Night photography poses a challenge in the art of photography. To capture stunning photos, specific techniques and tools need to be mastered. Especially for photography novices who rely on automatic settings, this can be a more daunting task. Daytime lighting conditions are vastly different from nighttime, thus successful night shots require different ways of thinking and technical approaches.

Here are 8 tips for night photography:

1. Scout Your Location

Surveying your shooting location during the day is crucial. Familiarizing yourself with the environment helps in selecting the best composition and angles, and anticipating potential challenges such as artificial light impacts and potential obstacles. Planning ahead assists in quickly setting up in the dark to ensure capturing impressive images.

2. Sturdy Tripod

Night photography heavily relies on a stable shooting platform. Choosing a sturdy tripod is essential to maintain camera stability during long exposures. It's recommended to select tripods made from aluminum or carbon fiber, balancing durability with weight reduction. Use a bubble level or the camera's built-in virtual level to ensure tripod stability, especially on uneven ground.

3. Carry a Flashlight

A small flashlight is extremely useful for night photography. It not only helps in adjusting camera settings and tripod in the dark but can also creatively illuminate specific scene elements, enhancing the depth and visual effects of the photo. Ensure the flashlight has sufficient battery power and carry spare batteries to avoid mishaps.

4. Utilize the Blue Hour

The blue hour refers to the brief period after sunset and before complete darkness, typically lasting about 45 minutes. During this time, light transitions from bright to dim, providing an ideal window to capture cityscape lights and sunset hues. The balance between artificial and natural light during this period allows photographers to create artistic compositions.

5. Manual Focus

In low-light conditions, autofocus systems may perform poorly. By using manual focus, you can precisely control the focus to ensure sharp subjects. Set the lens to infinity (∞) and use the camera's live zoom function for fine-tuning until achieving perfect focus. Avoid switching back to autofocus mode throughout the shooting process to maintain your manual settings.

6. Use High ISO for Exposure Testing

When unsure about exposure, conduct quick exposure tests by increasing ISO and fully opening the aperture. For instance, raising ISO to 6400 and fully opening the aperture from f/8.0 to f/2.0 quickly provides a suitable exposure histogram. Although these settings may result in high contrast and graininess, they help in quickly determining the correct exposure for lower ISO and smaller apertures, saving time.

7. Shoot in RAW Format

Night photography often faces challenges such as high contrast and color deviation. Shooting in RAW format is recommended for better contrast and white balance adjustments during post-processing. Manually set the camera's white balance to specific color temperatures or use different presets to adapt to varying lighting conditions. Mixed lighting conditions are common in night photography, so photographers need to adeptly manage color deviations caused by different light sources.

8. Manual White Balance Adjustment

Artificial light sources at night may cause the camera's automatic white balance settings to fail, resulting in unnatural color tones in photos. To avoid this situation, manually adjust the white balance. Use different white balance settings for various lighting conditions, such as cloudy or overcast, to effectively reduce the risk of color distortion. During post-production, you can further fine-tune colors to suit personal preferences.

In conclusion, night photography is not just about technical application but also about artistic expression. By preparing correctly, choosing the right equipment and techniques, and combining creative compositions, you'll be able to capture detailed and stunning night scenes even in limited light conditions.