Urban night photography is one of the most rewarding yet challenging forms of photography. First, you’re literally shooting in the dark. Second, camera technology is pushed to its limits in low-light situations. It’s no wonder that so many photographers end up frustrated with their night images.
7 Questions About Photographing Cityscapes & Architecture at Night
I usually get the same questions when I run my night photography workshops. Here are a few of the top ones with answers:
Q: How do you take tack sharp photos at night?
A: I use manual focus.
Q: Do I need a new/expensive full-frame camera?
A: Absolutely not. I’ve published and sold night pics taken with my 12MP crop sensor Nikon D90 from 2008!
Q: What are your ISO and white balance settings?
A: ISO 100 if possible. Don’t be afraid to use a high ISO though! For WB, I use and Auto or around 3500-4000k if manual.
Q: What metering mode do you use?
A: Evaluative.
Q: My urban images are boring. How do you find a point of interest?
A: I follow my curiosity and look for themes. You can find some of my tips for taking better cityscape compositions at night here…
Q: How do you get so much detail in the highlights and shadows (without any noise)?
A: I take a few photos of the same scene at different exposures. Then I blend together the best parts using Lightroom and/or Photoshop.
Q: How do you adjust and enhance your colors/tones?
A: I use 3 panels in Lightroom to make 90% of my color adjustments: HSL/Color, Split Toning, and Calibration.
If you have a question about urban night photography, feel free to leave it in the comments below.
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