29/07/2025
Photo Tips & Techniques: Night Time
Words & Photos by Harvey Smart
The theme for our latest photography competition is ‘Night Time’.’ Taking photos outside of daylight hours can be challenging, but also rewarding when you know how to use it to your advantage, so we’ve got some tips to help you get the most out of the darkness!
1. Long exposures - Use manual mode if possible on your camera or phone to slow down your shutter speed. The longer the camera shutter is open, the more light it will catch. However, this will also come with the caveat that fast-moving subjects will be blurred, which can create some interesting effects. For example, when photographing a street scene, car headlights will appear as long streaks of light instead of points. You may also need a tripod to achieve this effect properly.
2. Light sources - Look for available light such as street lights, shop signs or car headlights to illuminate your shot. Use these light sources to make your subject stand out and create a moody atmosphere.
3. Use night mode - If you're using a phone or a camera with which you are unable to manually adjust settings, try using night mode or something similar. Most devices have something like this, which uses longer shutter speeds and stacks images to increase brightness without too much noise.
4. Avoid zoom - if using a phone, avoid using the digital zoom in the camera app, as it reduces quality and resolution. If you need to crop, do it afterwards.
5. Editing - Use an app like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile after shooting to adjust exposure and contrast, and reduce noise.
6. Safety - It’s easy to get distracted by the camera while shooting, especially in the dark. Watch your step and if near traffic, wear high visibility clothing to make sure drivers can see you.
Whether it’s the bustle of city streets or the quiet of a moonlit landscape, we can’t wait to see you try your hand at this theme!
Happy shooting - and don’t forget to look up every now and then! The night sky has its own stories to tell.
To enter email your photo to [email protected] by Aug 11. One entry per person, all entrants must live, work or be part of a group in West Dunbartonshire
