Some of the best photos happen after dark: empty streets, glowing windows, neon in a puddle, the moon over the rooftops. Modern phones are surprisingly good at night photography, but only if you help them a little. Here's how.
1. Use night mode, and hold still
Most phones switch to night mode automatically in the dark. It works by taking many shots over a second or more and combining them. That means you need to hold the phone as still as you can until it finishes. Tuck your elbows in, breathe out, and don't move until the shutter sound ends.
2. Lean on something
A wall, a railing, a bench or a car roof makes a fantastic free tripod. With the phone resting on something solid, many phones will let night mode run for much longer and give you a cleaner, brighter photo. A small phone tripod is a cheap upgrade if you get hooked.
3. Wipe the lens
A greasy fingerprint is the number one cause of those blurry halos around streetlights. Give the lens a wipe with a soft cloth or your t-shirt before you shoot.
4. Don't zoom
On many phones the zoom lens gathers much less light than the main camera, or the zoom is just digital cropping. At night, use the main lens (1×) and crop afterwards if you need to. You'll get much less noise.
5. Tap to focus, then turn the brightness down
Tap on your subject to focus, then drag the brightness (exposure) slider down a little. Night scenes look more atmospheric and less washed-out when the darks stay dark, and you keep detail in bright lights and signs.
6. Look for light sources
Night photos are all about the light: shop windows, street lamps, neon signs, headlights, a lit-up bridge. Position your subject where there's light on it, rather than fighting a dark scene.
7. Use reflections
Wet streets, puddles, rivers and windows double the light and add a lot of atmosphere. After rain is one of the best times to go out shooting.
8. Try light trails
Some phones have a "long exposure" or "light trails" option, or you can use a Live Photo effect. Point the camera at a road with the phone resting on something steady, and passing cars turn into ribbons of light.
9. The moon is harder than it looks
A bright moon in a dark sky usually turns into a white blob, because the phone exposes for the dark sky. Turn the brightness slider well down until you can see detail on the moon. Better still, include the moon with something, like rooftops or trees at twilight, when the sky still has some colour.
Editing: less is more
A light touch in your phone's photo editor goes a long way. Lift the shadows slightly, lower the highlights, and add a touch of warmth or coolness to set the mood. Avoid heavy noise reduction, which makes photos look like paintings.
Stay safe while you shoot
Don't stand in roads for that perfect angle, and be aware of where you are. If you're heading out alone, read our checklist for getting home safely at night.
Taken a night shot you're proud of? Share it on LatePals. Plenty of people up at 2 a.m. would love to see it.
