Fun Photography Project: Shooting Gorgeous Night Shots (with Camera Settings, Tips & Examples)
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NOTE: This is a photography project taken from the Action Cards set. For more, take a look here – Learn Photography Through Projects
Total Time: 2–5 Hour
Difficulty Level: Challenging
Skill Points:
- Photographing at night using available light
- Using moving light sources
- Using long exposures
- Mixing light sources
Night photography is more than just a long exposure...
The real expertise in night imaging is selecting an appropriate subject and determining the proper exposure. We will concentrate on 4 types of night photography: The cityscape, the motion blur, the artificial light boost, and the dusk mix shot.
Key Lesson: Night photography requires a few extra pieces of equipment. If there is any wind, you might want to attach a 5 to 10 lb. weight to the tripod to eliminate vibration. Always bring a flashlight. Always shoot in manual mode. Always use manual focusing.
Equipment
| Camera | Any camera with a “Bulb” setting |
| Lens | Wide-angle to moderate telephoto (14mm-100mm) |
| Tripod & Remote Shutter Release | Necessary, must be sturdy |
| Sandbag | Recommended |
| Misc | Flashlight, non-reflective black card, masking tape |
Tips
These settings can vary widely. This is a starting point.
| Shooting Mode | Manual |
| Focus Mode | Manual |
| Metering Mode | Center-weighted |
| ISO | As low as possible; Start with 400 |
Action Assignment
1. Study the sample photographs below:
Cityscape
Look for plenty of artificial lighting. Plan on shooting as soon as the Sun is set until 1.5 hours after sunset. You want some light, and color, left in the sky. Set the white balance to “Auto”. Tip: Always bring a black card. You can stop the exposure by holding it in front of the lens should something interrupt like the headlights of a car. Simply remove the card when the interruption is over and continue the exposure.
Motion Blur
Find a location that mixes traffic with city lights. Set your starting exposure time for 10 seconds and the ISO at 400. Set the aperture as necessary. Vary the shutter speed to adjust exposure first before changing the ISO. Do not go above ISO 1600. Expose for the highlights. Tip: Experiment with shutter speeds between 1/2 second to 15 seconds. Use a wide-angle lens.
Artificial Light Boost
This shot should be taken from 1 hour after sunset until you’re done. Expose for the night shot, and then use artificial lights to highlight subjects within your composition. Use ISO 800 to begin, and your widest aperture. Tip: Try different artificial light sources. Try different white balance settings.
Dusk Mix Shot
A dusk/night mix shot requires you to shoot an image right at sunset, and then tape your black card over the lens. At some point after sunset, fire your second shot by removing the card to expose for the night shot. Set your ISO to 400 and the aperture to the widest setting. Experiment with exposure time. Tip: Practice covering and uncovering the lens without affecting the camera exposure. Once the card covers the lens- exposure stops. Tape it in place. In the reverse, remove the tape, let the camera settle, and remove the card from in front of the lens.
2. For all four shots, practice manual focusing in the dark.
How Did You Do?
- Are your shots sharp?
- Focused?
- Free of camera shake?
- Does the cityscape have some color in the sky?
- Did you capture an accurate exposure in your motion blur?
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The above content is taken from our hugely popular Action Cards – printable project sheets that will give you over 200 photography assignments, covering everything you can imagine. You can see the Complete Photography Action Card collection below:
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About Kent DuFault
Kent DuFault became a photographer in September of 1974. He took a “Basic Photography” class in high school and was hooked for life. His best-selling product, The Printable Action Cards have helped thousands of photographers worldwide learn photography through a unique, project-based learning system.