How to Take Great Outdoor Nature Photos at Night
Shooting photos at night can be tricky, especially in remote places outdoors. Night Photography is difficult work, requiring patience, planning, and caffeine. The reward is that you get to see the world as few ever do.
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Step 1
Shoot at twilight for natural color. Just after sunset or just before sunrise are great times. Exposures can range from several seconds to several minutes, blurring any moving objects, which can be a great effect. High clouds still glowing from sunset will cast a warm radiance on the scene, and clear skies creates a cooler tone.
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Step 2
Use the moonlight for softer shadows. Moonlit scenes can look a lot like daytime scenes, except the shadows will be softer. Exposure times can vary greatly depending on the phase of the moon: A few minutes may be enough to expose a scene lit by a full moon, but you’ll probably need an hour or more for a
crescent moon. -
Step 3
Create your own scene by painting with light. Use flash or other artificial light such as headlights to illuminate parts of the landscape selectively. Make sure not to make the artificial light too harsh. Keep the artificial light source as far away from the subject as possible or have the light bounce off a natural object.For a more surreal setting, cover your light source with a colored filter.
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Step 4
Experiment and be creative. Photographing in darkness is challenging-you won’t get perfect results the first time. Try to practice often to get the hang of it and take test shots.
