If you are planning on doing some night photography I have a few planning tips you will need to keep in mind prior to taking your evening shots:
First, you need a good viewpoint;
And second, you need either a tripod or a solid base to place your camera on. The viewpoint - this depends a little on the type of shot you are after. My preference is for somewhere that is above the ground (a set of steps, for example), but not always. Sometimes the best shots can be had at ground level.
A tripod or solid base is recommended because your camera's shutter will be open for several seconds, and you want to make sure your camera is absolutely still during that time.
If you are using a tripod you will also want to be sure you secure your camera using the screws provided. If you simply can't find a solid surface to place your camera on you can always try propping it up with something like a bag or jacket.
Once you have your camera in place you want to set your shutter speed for a few seconds. I would recommend you start with about 15 seconds.
If you can't control your camera's shutter speed, set it to "night" mode.
Once you are set up (camera on a solid surface, self timer primed), you are ready to shoot.
The first thing you want to do is observe your scene. Does it contain everything that you wanted to be in it? If you are hoping to get streaking car headlights do you notice any traffic around?
Once you are happy with things, press the shutter button.
Your self timer will count down. Special Note! - If you are waiting for something to appear in your scene, you will need to remember that your shutter speed will have to count down first - time for this.
When the shutter clicks it is actually opening up so you will need to wait. And wait, and wait . . . until it closes again. Remember that this could take a few seconds.
Don't worry if you must wait some more. Due to the long exposure typical digital cameras take longer than usual to process the photo, so the preview on your LCD screen may take a while to show up.
If you are looking for some ideas on what to photograph here are a few things that I have used which make a good night photography shot:
Neon lights Streaks of car headlights and tail lights Available light For all of these you do need to plan a bit in advance. You want to find an area where you can safely photograph neon lights.
The first thing you do is find your solid spot, or put your camera onto a tripod, and then take a few test shots. If you choose neon lights be aware that they flash so you will want to keep the shutter open for a while in order to catch all the flashes.
For photographing streaks of car headlights and tail lights you will obviously want to find a spot that has a good bit of traffic, but again, be safe in your choice of locations.
Try to get something in the background too - streaks of light on their own can be a little boring!
Now you can take your shot.
One thing to remember is that the longer you keep your shutter open, the more streaks you will capture. Obviously the more traffic you have the more streaks you will have!
The available light also has a part to play in making a good night photography shot.
You will find that there are times when a scene looks its best when you set it amongst inky-black skies. By playing around you will also find that there are times when a little light works best, so photos just prior to dark really sets in are worth a try too.
The best bit of advice I can give you is to try both situations and see which captures the effect you are after best.
You will find that sometimes a 10 second exposure gets the look you are after. Sometimes you may need up to a minute.
If you practice you will soon get a feel for what you will need for any given situation.
About the Author:
FREE PDF: Uncovers Professional, "Insider" Tips And Tricks For Taking Awesome Digital Photos With Your Digital Camera... (Even If You're A Complete Beginner To Photography!) Click here to access "How To Take Pics Like The Pros" We teach digital photography and suggest you get started with the free guide, and then Watch this Youtube video channel "Free Digital Photo Tips"
