Photography By Night
With the sun setting well before 17:00, nighttime photography is a great distraction. Tips:
Bring a flashlight. This will help with focus on poorly lit subjects. A head light is ideal, allowing hands-free operation.
Wear grubby, but visible clothes. And something warm!
My kit 18-70mm lens seems too wide for night time shots in a city. I spent most time at 70mm, trying to crop out light sources, edges of buildings, power lines, and so forth.
Power lines—otherwise nearly invisible—stand out in long exposures. Grrr.
Check for debris around the subject. Scattered leaves and random branches may detract from a photo, or add a nice touch. Lacking a flashlight my first night out, I missed the leaves that detract from this photo:
Tripod, and a remote or bulb trigger. The electronic remotes of today seem cheap and gimmicky compared to traditional cable triggers.
Interesting shots can be made without tripod. For example, shoot a tree with a light source behind it, coupled with lit clouds:
In contrast to a shot taken by tripod:
Still need more practice, as my framing is still off, and I don’t think I’m getting the best possible exposures. Discovered a photo club at work, where photos by members are exhibited and commented on by the group. Thick skin required, but otherwise a great educational experience.