1600

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Long exposure is a technique every photographer should practice and master. Whether you are an intermediate or professional, you should try long exposure photography.

It doesn’t matter if you are taking the photos at night or in the day; slow shutter speed ensures details of your object, as well as the background, are well covered. While long exposure technique is common in low light photo shoots, it is applicable in any environment so long as the shutter speeds are regulated.

The focus is imperative to achieve the desired results in long exposures. In as much as a photographer, you should be able to capture quality images within a few seconds, delaying has its reasons. And you should master it too.

This technique, which involves slow shutter speeds is divided into two categories; photos captured in the night and photos captured in the day. Each of the two scenarios requires specific techniques to achieve desired results.

While all of the techniques involve settings of the camera and other appliances, there are significant differences between long exposures during the day and in the night.

Here are some of the tips to improve your skill in long exposure photography:

1. Use a strong and sturdy tripod

This is non-negotiable in professional photography, particularly long exposure photography. The camera shakes is the last thing you want to experience and witness in your post-processing stage. Therefore, you should not only shop for any tripod.

Be sure to find a sturdy and preferably heavy stand. Weather can be both an advantage and a disadvantage to your photography. Windy and breezy shake a camera thus affecting focus on an object. Fins a solid even ground to place your tripod. Add on weight with stones if necessary.

2. Clean your sensor

Long exposures are only made possible through shooting at small apertures. Therefore, any form of dust or debris on your sensor will be magnified in your photos. Most cameras have an auto-sensor cleaning component.

Be sure to use this before going out for a shoot. However, if the camera’s sensor is extremely dirty. Do not bother using a cloth or other appliances to clean because you will cause more damage. In such a case, contact your manufacturer or experts in cameras to help you with the cleaning.

3. Focus first

Auto-focus is not suitable when you are using an ND filter. This type of filter only allows a small amount of light to pass through. On the other hand, auto-focus requires immense light for proper functioning.

Trying to merge the two is a recipe for poor images. Therefore, you should take off the filter and manually focus the lens before placing the ND filter back then take your shot. Be sure to maintain manual focus because auto-focus will reset on replacement of the ND filter.

4. Beware of the ambient light

Ambient light and background colors have a significant effect on the quality of a photo. While we cannot detect these differences in color temperature with our naked eyes, your sharp camera lens will not miss this.

Experience in photography field might also help you make a decision on how to set your flash. For instance, full moon results in soft light spread on your object.

Indoors might be more complicated, especially at night because of colors on the wall that conflict with bright light from your flash. In such cases, fix flash gels on your flashes.

5. Shoot in RAW

Although we all strive for a perfect shot by trying to control aspects of light and color, there are elements that are beyond our control.

For instance, ND filters add extra unnecessary colors on a photo that you may find unpleasant. Additionally, cameras are prone to faults that you may not discover in time. For instance, malfunction on your white balance may be visible in your night photos.

RAW not only stores each and every detail of your photos but allows you to correct any unwanted elements when editing.  Post-processing is a crucial part of photography.

You have a chance to correct any errors that may have occurred during a photo shoot. RAW’s dynamic nature offers you multiple options to explore.

6. Know your ISO

Just like for day time photography, nighttime photography also requires as little noise as possible. If possible zero noise. This can be regulated by the ISO function on your camera.

Setting the ISO at high ranges allows more noise to infiltrate your shoot. Be sure to set ISO as low as your camera can allow. Besides, long exposures are characterized by some level of noise.

This is more reason why you should keep ISO at the lowest point possible. Ambient lights and color temperatures also determine the level of noise in long exposure photography.

7.Focus to infinity

When using an ND filter you should be extremely cautious when focusing. The level of exposure is also critical. You should be able to evaluate these conditions and set your camera to match the ISO and ambient conditions.

Additionally, check your LCD screen for other crucial functions that will guarantee quality in your long exposure photography.

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