The Tech + Photo Blog

So, your clubbing pictures turned out muddy and blurry, your friends are blasting caustic text-messages across your bow about how “great” they look, even though they can not really see their faces.

Even if the above doesn’t describe you, if you’re attempting any type of handheld shots at night, here are some recommendations for blur-free pictures:

Standard Flash - Of course, this is the first thing you should do. If your subject is close enough, the easiest solution is to make use of your on-camera flash. Try to stay with a range of 3-8 feet for most compact camera flashes. If you’re feeling like accessorizing that camera, external flashes often provide double or triple that distance.

Bounce Flash - If you have the option, point your flash at a ceiling or use a soft filter in front of the flash to create a softer, less harsh light.

Slow Sync Flash - Try using your camera’s “slow-sync” flash mode to capture detail in the background and stop motion in the foreground. This setting varies based on your camera model, but most manufacturers force you to enter [P] mode and then cycle through your flash options to select “SL” or “SL-Sync” flash.

Wide Open Aperture - Set your camera to aperture priority [A] on your camera’s mode dial and then set your aperture to the smallest number possible (smaller number = more light).

High ISO - Set your camera to a high ISO such as 800 or 1600 for more light sensitivity, allowing a faster shutter speed to be used at night. Keep in mind that higher ISO number can also cause a lot of image noise.

Impromptu Tripod - Try to find objects to stabilize your camera. You can lean against a wall, use a park bench or table, whatever you can find to keep that camera from moving.

Look for Light - Look for sources of light that exist in the landscape. Moonlight probably won’t do the trick, but a streetlight or bright neon sign might give you enough brightness (and likely a cool effect too!)

Stop F@#*ING Moving! - Unless you’re at a dance club or in a “mosh” pit or, tell your subjects to stand still (lest they want to be the blurry one in the picture)…

That about covers the basics. For those of you who are itching for some long-exposures, light-painting and tripod talk, I’ll get into more advanced night photography next time. Well, maybe not next time, but sometime soon. Promise.

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