Capturing the vibrant energy and ambiance of a night out can be a fun experience. Whether you're documenting a bustling cityscape, the atmosphere of a lively club, or candid moments with friends, getting your camera settings right is important if you want to take great photos. Here's your guide to the settings you should use when bringing your digital camera out for the night.
ISO
ISO determines the sensitivity of your camera sensor to light. A higher ISO setting allows you to capture brighter images in low light but can introduce more noise (graininess) than desired. Start with an ISO of 100 and increase as needed. You can also set your ISO to Auto mode to let the camera adjust it based on the lighting conditions.
White Balance
Lighting conditions during a night out can vary greatly. Adjusting the white balance can ensure your photos accurately reflect the mood and lighting of the scene. While Auto White Balance usually does a decent job, experimenting with different presets like Daylight can help achieve more desirable colours.
Exposure
Exposure settings are a handy tool for night photography. It allows you to brighten or darken your images. Increase the exposure (+1 or +2) to make your photos brighter in dimly lit environments. For portrait photography using flash, decreasing the exposure (-1 or -2) to prevent the subject from washing out.
Flash
Built-in flashes can sometimes be too intense. If you’re using flash in a poorly lit area, it may overexpose your subject’s face. To fix this, turn down the exposure setting.
Now that you understand how these settings will improve your photos, grab your camera, hit the town, and experiment, to create memorable photos of your night out.