One of the changes coming with my «new» blog this year will be a complete new layout. This is still work in progress. However in addition, throughout the year, I will add new features to my blog, and today I introduce one of them.
Every so often, I will publish practical tips about how to get better photos. This blog, though, is mostly about creativity and although it’s based on my approach to photography I hope it have relevance to other creative disciplines as well. Thus, very concrete tips on shooting don’t really belong here. Instead, I will post them on the educational blog for Blue Hour Photo Workshops and only make a reference with a link here on In Flow.
This is the first tip I will present this way:
When you want to capture photos in the night, there is in particular one thing you should be aware of. Obviously everything is going to be darker and thus you would most likely need to use a tripod or at least amp up the ISO-setting significantly. Otherwise, the captured photo will be very blurry—which of course can be used creatively if that’s your intention.
However, what I really have in mind is quite something different. Look up this super advise for better night photos.
On a different note: As announced a couple of times I will draw a winner who will be able to participate in my online photo workshop «Finding Your Photographic Voice» later in May. The deadline is now passed and the drawing will take place later this week. The winner will be announced in my blog post on Monday.
In Flow with Otto 
Otto, I love night images … sometimes I’m lucky – if I take my time and not rush. And Prague is one of my favourite cities for me and my camera. Going to Budapest this month and I have been told it’s even more beautiful. Love old cities in winter and hopefully, I will find some snow there.
You always deliver stunning images.
Thank you, Thea Maria. Prague is indeed a magical city and so is Budapest. May you have a great trip to Hungary’s capital.
Thanks, Otto … I’m sure I will return with a full SD card.
Excellent post…as always.
Thanks a lot. 🙂
I love light images , superb!
I am glad you like it. Thank you, Roland.
The photo is beautiful, Otto. Looking forward to developments on your blog. 🙂
Thank you so much, Jo.
I don’t get to indulge in photography like I used to, but I still hope to one day, so I appreciate your tips. And as always, I love seeing your photographs. Thank you!
And thank you for the encouraging feedback, Barbara. Hopefully you will get to photograph more again some day. 🙂
Great advice for taking city/land scape night picture. That is new to me. Thank you for the tip!!
I am happy it’s a worthwhile tip. 🙂
I like the way you included the full tip on your other page — and a good tip, it was. The photo above is remarkable for the varieties of light it contains. I can count at least five colors and intensities of light, and yet everything works together nicely. It’s an intriguing image.
Thank you for the lovely feedback, Linda. I am glad the tip make sense.
Beautiful photography Otto! So vibrantly clear I make out the tiniest details.
Thank you, Holly.
Great post Otto, love the image. Been a long time since I’ve made night photos – hope to put that right in 2017.
I hope you have fun shooting in the night, Simon.
The photograph is great, and so are the tips for taking pics at night… Look forward to the new layout and more from you, dear Otto… All the best! 😀
Thank you so much, Aquileana.
Regardless of how you format your blog, Otto, I will always appreciate your thoughtful advice — and your beautiful images to back it up. Thank you for this tip.
And thank you for the lovely words, H.
Excellent post, Otto. Night photography is a challenge but I find it a thrill when there are good results. Your image is wonderful. Looking forward to future tips from you. Thanks.
Thank you, Jane. Slowly by slowly more tips will appear. 🙂
I think this is a great idea, Otto. I especially love tutorials like this and I make notes in my book and save the posts. I feel a bit frustrated because I was not able to bring my tripod to Norway this time. I wanted to make some long exposure shots on the riverside at night time so I’ll have to push my creativity or do something else. 🙂
I’m sure your new layout will look stunning!
Ha det bra.
Takk skal du ha. Maybe you should try creative long exposures on free hand?…
OK. I’ll give it a go. 🙂
P.S.
The nightscape looks terrific!
Good evening Otto,
20:40, you noticed that I had relaunched a blog WP, which will be the blog mirror, Blog Blogger of Google, launched January 7.
I intend to analyze the two products, step by step.
Thanks for your visit.
I will keep if with you analysis. Will be interesting to see what you think about the two blog providers. 🙂
What a great night image this is, Otto!
And I truly look forward to your tutorials.
Thank you!
Thank you for the encouraging words, Lisa. I think this is going to be fun.
Beautiful shot and great advice Otto! I think the new ‘setup’ will be interesting. Ha en bra helg.
Takk, Tiny. Likewise. 🙂
Soooo you are going to change your layout hmm? Mine used to change all the time! but the layout i have now, i had to pay for, and so i keep it around 🙂 Good luck finding the perfect layout! I’m off to your night photography page!
It would be fun to change the layout all the time, but it would take a lot of work. See you in the night. 🙂
i was reading a book that said to change your problems in life to ones you don’t mind solving 🙂 and for me, changing my web presence was a problem i didn’t mind solving lol but that could be ‘just me’ 🙂
atmosfera fiabesca e ottimi consigli, mille grazie!
And thank you so much for the feedback, Annalisa.
I like your pictures
I am glad you do. 🙂
Hello, Otto. This is your not-so-smart student… I was so happy when I read this post because I want to start doing some night shootings. But when I tried this, it didn’t work quite as well. If I focus on the sky, the foreground would be totally dark, but if I focus on the foreground, the sky wasn’t quite good. What have I missed? Maybe my timing was wrong? I mean I took the photo a little too early of the day?
Thank you for all the great articles. I don’t comment often, but enjoy reading all.
Have a wonderful day.
First of all, I don’t agree with your characteristic of yourself. As for you attempt on using my advise, it sounds like there is to much contrast between the sky and the foreground, that is, the sky is too bright in relation to the foreground. So, yes, you might well be out shooting too early. You would normally try to shoot these kinds of night photos just before the night sky turns black. Otherwise it won’t look like a night shot. So give it another try a little later in the evening, and let me know how it works. Or send me the photo, which makes it easier for me to see why it didn’t work.
Thanks, Otto. Tried again tonight and it worked! Thank you so much. The timing window is not big though. I kept staring at the sky and waiting for that moment 😉
There are so much for me to learn, but one thing for sure is that I have found my photographic voice. And I thank you for that!
I am very happy to hear this. And congratulations with succeeding with the night photo. Sometimes all it takes is practice. 🙂
That is a wonderful photo. I followed the link and read the great advice. Shared this on @bakeandwrite.
Thank you, both for the comment and for sharing, Robbie.
Otto, nice image for sure. It interesting how the blue hour and night images have become very popular these days, especially with the advancement of the ability of camera sensors. I conduct several night workshops myself that seem to fill up right away. Thanks for your contributions.
I think the fact that better digital quality which makes it easier to capture night images is part of the new popularity. Thanks for the feedback, Craig.
I always think night photos are the luck of the draw, but you’re right, if you take them before night truly settles then you will get a much better image.
Aren’t all good photos somewhat depending on a bit of luck. Of course you create your own luck, but you can’t say for certain that whatever you do will work out. 🙂