Photography tips

Night photography

Illuminated facade of the Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne on the shore of Lake Lucerne at night

Key tips

  1. Choose a closed aperture like f/11 to achieve a sharp rendering of architectural details during night photography.
  2. Use a longer shutter speed for night photography to capture the light reflections on the water surface in detail.
  3. Pay attention to steady camera handling at a focal length of 13 mm to avoid blur in this night photography situation.

Photographs on this topic

36 photographs with tips

The exact camera settings for each shot are shown below it - a starting point for recreating the look yourself. Click through to a photograph for detailed photography tips on that specific shot, under "Photography tips for this image".

All subjects City Mountains Architecture Lucerne Pilatus
Illuminated facade of the Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne on the shore of Lake Lucerne at night 45 mm · f/11 · 8 s · ISO 160 Night illumination of the facade of the Jesuit Church in Lucerne on the Reuss river 12 mm · f/2 · 1/25 s · ISO 2000 The illuminated Wasserturm of the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne at night, reflected in the Reuss river. 12 mm · f/2 · 1/8 s · ISO 2000 Reflection of the Lilu Light Festival light projections in the windows of a historic building in Lucerne 45 mm · f/9 · 1/2 s · ISO 500 Visitors looking at a light installation of glowing sunflowers in front of a blue illuminated church in Lucerne. 12 mm · f/4 · 1/20 s · ISO 500 Historic building at night, illuminated in blue during the Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne 18 mm · f/4 · 1/13 s · ISO 500 Illuminated Wasserturm and Chapel Bridge in Lucerne at night 26 mm · f/4 · 1/1 s · ISO 1000 Lion Monument in Lucerne with light installation at night 24 mm · f/4 · 1/20 s · ISO 5000 Illuminated comet as Christmas decoration in front of the night cityscape of Lucerne 22 mm · f/8 · 1/1 s · ISO 640 Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne with festive lights at night 42 mm · f/4 · 1.3 s · ISO 200 The illuminated Hofkirche in Lucerne with a glowing Christmas star between the towers and candles on the forecourt 12 mm · f/9 · 1.6 s · ISO 1000 Facade of the Christmas-lit Hotel Schweizerhof on the lakeside promenade in Lucerne at night 12 mm · f/9 · 1.3 s · ISO 1000 The night skyline of Lucerne with festive lights on Lake Lucerne 13 mm · f/9 · 1.6 s · ISO 1000 The illuminated Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne at night with Christmas star decorations. 66 mm · f/14 · 2.5 s · ISO 1000 Night view of the snow-covered Chapel Bridge with Christmas lighting in Lucerne 32 mm · f/8 · 3.2 s · ISO 1000 The illuminated Chapel Bridge and Water Tower in Lucerne at night. 12 mm · f/2 · 1 s · ISO 400 Overhead view of the illuminated old town of Lucerne with Chapel Bridge at night 45 mm · f/9 · 1/2 s · ISO 6400 Illuminated Ferris wheel on the shore of Lake Lucerne at night with reflection in the water 27 mm · f/13 · 4 s · ISO 200 A single leaf in the foreground on the wet Rathaussteg in Lucerne at night with people in the background 12 mm · f/8 · 2 s · ISO 640 Illuminated KKL Luzern at night with reflection in a puddle during the Lilu Light Festival. 15 mm · f/20 · 30 s · ISO 800 The illuminated Wasserturm in Lucerne during the 2025 Lilu Light Festival with light beams in the night sky 30 mm · f/8 · 30 s · ISO 800 Chapel Bridge in Lucerne illuminated by projections during the Lilu Light Festival 2025 30 mm · f/6.3 · 3.2 s · ISO 800 View through a stone archway at an illuminated light installation during the Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne 15 mm · f/4.5 · 1/2 s · ISO 800 Wasserturm in Lucerne during the Lilu Light Festival 2025, viewed through an archway 30 mm · f/6.3 · 1.6 s · ISO 800

Related topics

  • City
  • Mountains
  • Architecture
  • Camera settings
  • Light
  • Perspective
  • Composition
  • Lucerne
  • Pilatus
  • Night
  • Rain
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