Shooting nightscapes
IREMEMBER my first light trail above the skywalk of Jones Ave. facing the majestic Fuente Osmeña Circle. First time to see my photos glow with the city lights and car headlights creating a streak of light across the frame, I felt like one of the pros.
Shooting nightscapes is a very rewarding experience. It is also a huge confidence boost and encourages you to shoot more. For a novice photographer, the photos may look very technical and requires a ton of expertise. They’re not. With just a few settings in your exposure and a tripod and you’ll also be surprised to see how your photos turn out.
Here are some tips when shooting nightscapes:
Exposure Settings
I normally use a manual shooting mode. I keep the ISO as low as possible and my aperture somewhere f/ 16. Find out what’s the sharpest aperture for landscape you can use with your lens. Every lens has a set of strengths. You can check from reviews or do some experimentation. Follow the recommendation of your in- camera meter and adjust from the result as needed.
By dropping your ISO and closing your aperture for extended depth of field, your speed will compensate to get the right exposure. A good sturdy tripod will do the trick. A good tripod will hold your camera and eliminate any shaking or vibration we produce when hand-holding it. Get a tripod that’s not too light, just enough for you to carry around for a couple of hours. The lighter the tripod, the more it’s susceptible to shake from the wind.
You’ll be encountering a lot of warm lights, so I suggest you put your white balance to auto and just set it later during post. If you’re familiar with Kelvin degrees and tints, feel free to play with it during the shoot and get interesting results. Make sure to set your quality to raw so you can change your white balance as your prefer during post processing.
Familiarize yourself with your camera
When shooting at night, often times, you’ll be working with your camera in the dark. Of course it’s always handy to bring a flashlight, but knowing your camera buttons like the back of your hands can save a lot of time and stress.
I normally walk through my planned route in the daytime. This way, I get to know the place before the area becomes difficult to navigate. This is most applicable if you’re new to the area. If you plan to bring a chaperon or a guide that has no interest in what you’re doing, leave them in a coffee shop or somewhere where they are comfortable to wait for you.
When shooting nightscapes, you need enough time to find your composition and setup your tripod without somebody rushing you. Although a companion is advisable for safety purposes, their presence can sometimes become a pressure for you to wrap things up.
Composition
Basic composition applies, such as rule of thirds, diagonal lines from the corners of the frame and the rest. In my case, I normally walk around and not rush myself. I try to relate the different elements by walking toward different directions to see how they appear and position in the frame. Take your time. Set up your tripod only when you find your composition.
When you’re shooting for the first time, shoot with a group, but always try to do it yourself. Keep on shooting, everyone!