Photography tips

Night photography

The moon shines through clouds at night above Mount Pilatus.

Night photography requires precise adjustment of exposure parameters, as the limited ambient light significantly influences technical composition. In urban environments, such as photographing illuminated facades or light installations in Central Switzerland, the focus lies on controlling light quantity and image noise.

Light quantity and aperture selection

The choice of aperture in night photography determines how much light reaches the sensor and the depth of the image. While wide apertures optimally utilize the scarce light, medium aperture settings allow for greater detail when capturing architectural subjects.

Controlling time and sensor

Shutter speed affects both the capture of light reflections and the prevention of motion blur. By specifically adjusting the ISO value, you establish a balanced ratio between the necessary light sensitivity and clean image quality.

What night photography changes

The dark Mount Pilatus with illuminated summit above the night lights of Lucerne

50 mm · f/16 · 30 s · ISO 400

Light capture and aperture

A wide aperture is essential to efficiently direct limited ambient light onto the sensor. For complex subjects like illuminated buildings, a medium aperture also ensures the necessary depth of detail.

The Lion Monument in Lucerne illuminated at night in front of a rock face

23 mm · f/6.3 · 1/5 s · ISO 20000

Exposure time and dynamics

The shutter speed determines how sharply details of light installations or reflections on water are rendered. Longer times allow for the capture of fine structures, while short times prevent motion blur during handheld shots.

Light installation over the night-time Seebrücke in Lucerne with moving vehicles

12 mm · f/9 · 1/1 s · ISO 1000

ISO and image quality

The ISO value regulates image noise in dark environments. A moderate adjustment ensures clean quality while maintaining an appropriate brightness of architectural details.

Three concrete examples

Night illumination of the facade of the Jesuit Church in Lucerne on the Reuss river

12 mm · f/2 · 1/25 s · ISO 2000

Hotel Pilatus Kulm at night with visible star trails in the sky

12 mm · f/2 · 2 s · ISO 1600

Blurred city lights in front of the dark silhouette of Mount Pilatus at dusk

50 mm · f/3.5 · 1.3 s · ISO 400

Key tips

Choose a wide aperture to allow sufficient light onto the sensor under difficult lighting conditions.
Adjust the ISO value to achieve a balanced ratio between image noise and the necessary brightness.
Use a longer shutter speed to capture details of facades and light reflections on surfaces in detail.

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All subjects Mountains Landscape Architecture City Pilatus Lake Lucerne Lucerne Central Switzerland

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