Sunday, April 8, 2012

Night Photography Tips For Amateurs

By Danielle Russell


Taking a photo is not as easy as focusing on the subject and then clicking the camera. It takes quite a lot to be adept at this craft. Building the right skills often need lessons and instinct. We strongly recommend that amateur photographers take the right lessons and practice accordingly in order to be well versed in photography basics.

Amateur photographers, as well as some of the experienced ones, have difficulty with night photography, and with good reason - they are dealing with shadows and the difficulty in finding the subject in the darkness of the night. Below are some tips that any amateur photographer can use to master night photography.

Safety

The first thing of course that amateur photographers need to remember is to choose the location well. Your equipment costs good money, and you'll need to keep this in mind when venturing out at night to do a shoot. There are places in the country especially in the cities that are very dangerous at night. Be mindful of your safety. Night photography isn't usually a one-man operation, so make sure you have a couple companions with you for added safety in the often dangerous night time locations.

Bring Spare Batteries

Night time weather, particularly the cold, can be harmful to your camera's batteries, so make sure you have a spare set of batteries with you, or if you don't, do not leave the house for the shoot unless you have your batteries fully charged. A camera case is another thing you could consider bringing with you, as it can prevent moisture from entering inside the camera and damaging it.

Additional Equipment To Bring

The best camera to use for night work is actually the one with the manual exposure settings, preferably an SLR (single lens reflex). You may find automatic cameras easier to use, but they often lack the power to remain effective in a dark setting. Another requirement is a sturdy tripod with a rubber leg to minimize slippage. A cable release is also needed as this will enable you to hold the shutter speed open.

Dealing With Longer Exposures

One important thing that an amateur must remember in conducting night photography is the fact that longer exposures are needed for black and white photos compared to ordinary lighting. Color film, on the other hand, will produce shifts in colors.

Taking Advantage Of Your Flash

With insufficient light from the moon, most photographers will supplement the light with a hand-held flashes, a technique known as "painting with light." Other photographers, particularly the veterans, utilize torches or movie lights to serve this purpose.




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