Take photos in the dark: tips for night photography

Photos in the dark look interesting and extraordinary. You can find out how to optimize night shots in our photo tips.

Photos in the dark: the blue hour & the night

The late afternoon is the perfect time for your night shots. The so-called "blue hour" is shortly after sunset and is an ideal entry-level motif.

• From sunset onwards, the tripod and long exposure are your best friends when it comes to landscape and city photography.
• Make sure that the aperture is well chosen. The higher this is, the brighter the picture becomes - however, this quickly blurs your picture. You can play very well with this depth of field.
• The length of your long-term exposure depends on how much ambient light you have. In addition to illuminated buildings, you can spice up your picture with other creative ideas.
• Tip: Use a remote release to avoid camera shake.

Street photography in the dark

People and movements at night seem particularly interesting. Street photography thrives on spontaneity and speed.

• Use the P mode of your camera. This selects the exposure time so that your picture does not become too dark. If you have more time for a picture, you can of course also choose the manual mode.
• In order to take pictures with as little noise as possible and still be bright, you should set the maximum ISO value to 800.
• Lanterns, advertising and other light sources are everywhere, especially at night. Use this to take creative photos.
• Choose a lens that is particularly bright. A prime lens has a high aperture, but it makes you significantly less flexible.
• Depending on the lens, you should focus manually to be able to capture situations quickly and directly.
• Tip: You can use the down button to regularly check what your picture looks like.

Photos in the dark: Event & People Photography

Event & People photography is fast and must be sharp and safe.

• An eTTL flash is indispensable for you because you have to react spontaneously to every lighting situation.
• Use the unleashed flashing with softboxes at fixed locations.
• To be mobile, a strong flash on the camera with a diffuser is advisable. They flash from the front and brighten.
• Make sure that you use the correct camera settings for the flash.

Photo tip for night owls: Stars or the moon are also great night motifs.