Very little light is available at night and that can lead to poor photographs. While a longer exposure will allow your camera to capture an image better in the dark, you often end up with poor color, a lack of detail, and a variety of other issues. Professional photographer Kamil Tamiola, known for his stunning twilight landscapes, shares a few tips that can significantly improve the quality of the images you take in the evening.

In the video above, Kamil details the best way to approach and capture a photo at night. While you most likely know the basics—that setting a longer exposure will allow you to capture more light—he offers plenty of tips to improve overall quality, color, and sharpness. Notably, atmospheric conditions affect your images. Heat and humidity can obscure light and cause chromatic abberation. Cold and dry environments are better. Thinner air also helps, so the higher you can get the better. (To be clear, this means going longer distances like several miles up a mountain rather than just the roof of your house.) Kamil also notes the importance of the moon phase. If you want to capture a detailed night sky, contending with excess moonlight will hurt your chances. If possible, plan to take your photos when the moon is thin and, therefore, less visible. This will help you avoid accidentally overexposed areas of your photographs.


Kamil offers a number of helpful tips for capturing great nighttime images, so check out the full video for more.

Hard Core Primer On Night Sky Photography | DIY Photography