6 Tips for Photographing in the Dark

Monday 14 September 2026, 23:23 by Nando Harmsen | 48 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Night photography is an appealing form of photography. There are a number of things to consider to make your night photo work. These six tips should help you take that successful photo.

Night photography does not necessarily mean taking photos at night. Evening photography would be a better name. It is a beautiful and rewarding form of photography during the darker months of the year.

Nando motorway at night - f/11, 30s, 100 ISO @ 17mm

Misty motorway - f/11, 30s, 100 ISO @ 17mm

Evening photography means taking a slightly different approach to photography. Longer shutter speeds are needed and contrasts can be strong. I have a few tips that may help.

Tip 1 - Respect dark and light

Light sources are bright, shadows are dark. Show this contrast in the photo. Avoid bringing everything into the midtones. This is certainly a risk with exposure bracketing and HDR techniques.

Lofoten at night - 4s, 3200 ISO @ 12mm

Respect the bright lights of street lamps and other lights. They are simply bright. Show that. The dark parts are simply dark. Do not 'lift' them to show all the details.

Tip 2 - Let a street scene come aliveAre you going to photograph in a town or village? Try to show the street life as well. An empty street scene may be what you want. If there is movement, it adds more dynamism.

Nando cyclist on the way - f/2, 1/40s, 12800 ISO @ 45mm

Lone cyclist - f/2, 1/40s, 12800 ISO @ 45mm

Experiment with shutter speeds. Also try a shorter shutter speed so that people, or cyclists, can be seen. Show movement, or freeze movement. Experiment with the options available to you.

Tip 3 - Composition is still importantDo not think that the lights of evening photography are enough for a good photo. Composition is still important. Make sure you think about what you are putting in the frame and how.

Nando Den Bosch at night - f/11, 8s, 100 ISO @ 254mm

Den Bosch - f/11, 8s, 100 ISO @ 254mm

Choose a clear subject. Think about what should be in the frame and how. Play with the foreground, focal length and perspective. All of this creates an appealing photo. Lights alone are not enough.

Tip 4 - Try going without a tripod

When it is dark, you need to use a longer exposure. A tripod is then needed. Unless you increase the ISO or use a wider aperture. In that case, you can also take photos without a tripod.

Nando glow handheld - 1/40s, 3200 ISO @ 58mm

Glow 2024 - 1/40s, 3200 ISO @ 58mm (Helios 44-2)

Give it a try. Go out without a tripod and use a high ISO and a wider aperture. Make use of the possibilities offered by image stabilisation.

Tip 5 - Try black and white

The strong contrasts between light and dark are perfect for black-and-white photography. You can create very graphic images with them. Look for light and pay attention to the absence of light.

On the platform - f/2.8, 1/50s, 6400 ISO @ 45mm

Black and white gives you more options for evening photography than colour photography. You no longer have to deal with an ugly colour cast or light with an unwanted colour. Give it a try.

Tip 6 - Draw with light

Thanks to the longer shutter speeds that can be used, you also have the opportunity to draw with light. Do not do this yourself, but let it occur naturally.

Nando Cochem night trails - f/8, 5s, 100 ISO @ 24mm

Cruise boats on the Moselle near Cochem - f/8, 5s, 100 ISO @ 24mm

Look at roads and cycle paths. Notice how the lights of cars or cyclists create lines in the image. Include this in the composition. It can produce very strong images.

One more tip?

Go out. Do not think about it too much. Grab your camera, a small shoulder bag, perhaps just one lens, and go outside. Take your time and look around carefully. Try things out.

Maybe you have a good tip too. Not about turning off image stabilisation, or about M mode or A mode. Not about a cable release or a tripod either. But something that can help you create a beautiful image.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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