Photo tip: night

Many people feel that photography ends when the sun sets. That limits you to half the day. Night photography can give you images that are unique and dramatic. It is a good time for long exposures and for movement in the frame. Sometimes you get a surprise. Despite some inconveniences, it is worth the effort. Three things are needed: a camera that can be placed on manual, a tripod, and a cable release or the self-timer.

Film still has a place after dark

Many of my remarks are based on film cameras, which have advantages on very long exposures — an hour or more. On a manual film camera you are not as worried about batteries, or the digital noise that can plague long digital exposures. If you are shooting lightning you are not as worried about the camera getting wet and ruining electronics. Digital’s definite advantage is knowing at once whether the scene is exposed. If not, you shoot another. With film you do not know until it is processed, which means you can lose the shot entirely.

Movement in the scene

If the exposure is shorter than about thirty seconds you often do not see people moving through the frame. Thirty seconds to a minute is a good place for that movement. Use a shorter exposure if you want to stop more of it — you may need faster film. The point is to decide whether the night is still or whether it is traffic, walkers, weather.

Some of the city pictures were made this way. Phoenix and Glendale after dark are part of that document. Infrared, which is a different kind of daylight, is the next tip.