Night Photography Hack: Create Unbelievably Better Low Light Photos

You can take stunning photos in low light. Night photography doesn't require expensive gear or a flash. Instead, you just need the right techniques, tools, and a bit of creativity.

Whether you're shooting cityscapes at dusk, stars in the night sky, or experimenting with long exposure effects, this article will unlock the secrets of night photography for dramatically better results.

Why Night Photography Is So Popular

Night photography is one of the most searched topics in photography today. From capturing glowing city lights to photographing the Milky Way, photographers are eager to master shooting in low light. So, with the right camera settings and a few key tools, you can produce magical results.

Additionally, night photography is very popular because it provides a window into things we don't traditionally pay attention to.

City Lights Photography

For example, we might look at the city lights for a brief period of time. Or, we might sit and eat a fancy meal at a restaurant overlooking the city. Either way, we generally don't spend all that time focused on the scene. When we take photos of the city from similar vantage points it gives us time to examine them.

Astrophotography

One of the most popular types of night photography is astrophotography. Similar to nighttime cityscapes most people don't spend a great deal of time looking at the stars. However, Astrophotographers do. Many use telescopes to take incredible photos of nebula, galaxies, the moon, and more. Additionally, others create landscape photos that feature stars and star-trails.

How to Shoot in Low Light

Use a Tripod and Eliminate Camera Shake

A stable tripod is a must for night photography. Long exposures demand that your camera remain perfectly still. Look for a sturdy tripod with adjustable legs and a ball head for flexibility. Lightweight travel tripods work well, but heavier models offer better stability in wind.

Avoid Cheap Tripods

Additionally, avoid tripods that are commonly sold in as part of a kit with less expensive cameras. Tripods that have a center column and arms that brace each leg like the one in this photo are generally very shaky.

Cheap tripods have rivets (inside the smaller circles). Along with these rivets the legs themselves are far less sturdy. As a result, these tripods shake and wiggle a lot.

The last thing you from a tripod is for it to wiggle around while you're trying to use it for stability. Therefore, avoid these types of tripods.

Of course, if you already own one and can't afford to upgrade there are alternatives. For example, you can use a bean-bag to steady your camera on a flat surface. There are other options but a sturdy tripod is best. Here's my recommendation for a great tripod.

Master Manual Mode for Full Control

You generally can't use automatic mode for night photography. Some cameras do offer night mode. However, even if your camera does, it doesn't mean your camera will understand what you're doing. After all, there are a lot of options when it comes to night photography.

Use Manual Mode  

Switch your camera to manual mode to control your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. If you're new to manual mode, then read more about using your light meter. Download my e-book on Exposure Settings for an easy and painless explanation. 

Start with reducing your aperture (f number) to the widest setting on your lens. Next, set your shutter speed very slow/long, in the 1 second or more range. Also, if your ISO is on auto try setting it to 1600 or 3200.

Listen To Your Meter

Now, check your light meter and see if your exposure is over or under. Then, adjust your settings based on the available light and your subject. Longer shutter speeds will brighten your shot but risk motion blur if there’s any movement. That said, you might want to show that movement. After all, it's a lot of fun to see those blurry streaks of cars or star trails. 

Focus Manually for Sharp Results

Autofocus often fails in low light. This is because autofocus needs a specific amount of light to work. 

Therefore, use manual focus. Also, zoom in using Live View to focus precisely. Try to find a light source or distant object like a star or building edge to set your focus. Set your lens to infinity and fine-tune from there.

Shoot in RAW Format

Shooting in RAW gives you more flexibility when editing. You'll be able to recover shadows and adjust white balance more effectively than with JPEG.

Creative Night Photography Techniques

Long Exposure Light Trails

Use a long shutter speeds to capture car light trails, illuminated carnival rides, or even handheld flashlights drawn in the air. Set your shutter to 10+ seconds and use a remote shutter release or timer to avoid blur.

Alternatively, move the camera with the cars like the photo below. It will create a chaotic and wild scene. The flatter the angle you move the camera at the more level the objects will be.

Motion Blur for Artistic Effect

Capture movement in your scenes intentionally. Blurred people in a still urban environment or flowing water at night can produce dreamy results. Lower your shutter speed to 1/5 of a second or slower. Also, experiment with different durations.

Use ND Filters at Night for Light Painting

If you're unfamiliar with them, ND filters are like sunglasses for your lens. ND stands for neutral density. Essentially, these filter reduce the amount of light entering your camera. As a result, you can use slower/longer shutter speeds.

While ND filters are usually for bright daylight, you can also use them at night for light painting or to lengthen exposures further. Pair with strong light sources like LEDs or headlamps to draw or highlight shapes in your scene.

Get Started with Astrophotography

Astrophotography has seen a major rise in popularity, with searches spiking around meteor showers, eclipses, and Milky Way season.

Additionally, tools like the PhotoPills App help people to find where celestial events will happen.

So, if you're interested in astrophotography, here’s how to begin.

Best Conditions for Star Photography

Choose a clear night away from city lights. Use the dark sky map app to find low-light pollution areas. 

If you live in the North-Eastern US like I do there are not many dark sky areas. However, they do exist. There are several within a few hours drive from Pittsburgh.

Dark Sky Locations

That said, make sure you understand the rules around these places. For example, some require reservations. Additionally many have strict rules about artificial light and when you can and can't enter. Finally, some dark sky spots are on or near private land so be careful not to trespass.

Shoot The Moon

The new moon phase is ideal for capturing stars without it's interference. Alternatively, photograph the moon when it's full or nearly there. The moon is a fascinating subject. Did you know that the moon rises and sets separately from the sun. If not then try to keep that in mind. It's no fun to plan a moon photography trip and miss it entirely. 

Basic Astrophotography Setup

For astrophotography, use a wide angle lens. For example, a 35mm, 24mm, or something even wider. Additionally, use a "fast" lens. That is, a lens with a max aperture of 2.8 or better. As mentioned before, you'll want to use manual focus and a tripod.

Helpful Astrophotography Tools

You're going to use long exposures for astrophotography. As such, you want to avoid any motion in your camera and tripod. An intervalometer or remote shutter trigger helps you do so so. Additionally, setting your DSLR to delay the photo after lifting the mirror helps. Of course, if you're using a mirrorless camera you don't need to do so.

Avoiding Star Trails (or Embracing Them)

To avoid star trails, follow the 500 Rule: divide 500 by your lens focal length (e.g., 500 ÷ 24mm = 20.8 seconds). Any longer and stars will blur. If you want star trails, use much longer exposures or stack multiple 30-second shots in post.

Star-Tracking Tripods and Telescope Mounts

Add a star-tracking tripod head for clearer, longer exposures of deep-sky objects. These motorized mounts move with the rotation of the Earth, allowing longer exposures without blur. Popular beginner options include:

• Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer

• iOptron SkyGuider Pro

Using a Telescope With Your Camera

Camera mounts for telescopes (T-ring adapters and T-mounts) let you attach your DSLR or mirrorless camera directly to a telescope. This is essential for lunar or planetary photography. In fact, if you want to photograph any distant objects in the night sky you need to use a telescope. 

Your intrepid author does not own a telescope. As such, he cannot make any recommendations. However, there are lots of astrophotography websites. Therefore, you're sure to find experts who can.

Additional Night Photography Tips

Use a Fast Lens

A lens with a wide aperture (like f/1.8 or f/2.0) lets in more light, ideal for handheld night shots or astrophotography. Prime lenses are often faster and sharper than zooms. That said, use the lens/lenses you own. A fast 50mm isn't too expensive. Additionally, manual focus vintage lenses are often less expensive and work great for night photography.

Use a Remote Shutter or Timer

As mentioned above, a remote shutter release is really helpful. Alternatively, use your camera's timer. To avoid any shake during exposure, set the timer to at least 2-seconds. This is especially important for long exposure and astrophotography.

Watch Your White Balance

Auto white balance often adds strange color casts in night photos. Use “Tungsten” or manually set Kelvin temperatures (around 3200K) for more natural night colors. Adjust in post when shooting RAW.

Try Lightroom and Noise Reduction Tools

Low light images often have more noise. Adobe Lightroom, DxO PureRAW, or Topaz DeNoise can clean up images without losing too much detail. Use noise reduction sliders gently to avoid plastic-looking results.

Final Thoughts

Night photography is one of the most rewarding creative challenges in photography. With just a tripod, the right camera settings, and a sense of experimentation, you can capture stunning low light photos that amaze your viewers. Whether you’re documenting city streets, painting with light, or diving into deep-sky astrophotography, these techniques help you level up your images.