How I Capture Good Smartphone Photos in Low-Light Conditions
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Smartphone photography is challenging at the best of times, but shooting in low light is particularly testing. Often, you’ll find that your photos are grainy or blurry, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Here are some of the ways I capture good smartphone photos in low-light conditions.
Using Artificial Lighting Sources
Unless you’re photographing the moon or Northern/Southern Lights, artificial lighting sources will be your best friend for low-light smartphone photography. I like using neon signs because they’re bright and colorful in equal measure, but you can also look for streetlights and car headlights.
You can also use traffic lights and even bring your own studio lights if you want to get creative. If you’re taking pictures at home, turn on as many lights as possible. While it’ll be easier to use artificial lighting sources in urban areas, you can still find plenty of opportunities in rural areas and subsequentlyget the perfect lighting for your mobile photos.
Moving Closer to the Subject if Possible
I’ve often found that smartphones are somewhat limited when taking pictures of faraway subjects in low-light conditions. So, logically, I get closer to my subject when possible. This is normally quite easy if you’re capturing something static, like a building, and it’ll also work when taking portraits of someone in low light.
Once you’re closer to the subject, I recommend tapping on your screen to turn it into the focus point; doing so will automatically adjust how much light your phone lets in. You can always zoom out slightly if you feel like you’re too close.
Putting My Phone on a Flat Surface
You canuse smartphone tripodsto stabilize your device. If the upfront investment is out of your budget right now, don’t fret, because there are budget-friendly options. When I’m photographing in low-light conditions, I’ll sometimes put my phone on flat surfaces such as benches or even the ground.
If nothing is around you, I recommend bringing your phone as close to your body as possible. Doing so is one of the best ways I’ve learned to stabilize my device, and it has the added bonus of keeping you warmer if it’s cold outside.
Manually Increasing the Brightness
While I often trust my smartphone camera to give me the right brightness levels, it’s not always 100% accurate. I have no problems increasing or decreasing the brightness if things are a bit off, and you shouldn’t hesitate doing so either.
Most smartphones let you adjust the brightness by moving your finger up or down on your screen. I recommend experimenting with this on multiple photos; you can always edit the exposure and brightness in your phone’s editing app later if needed. You can also use high-contrast and otherunderrated photo editing effectsto perfect the exposure.
Not Including Moving Subjects
While blurry photos can be a fun effect, you’ll more likely deal with them when you don’t actually want to. Blurry photos are almost always caused by motion, which is why keeping your device still is so important. You should also leave moving subjects, such as cars, people walking, and bicycles, out of your picture if you don’t want blurry smartphone images.
Even without moving subjects, you can still take interesting photos. Focus on your surroundings and observe what might be worth photographing before doing so. Alternatively, you can always learnhow to capture motion blur in your photographyfor unique results.
Using Reflections Where Possible
Artificial lighting can make for cool reflections, and it’s worth including them in your pictures where possible. For example, while I was out on a morning run, I noticed how the lights from a building and port area were reflecting on the water. I liked how the light was split into different sections, prompting me to take this image.
When photographing reflections, you can also consider adding other elements—such as the side of the shore you’re standing on if you’re capturing a river. If you’re taking pictures around golden hour, I recommend looking for patterns in the architecture around you and seeing how they reflect off the water.
You can also think about how lighting reflects off the street. I especially recommend looking for reflections when the artificial lights around you are harsh or have brighter colors.
Looking for Interesting Patterns in Architecture
I love architectural photography, and I’ll always jump at the chance to include unique perspectives of buildings in my images. You can often capture more intricate details when the lights are switched on, such as windows with interesting shapes. You can also look for unique patterns that might look different in low lighting, such as statues.
When photographing in low light, I recommend looking for unique perspectives of buildings you would otherwise view as bland. Most of the time, I actually think that these are the most interesting ones in such conditions. I also recommend going inside if you can; only focusing on exteriors is one of manycommon architectural photography mistakes.
Not Waiting Until It’s Completely Dark
Low light is often synonymous with nighttime, but my personal definition is much broader. You cantake photos at golden hour, when it’s raining, during blue hour, and in numerous other scenarios. Lighting conditions also vary significantly by the season; I live in Northern Europe, for example, when it’s much softer (and darker) in the winter.
I’ve grown out of the phase of only taking pictures at a specific time because I think you can tell a great story throughout the day (and night). Adopting a similar mindset will significantly improve your chances of taking better pictures. Usingphotography calculator sites and apps, such asJeKoPhoto’s Twilight Calculator, can help you determine what the light will be like at different times of the day.
Low-lighting photography is by no means straightforward, but I’ve found multiple ways to take better smartphone photos in these conditions. Keeping your device as still as possible is essential, and you also don’t have to wait until it’s completely dark. I also frequently use artificial lighting sources and reflections to their maximum potential. Start with these tips if you don’t know what to do in low-light scenarios.
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Good article! Smartphones are still not as good as even a basic digital camera but they are handier to carry around. I have had a lot of trouble with taking pictures in low light situations with my phone. I’ll give your suggestions a try.
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