Just because the sun has set for the day, that doesn't mean your photographic fun has to stop. In fact, one of my favourite times to take photos is after dark, using basic camera kit and a variety of accessories that can be sourced for a minimal outlay.
In this feature, I'll go over some of the essential kit that allows you to add your own lighting to scenes after dark - torches, LEDs, fibre-optic lights and flashguns. Then I'll run you through some of my top creative light-painting techniques that will help to make your night-time outdoor shots really stand out. And, to round things off, I'll show you how to shoot the amazing spectacle that is the Northern Lights.
1 GET THE RIGHT GEAR
Discover the affordable accessories that will make painting with light easier
Painting with light is one of the more specialised fields of photography, and there's lots of niche equipment available to solve the particular challenges it poses, some of which can be rather pricey. The good news is that the essential kit you'll need to get started with light-painting is fairly basic stuff that you probably have to hand already, such as an interchangable lens camera, a wide-angle lens, a basic flashgun, and a few different torches, string lights and coloured gels.
Once you've got the hang of light painting you can then look to upgrade your kit, slowly building it up over time as and when it's convenient for you. This spreads the cost, and you'll be able to work out from experience which upgrade items will most benefit your painting-with-light photography.
ESSENTIAL KIT
CREATIVE CAMERA
from £300/$350
Denne historien er fra February 01, 2024-utgaven av Photography week.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February 01, 2024-utgaven av Photography week.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FUJINON GF120MM F4 MACRO R LM OIS WR
This powerful medium-format lens is ideally suited to extreme close-ups
HOW TO...CLEAN UP A SCENE WITH AI
James Paterson shows you how the AI-powered Remove Tool can revolutionise your retouching
SHOOT AN '80S PORTRAIT
Jason Parnell-Brookes recreates the neon look of the 1980s using torches and hollow acrylic rods
THE BEST MONOCHROME IMAGE OF 2024 IS A REAL CRACKER
Black and White Photo Awards announces stunning selection of winning images
88 TIPS FOR GREAT BABY PHOTOS
From lighting to posing and pacifying, here's how you get the perfect shot
THE NEW HERO13 BLACK HAS MAGNETIC APPEAL
GoPro's latest flagship arrives with new mount options and new Lens Mods
HOW TO...USE THE BEAUTY OF SOLARIZATION
James Paterson shows you how to recreate the classic darkroom effect in Affinity Photo, and use a variety of tonal tricks to perfect the look
GOPRO HERO12 BLACK
An excellent action camera - and a powerful tool for editors
VANISHING ACT
Mike Harris demonstrates a cunning trick to help you remove the crowds when shooting popular and busy locations
HERE'S A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME FROM WPOTY 2024
Leading wildlife photography contest reveals highly commended images