P#6 Q#1b: How Do You Determine Exposure in Your Night Photography if You Don't Use a Light Meter?

Learn how to use all of your camera's functions for successful night photography

Jim Zuckerman: Well, in the old days, when we shot film, it was more problematic because you couldn't see your results immediately.

Now, I'll tell you, the easiest way to do it, you take a picture, you look at the LCD monitor, and if it's too light or too dark -- but usually it's going to be too light -- you would use your exposure compensation.

The exposure compensation dial is on a digital camera. Virtually all digital cameras have it. It allows you underexpose or overexpose from what the meter dictates. It allows you to do that in one third f-stop increments.

You look at the LCD monitor, too light, you say underexpose by two thirds. Take another shot, look at it, and if it still needs adjustment, you do it. That's the easiest way.

What I used to tell students when we shot film is I'd give them a formula. The formula went like this: If you're going to shoot 100 ISO, then use 10 seconds at f8. That would give you a correct exposure for twilight. It's still true.

The only exception could be if you're shooting, let's say, in Las Vegas, and you're close to the Flamingo, and you've got brilliant lights. That's different.

If you're doing a city skyline from a distance, say Philadelphia or New York or LA, or any nice city skyline, then the 10 seconds at f8 and 100 ISO is a really good place to start.

It should be right on, but because we have the LCD monitor, you can look to see if you like it. If you don't, you can tweak the exposure very easily.

Audri Lanford: Great, and how about at night? Can you give a beginning place to start there?

Jim Zuckerman: The same.

This is assuming that you're going to shoot a city and the sky. If you're out in the desert and there are no lights at all from any cities and you're going to do a full moon landscape, that's very different but most people don't do that.

Most people, when they shoot at night or twilight, it involves either traffic lights or cityscapes, or architecture like that.

In summary

Most night photography is done in situations with artificial light -- like in cities. Use the exposure compensation dial on your camera to override the light meter for longer or shorter exposures.