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

20 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 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 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 Illuminated Wasserturm and Chapel Bridge in Lucerne at night 26 mm · f/4 · 1/1 s · ISO 1000 Illuminated comet as Christmas decoration in front of the night cityscape of Lucerne 22 mm · f/8 · 1/1 s · ISO 640 The night skyline of Lucerne with festive lights on Lake Lucerne 13 mm · f/9 · 1.6 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 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 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 narrow alley in Lucerne's old town towards the Jesuit Church during the Lilu Light Festival. 30 mm · f/20 · 2.5 s · ISO 800 Night view of the illuminated Chapel Bridge in Lucerne during violet fireworks 15 mm · f/8 · 4 s · ISO 500 Red fireworks over the night-time Chapel Bridge on Lake Lucerne in Lucerne 30 mm · f/8 · 6 s · ISO 500 The Lion Monument in Lucerne illuminated at night in front of a rock face 23 mm · f/6.3 · 1/5 s · ISO 20000 Light projections into the night sky during the LiLu Light Festival in Lucerne. 50 mm · f/20 · 10 s · ISO 800 Illuminated Christmas tree and fairy lights in front of the Hofkirche in Lucerne at night 50 mm · f/16 · 1/8 s · ISO 800 Christmas lighting of the Chapel Bridge and Wasserturm in Lucerne at night 70 mm · f/20 · 15 s · ISO 400 Hofkirche and lakeside promenade in Lucerne at night with an illuminated ship in the foreground 50 mm · f/18 · 20 s · ISO 400

Related topics

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