I wear my sunglasses at night....

Here are a few night time photo tips! 

·         Shoot in RAW format. RAW images take up more memory than Jpg files, but they also contain much more information. Shooting in RAW allows much more manipulation of photos with post processing software.

·         Use a tripod! If you don’t have a tripod, use a ledge. Use anything stable that is near you. Most nighttime shots use a long exposure, and one little movement can result in a ruined photo. Even depressing the shutter may result in a blurry photo.

·         Use manual mode. Using manual mode allows you to control all the aspects of your camera. You’ll need to set a longer exposure on your camera depending on what you’re trying to capture. Fireworks can require up to 30 seconds. The best method is trial and error, change your settings, and see what works and what doesn’t. Note: keep in mind your camera takes longer to process the longer the exposure. You may think your camera is slow or broken, but it’s just like a computer, sometimes you have to wait for it to process.

·         Bring a flashlight! You never know when you’ll need to illuminate a part of your photo. It may also come in handy for finding your gear once you’re done for the night!

·         Use your imagination. This is one thing many people tend to forget! Try a different angle, add someone or something to the shot, do something out of the “norm.” Don’t forget to practice, practice, practice.

I've included some of my own night shots. These were taken WITHOUT a tripod (i used my face) and all have a 10-30 second exposure.

Scroll down to get more tips!

Light "painting" with sparklers. Set a long exposure and have your subject move the sparkler

Here are some other great night time photography tips from Improve Photography and a video with more tips from http://learnphotographytricks.com

 

It’s all about the angles….

It’s easy to just snap a photo. Anyone can point and shoot. What makes a good photo better is composition (the angle it is shot at).

TIPS FOR COMPOSITION

1.  Don’t shoot your subject straight on. Get down on the ground, up high, get closer, try different things. Anything that will make it more appealing. It’s all about using trial and error. As Miss Frizzle says (for all you Magic School Bus lovers) “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!” It’s the only way you’ll learn. 

2.  Be mindful of what’s in the background. If there’s a lot going on in the background behind your subject, they may get lost in the mix. This doesn’t mean you have to have a plain or single colour background, just something that doesn’t have too many elements. This is most important for portrait photography. Keep in mind the length of your lens, as well as your aperture settings. This simply means be mindful of your focus. If there is a great distance between you and your subject, and the subject in the background, the contents of the actual background may not matter.

3.  Lighting and the sun. There are certain times of day that are just better to shoot than others. If you’re outside on a sunny day you will know what I mean. There can be shadows and harsh bright light. One way to overcome this is to have reflectors, or simply have your subject face the right way.

I’ve included some of my own photos that have (in my opinion) interesting angles. Here are some more great tips from Kodak for those who want some more tips!