USE URBAN LOCATIONS
Towns and cities transform at night, so you can capture familiar scenes in a new light
Many towns and cities have street lighting that remain switched on all night. Although these aren’t ideal environments to photograph at night, they do present interesting opportunities to shoot familiar landmarks in a different light. And they have the obvious advantage of being closer to the majority of people in the UK than the dark skies in the countryside; night photography in towns and cities is the ideal opportunity to start taking long-exposure photographs and learn more about the capabilities of your camera.
Temperatures in towns and cities are usually warmer than the surrounding countryside, but it is still worth wrapping up warm with multiple layers, in case you’re out for a long time or are caught out by a passing shower. Of course there will be a lot more light surrounding you, so it’s easier to find your way around, but be aware of passing motorists and, in particularly busy areas at certain times of the week, you’re bound to be propositioned by drunken revellers asking you to take their photograph!
Most modern compact cameras, and some smartphones, can produce surprisingly good photographs in low-light environments in towns and cities. By default, these devices will automatically activate a built-in flash, which will have no effect other than to overexpose anything two metres or less in front of you. Turn off the automatic flash mode and see what you can capture handheld. Lean against a wall to steady yourself if possible, or crouch down, resting your elbows on your legs, to steady your hands. If you’re finding these images too blurry, then consider investing in a tripod.
Towns and cities will have some elements of lighting turned on all night, so it is worth using this to your advantage to light a scene. Avoid shooting directly into bright points of light, if possible. Also remember that if you stop down your aperture to f8 or f11, these bright points of light become starbursts, which can be an interesting effect.