Long exposure techniques for night shots

Sometimes we find the most beautiful subjects when there is particularly little light. And this makes the shots more difficult and can have a significant impact on the quality. However, experienced photographers know techniques for night shots in order to achieve the best possible results. We will show you what to look out for when photographing night scenes with long exposure times.

What is the challenge of night photography?

In order to take photos of the desired quality, a certain amount of light must fall on the camera's sensor. This is not a problem in bright surroundings, so the exposure time can be shorter. There is much less light at dusk and night shots in almost complete darkness are particularly challenging. In dark surroundings, it simply takes longer for the sensor to capture enough light. If you have already photographed at night yourself, you will probably know that the long exposure required is not that easy to achieve. However, there are a few approaches to the problem that will quickly lead to the desired result.

The camera belongs on a tripod

The camera must never be allowed to move when taking a night shot with a long exposure time. Photographing with a tripod is therefore a must. And it should be a high-quality, stable model that holds the camera firmly in the desired position. As the exposure time is longer, the likelihood of small movements or vibrations affecting the quality of the shot also increases. Photographing without a tripod therefore represents a high risk.

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High or low ISO values better? The answer is surprising

As you know, the ISO value can be used to set the light sensitivity of the camera or sensor. At high ISO values, the camera reacts more sensitively and less light from the surroundings is sufficient, as is the case with night shots. On the other hand, we like to set low ISO values during the day when it is brighter. This is because the sensor does not have to react as sensitively here.

But it's not quite that simple. As the sensitivity of the sensor increases, so does the image noise, which a photographer always wants to minimize. In fact, professional users prefer low ISO settings such as ISO 100 or ISO 200 for night photography and prefer to compensate for the low light sensitivity with a longer exposure time. It is also possible to compensate for this with a larger aperture. Under no circumstances should the image noise increase, which is often particularly disturbing in night shots and makes it even more difficult to recognize details in the image. Black areas are particularly susceptible here and are often found in night shots.

Better to switch off autofocus

Autofocus is a popular tool. However, it is better to leave it switched off in poor lighting conditions. Instead, focus manually to achieve sharp images. An external light meter is useful in such scenarios. This allows you to determine how long the exposure time should be. The measurement can produce results of up to one minute or even longer. This always depends on the environmental variables. Make sure you measure an area of average brightness, such as the floor. It would be less sensible to select a brightly lit area in the picture, as this can quickly lead to underexposure.

How to release the shutter correctly for night shots

No matter how carefully you set up your subject with the camera on a tripod, there is no guarantee that the shot will be blur-free. This is because every little touch of the camera means a shake that can ruin the picture. You should therefore always use a timer or at least a cable release. A remote shutter release is even better. Many manufacturers now also offer particularly practical apps for their camera models that can be used to trigger the camera. So all you need is a smartphone and you can take photos without touching the camera.

Fast lenses are the key to successful night shots

You shouldn't skimp on lenses if you want to take photos at night. Fast lenses with a large aperture are important. This simply means that more light reaches the sensor. And that is the prerequisite for being able to work with low ISO values. The aperture should be at least f/2.8. This is an investment that will definitely pay off in the long term.

Choose the right setting on the camera

Some digital cameras offer a special program for night photography, which helps beginners in particular to make the most important presettings. You should also switch off the noise reduction on your camera. You will often achieve better results if you remove any noise that may occur afterwards using a special image editing program. This also saves electricity.

A little tip for DSLR users

DSLR cameras score points with their high quality and are very popular with professionals and ambitious amateur photographers. However, there is a technical problem with the flip-up mirror. This causes minimal vibration in the camera, but this can be avoided. If your model has a Live View mode, you should definitely activate it for night shots with long exposures. In this case, the mirror folds down before the actual shot is taken or before the camera is triggered. This provides even more freedom from camera shake.

What do I do with extreme exposure times?

When it is very dark, exposure times of over a minute may be necessary. The problem is that not every camera can achieve this. With ordinary compact cameras, for example, it is common for the maximum exposure time to be set at around 15 to 30 seconds. This is very little in relation to what some night shots require. You are only on the safe side with an SLR or system camera. These offer the "bulb" function or the so-called B mode. This allows you to expose for as long as you like.

Conclusion

Shooting at night is difficult, but manageable. It is important that you have a tripod and a remote shutter release. If you then add a fast lens and focus manually, you should also be able to capture subjects convincingly in complete darkness. The long exposure time remains crucial so that enough light can fall on the sensor. Also keep an eye on the aspect of image noise. Low ISO values are often the better choice for night photography.