Photography in the moonlight

TheArticulate

When I shoot at night, I'll typically look for readily available locations that provide light (typically neon lights) or I'll create my own light source. I'll give you a couple examples that you can look out for when you're out shooting.

"Natural" Light Sources

By "natural" in this case, I mean readily available light, which is typically man-made in most cases. My favorite things to look for are neon signs. If you have a business district in town, chances are you can find some nice "open" signs, or neon logos to use for your photos. If you're shooting with a model, it helps to put the neon sign to one side of them so the colors illuminate their face. You'll have to play around with the colors and really find a sign that gives off a good vibe.

Some examples of what I've shot using this method:

In the case of the top picture, I had my model look at the open sign, this way she was interacting with the light source and gave it more of an authentic feel instead of just having it in photo as solely a light source. Picture number 2 was taken outside some businesses with neon lights, which I ended up placing behind my model so they acted as a back drop and colored his vape a little bit. I placed him underneath a streetlight to get him nicely exposed.

Create Your Own Light Source

When in doubt, there are methods for you to create your own light sources. Just look on Amazon for "fairy lights", and you can find a real cheap light method! They're typically used as decorations at home, but some fairy lights are battery powered which let you take them on the go and use them in photography. This is a pretty popular trend right now, and it's definitely something worth looking into if you want a creative and affordable way to light your photos.

Some examples of what I've shot using this method:

In both of these photos, I used the neon lights as a backdrop and used the fairy lights a source of exposure for my model's face. This is great because the lights are so easy to interact with, they're a great prop to take the burden off of the neon lights for the photos.

In picture 1, I stuffed a string of lights inside of a $10 lantern I bought from Hobby Lobby, which created a really unique prop (since fairy lights on their own are pretty common). Picture 2 is just the fairly lights on their own.

Overall, I think it's a matter of getting out there and experimenting, and training your eye to shoot after dark. Good luck! When I shoot at night, I'll typically look for readily available locations that provide light (typically neon lights) or I'll create my own light source. I'll give you a couple examples that you can look out for when you're out shooting. [b] [size=100]"Natural" Light Sources[/size][/b] By "natural" in this case, I mean readily available light, which is typically man-made in most cases. My favorite things to look for are neon signs. If you have a business district in town, chances are you can find some nice "open" signs, or neon logos to use for your photos. If you're shooting with a model, it helps to put the neon sign to one side of them so the colors illuminate their face. You'll have to play around with the colors and really find a sign that gives off a good vibe. Some examples of what I've shot using this method: [url=https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/40ADDC31-333B-4B14-AF7E-2E7918B2C200.1541046596.JPG][url=https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/40ADDC31-333B-4B14-AF7E-2E7918B2C200.1541046596.JPG][img]https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/40ADDC31-333B-4B14-AF7E-2E7918B2C200.1541046596.JPG[/img][/url][/url] [url=https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/B6874AA4-EE37-4934-9A00-6FE411E4939B.1541046665.JPG][url=https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/B6874AA4-EE37-4934-9A00-6FE411E4939B.1541046665.JPG][img]https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/B6874AA4-EE37-4934-9A00-6FE411E4939B.1541046665.JPG[/img][/url][/url] In the case of the top picture, I had my model look at the open sign, this way she was interacting with the light source and gave it more of an authentic feel instead of just having it in photo as solely a light source. Picture number 2 was taken outside some businesses with neon lights, which I ended up placing behind my model so they acted as a back drop and colored his vape a little bit. I placed him underneath a streetlight to get him nicely exposed. [b]Create Your Own Light Source[/b] When in doubt, there are methods for you to create your own light sources. Just look on Amazon for "fairy lights", and you can find a real cheap light method! They're typically used as decorations at home, but some fairy lights are battery powered which let you take them on the go and use them in photography. This is a pretty popular trend right now, and it's definitely something worth looking into if you want a creative and affordable way to light your photos. Some examples of what I've shot using this method: [url=https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/EE6F2DB0-9035-4441-8361-DF2F33C9C77E.1541046944.JPG][url=https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/EE6F2DB0-9035-4441-8361-DF2F33C9C77E.1541046944.JPG][img]https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/EE6F2DB0-9035-4441-8361-DF2F33C9C77E.1541046944.JPG[/img][/url][/url] [url=https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/15F0EAE8-90B3-406A-9050-D7F534A4824C.1541047009.JPG][url=https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/15F0EAE8-90B3-406A-9050-D7F534A4824C.1541047009.JPG][img]https://pixelclerks.com/files/user/community/000/602/027/15F0EAE8-90B3-406A-9050-D7F534A4824C.1541047009.JPG[/img][/url][/url] In both of these photos, I used the neon lights as a backdrop and used the fairy lights a source of exposure for my model's face. This is great because the lights are so easy to interact with, they're a great prop to take the burden off of the neon lights for the photos. In picture 1, I stuffed a string of lights inside of a $10 lantern I bought from Hobby Lobby, which created a really unique prop (since fairy lights on their own are pretty common). Picture 2 is just the fairly lights on their own. Overall, I think it's a matter of getting out there and experimenting, and training your eye to shoot after dark. Good luck!

6 years ago

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amelia88

I love ALL of these shots - and love that you thought outside the box with things like light sources for so many of them. Really beautifully executed!

6 years ago

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menchuuy58

I agree with you. It was beautifully executed. The lighting is excellent.

6 years ago

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jayjaydimson

The picture looks great in dark, it has to have a proper lighting for it to look stunning.

6 years ago

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jeffreyjose48

I agree with you. The picture really looks great and wonderful. How I wish I also have that talent.

6 years ago

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vinaya

My photography skills are pretty basics. I have a camera that is specifically meant to take good shots in low light. Just by playing with presets, I can can create good shots at night. The tips mentioned here will surely help me. The point is when you want to take pictures at night and do not want to use flash, you need to find light source in order to enlighten your photo.

6 years ago

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ElectorAlexande

Your shots are so amazing and wonderful, you must be good at this and a professional. The work is so solid and marvelous.

Am speechless.

6 years ago

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menchuuy58

I agree with you. Those shots are so wonderful and amazing. He is really good and professional.

6 years ago

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nrnlss

This are really good shots. I would love to try your suggestions, I would love to try and capture pictures like this.

6 years ago

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mdayrit

I love all your photos. Do you do this for work or just a hobby? You are really good.

I do not have the talent of taking artistic photos. I am one of those people who just make sure everything is at the center and visible then click. All I know about taking photos at night is to make sure that light is enough to see the subject. If I cannot find natural source then using flash is my quick solution.

6 years ago

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TheArticulate

Photography started off as a hobby for me, but as I've grown in the skill, people have started seeking me out for sessions. I do get paid to do photography, so I guess you could call me a professional if you really wanted to, but I typically label myself as a "professional amateur" as a joke.

The neon/after dark stuff I shoot is almost always hobby-related. I've built up a network with some local area models who are looking for opportunities to build their portfolio and willing to model for free. This makes everything a win-win situation. They get free photos for their portfolio, and I get a free model for photos in my portfolio.

6 years ago

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jeffreyjose48

Thanks for sharing your tips and experiences. I really appreciate your pictures. Your so good in photography.

6 years ago

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allyn2017

I love this photos, it is really beautiful, I would follow your suggestion and hopefully I will get this kind of results

6 years ago

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jpk0007

Well, that is some really amazing work that you have shared with all of us. Also, the tip of creating your own light source can be very effective which I will surely try next time. Actually, I also used to think about it in the past but never tried it as I was afraid that the pics won't look nice due to that extra light created, but now I will surely try it and see the results

6 years ago

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TheArticulate

Definitely give it a shot! I glazed over a lot of specifics in my post (because a lot can go into taking photos after dark), but namely it'll be good to learn your camera's manual settings inside and out. Become comfortable properly exposing your images manually, which will help you with the problem of overexposing your model with extra light.

My photos are also heavily edited. I shoot in RAW instead of JPEG, which allows for really powerful editing techniques in post. None of the photos I posted came straight out of the camera. If you're interested in the editing process, I'd recommend looking up tutorials on YouTube that will help you start editing your night photos.

Good luck, and I'd love to see some your photos sometime!

6 years ago

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jpk0007

I will definitely try to implement your advice of taking the pics in RAW rather than the JPEG format. I also do a lot of photo editing because most of my pics need that in order to look good. I mean even if I click a decent pic sometimes, I try to edit it and make it look better. I think that Editing a pic also needs a lot of knowledge and experience.

6 years ago

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menchuuy58

You're such a genius in taking photos. I really find them beautiful. I really appreciate the beauty of these shots.

6 years ago

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mitan143

Wow. I like how you artistically use natural light as a tool to make the shots look amazing. I also appreciate your tips for giving us ideas. It did not cross my mind about using natural light resources when you take shots at night. I must try it some other time with my friends as models. I'm looking forward whether I can do as good as you. But I must try first. For now, I'm also interested in funko pop photography.

6 years ago

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TheArticulate

Absolutely, it all starts with trying things! All the models in my photos above are either friends of mine, or friends of my friends. You have the right idea of taking your friends out and practicing with them, and that's truly the best way to get better (in my opinion).

6 years ago

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theresajane

I agree with you. These tips are very helpful, especially for me who haven't thought of using the natural light for photos.

6 years ago

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ballyhara

Wow, congratulations, pretty well done. I totally love your pictures, the way that you handle a source for a natural or common light was great. Also, the whole idea to make your models interact with the light, that's really clever, it gives them light and character.

6 years ago

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knnon

Those are amazing shots! You also gave great tips! Thank you I'll try those tips when I get the chance. I checked this thread in hopes of getting an answer as well and that's exactly what I got. Do you have a site I can visit or a social media account for your photos? I'd love to see more!

6 years ago

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TheArticulate

Absolutely! I'm usually pretty good about keeping my Instagram up to date: https://www.instagram.com/julian_liby/

I've compiled most of my neon shots into a story under my profile as well.

6 years ago

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knnon

I followed you and had to look at all your photos before I reply. You're really skilled, I like all your photos but I love your night shots the most! I could never really do a decent night shot. Thank you for replying, I really appreciate it! I love following skilled people on my Instagram!

6 years ago

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jayjaydimson

Taking a picture at night is a great thing, tho you really need a lot of types of equipment like lights because the darkness is not good for the camera, you also need to be creative because it has fewer lights at night.

6 years ago

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TheArticulate

Your best method for shooting after dark is to get creative. I'd avoid lugging around lights for after dark shoots simply because of this: if you want lots of light in your photos, don't shoot at night.

Get creative with your light sources instead. Use neon business lights. Take a long some candles and use them as a light source. Use glowsticks to create light. Anything rather than big, bulky lights or flashes will make your night photos infinitely more interesting to the average viewer.

6 years ago

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Youngshark

Nice advice. Plus I also love the amazing photos that the poster had as they look so innovative. You guys have given me so many ideas and will implement them the next time I am out at night with a camera or simply my smartphone.

6 years ago

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ballyhara

Usually, pictures at night are very defiant for any photographer. Most of them, tend to bring some light equipment, specially light sources, but checking out for a natural or common source is an amazing tip I've learned here. That's why, you can see night pictures surrounded by neon lights, traffic lights, bus stops light, so that way photographers can take an advantage on those.

6 years ago

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Youngshark

Pooh yeeah. I have seen even during outdoor events the photographers have a well lit area to take any special pictures. The others might be taken where light is nearer.

6 years ago

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theresajane

I am not a professional photographer, but I always like to take pictures of everything that is beautiful. For the moonlight, it would be so satisfying if you can be able to produce a picture of good quality that is so fantastic. Well, first thing on my mind would always be, have a good camera, whether you have a smartphone, a digital camera or anything, make sure that you've got a camera that will serve you great especially during nights. Nothing is more securing in that field than to have a good camera.

6 years ago

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allyn2017

I am not a photographer too but take photos of beautiful places or anything that captures my eyes, however my phone's camera is really bad.

6 years ago

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amelia88

I think depending on your equipment you can get great shots. Honestly, my camera isn’t the best in low light conditions so I think if you’re specifically seeking to do night photography you should ensure you research a camera that is good for those conditions.

6 years ago

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Barida

Yeah, there are cameras that can be okay to take pictures during the evenings and all that. I prefer getting a Samsung camera for such kind of task since they have quality products.

6 years ago

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jayjaydimson

Yes, I agree with you because you really need a good type of equipment if you want to take pictures at night because it has fewer lights during the night.

6 years ago

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ElectorAlexande

Yea thats true. The camera matters. I watch my junior bro snap a night photo of the sky's and aerial phone with his HTC smart phone, it was awesome. The quality of the camera will determine the turnout.

6 years ago

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allyn2017

Indeed, it really depend on your camera and equipment, if you have the right entrapment your shot will be likely good.

6 years ago

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theresajane

Yes, you are right. No matter how passionate you are about taking pictures especially in places with low light, everything will be useless if don't have the necessary equipments to take a beautiful scenery. The photos that you have taken using a standard phone camera would not be very enticing to you and to other people.

6 years ago

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Kakashi2020

You need special lighting equipment and lenses to shoot good night photos. It's best to start taking photos of well lit subjects at night. An example would be a brightly lit store or shop. Because you won't need any special equipment when taking photos of well lit objects or subjects.

6 years ago

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Martinsx1

When it comes to lighting equipment, there are overhead lighting equipment and lower lighting equipment. Both this equipment helps to remove shadow when taking pictures at night.

Shadows are major interference when it comes to taking pictures at night but when the lighting equipment are used properly, this problem is settled.

6 years ago

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allyn2017

In that case, its not just technique that you need. You also need a lot of money to buy equipment for that. The right lenses, right camera and etc.

6 years ago

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TheArticulate

I would argue that even with an entry level camera and with minimal equipment and a creative outlook on how and where to shoot, you can produce night photos just fine. It might take some editing after the fact (but most photographers edit their photos regardless).

If you know what you're doing, you don't have to spend a ton of money and have the greatest equipment to get decent shots at night.

6 years ago

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Youngshark

I know that for one it depends with the camera or phone that you are using and its settings for taking pictures during such periods. There are many times when you may want to take a great picture but without the night mode sometimes it can be difficult. There are phones that have great flashlights for such purposes nonetheless.

6 years ago

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Martinsx1

Exactly! Camera quality have a huge role to play in the quality of pictures captured under the sun and during night periods under the moon light.

To be honest, I haven't attempted taking pictures under moonlight but I have tried snapping the moon one time in the past and the picture looked so beautiful. My camera night mode was very helpful.

6 years ago

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Youngshark

I have done several pictures during the night and what really sorted me out was the flashlight that the camera had. There was a time I used a Htc which has the front screen flash as part of its illumination for the selfie during the night and it was pretty awesome.

6 years ago

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theresajane

I agree with you. Well, first thing, a good camera produces a good photo. Thinking that a low definition camera would be enough as long as you find the good lighting is not sufficient.

6 years ago

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Martinsx1

Taking pictures in harsh sunlight is a very difficult task. You would have to be very good at it in order to know how to position and not have the sun rays interfere with the pictures. This is why some people would use some prop to cover the direct impact of the sun on the subject to be captured.

6 years ago

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MomoStarr16

Your problem in taking pictures with the bright sunlight is its rays that hindrance a good picture. And that is what it lacks when taking picture in the evening. So we can say that too much of light and too less of it is not good on doing a photography. Need a balance of that element always.

6 years ago

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KIRZZ

The scenery at night is one of the most exciting and challenging to capture. It requires you to be more methodical on camera settings as it is complicated to take photos in a dim condition. The darkness gives us a hard time, specially when you're just using a smartphone. You have to learn some technique how to deal with it. The flash of your camera may not be enough to see wide angle landscape, so you need a proper lighting material. There are effects thats requires long exposure so you need to have a sturdy tripod to keep your camera steady at all times. Don't be afraid to experiment and use your imagination then you'll be rewarded with stunning images you capture under the moonlight.

6 years ago

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mitan143

You can still have more ideas when you watch some good tips on YouTube. I'm sure some videos there provide demonstrations so they show and explain it better. Photography is not my kind of passion nor a hobby too, but I enjoy taking shots sometimes. In fact, I don't have any techniques when I take a picture. Camera features from my smartphone helps me capture a scene with style.

6 years ago

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jaybee19

I am not a professional Photographer because it's only a hobby of mine as of the moment, however I really like to take Photos of the moon and some scenes during the evening. However, because I only use a Smartphone with a 13 Megapixel shooter, I can only take mediocre quality photos. I actually envy professional photographers because they have different equipment like the ring light, lenses and etc. Their cameras have better lenses as well and some of them can take photos of the stars at night,

6 years ago

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MomoStarr16

Lesser light is the most problem you can have on this kind of photography. The moons light may not be enough to have a clear photo. Just make sure to have a good lighting for that that will look still natural. Avoid too much light that it will look edited or something.

6 years ago

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Kakashi2020

You're quite right about that. When it comes to night photography more so if the subject is the moon, you would need good lenses, a tripod and a good location with the proper lighting.

6 years ago

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anyone01

You need to maximize the quantity of light that receives into the camera. You may do this through having a wide aperture and by using a long exposure time. This means you will need a camera in which you can manage those parameters. Using any automated modes is not likely to give desirable results. Due to the lengthy exposure time you'll need a tripod to maintain the camera steady. A far off shutter release will also help you to keep away from vibration.

6 years ago

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edencaga

I think for you to be able to do that, you must have other source of light like candle light or lights that are displayed outside. You may want to watch some of tutorials in Youtube. There can controls and adjustments in settings up your camera.

6 years ago

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mark8625

I loved all the captured photos of yours. I can say that you are like a professional photographer. I am not a photographer but I really appreciate the talent and skills that you have. Hoping that you will capture more photos and I am excited to see all your shots.

6 years ago

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esteban123

I have never tried to have a photography in the moonlight since I am not good at it honestly that is why I envy those people who have such kind of ability to perform such a tough job. I really like your photo shots since it was simply amazing. How did you do that? you must be an expert for doing that shot.

6 years ago

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astraherondale

I love taking photos during nighttime. I love capturing the allure of the night sky, the way the moonlight reflects on things, and the tranquility of the setting. However, it takes good equipment as well as a lot of skills and effort to produce good quality photos in the night. It is very rewarding, but admittedly very challenging at the same time.

6 years ago

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jayjaydimson

This type of photography needs a lot of skills and experience because you have to get the proper light to make the photo outstanding.

6 years ago

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stbrians

The moonlight offers the best time for taking photos. There is color in the photos depending on the position you use to take the photos.

6 years ago

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ballyhara

Moonlight is great, it gives that romantic or mistery touch to pictures. However, is better when you use something to enhance that light, like taking shots on a lake or beach, where water works as a mirror. Also, waiting for a full moon light is the best, because you can use its light, and also take shots with that beautiful moon on the background.

6 years ago

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DenisP

Being an amateur photographer, I can honestly say that taking photos using just the light of the moon is damn near impossible most of the time. There are some periods where the full moon is bright enough to actually illuminate a shot (like the harvest moon) but even that isn’t going to be nearly enough to get a decent quality photo.

If you’re using just the light of the moon itself, you’re going to have to leave the shutter open for a pretty long time to get a decent amount of exposure. One technique for getting decent night photography pictures that seem natural is to leave the shutter open for a long period and then “paint” an area with light using a high-powered flashlight. It’s a fairly advanced technique but can get some really nice results.

The other option is simply relying on artificial light sources like streetlamps, neon signs, or bonfires if you’re in nature.

All in all, the moon simply isn’t ever going to provide enough light for a decent, dynamic photo.

6 years ago

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superlicca

Thanks for sharing these great photos. Those lights are giving a good effect on the subject. It is good to see that there are the natural sources of light around us that can make a photo look better. I believe that light is a very important element in photography.

6 years ago

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agbuyarashel

Wow I have never tried before because I don't have a great camera, all I have is my smartphone which is not that good especially on night.

6 years ago

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Bravosi

Hey there!

Photography in the moonlight would be neat! I'd love to do it myself if I could, but I believe you must have high quality gear and certain knowledge of it. I would try all the tips given here, but I have a friend who is a professional photographer, so I could always ask for his advice as well.

I must say you inspired me to try it asap.

6 years ago

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rose61

Photos taken with the effect of moonlight are awesome if done skilfully. I like such photos,that's why movies capturing such scenes are nice to me.They give a cool effect.

6 years ago

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gutzman

Well I am not a professional photographer and I don't also make people as a subject for my photos during the night time. What I do though is to take pictures of the night sky whenever there are a lot of stars visible or when the cloud is illuminated by the moon which gives a rainbow effect or combination of colors.

6 years ago

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PixelClerks

Photography in the moonlight

Photography in the moonlight

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