![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/low-light-photography-uk_terry-hall_01.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFUJIFILM X-T2 + XF10-24mmF4 R OIS – F16, ISO 200, 6.5 sec<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
2. Always use a tripod<\/h2>\n
The lower the light, the longer your exposure, so a tripod is a must to keep your images pin-sharp. It is also a good idea to use a remote release for hands-free shooting to eliminate the risk of camera shake. Alternatively, use the self-timer \u2013 I prefer the two-second option \u2013 to allow the camera to steady after pressing the shutter release. If you\u2019re using an XF or XC lens with Optical Image Stabilisation, be sure to switch it off when the camera is tripod mounted as leaving it on could cause blur as the lens attempts to compensate for movement that isn\u2019t present. This is done via a switch on XF lenses or through the IS MODE option in the SHOOTING SETTING menu when using an XC lens.<\/p>\n
It is, of course, possible to shoot at night without a tripod, but you will need a steady hand and a higher ISO setting.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nFUJIFILM X-T1 + XF10-24mmF4 R OIS – F6.4, ISO 1250, 36.0 sec<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
3. Experiment with apertures and shutter speeds<\/h2>\n
I typically shoot in Aperture Priority mode at night selecting a smaller aperture, such as F11 or F16, to get front-to-back sharpness in my images. A smaller aperture can also work nicely at night when there are a lot of bright highlights from streetlights or floodlights as they can give a beautiful starburst effect. If you\u2019d prefer to control movement in your low-light images, however, it may be beneficial to switch to Shutter Priority \u2013 or even manual. Experimentation is key; you need to be prepared to get more misses than hits when shooting at night, largely because getting the correct exposure can be more of a challenge.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nFUJIFILM X-T2 + XF10-24mmF4 R OIS – F18, ISO 200, 10.0 sec<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
4. Bracketing<\/h2>\n
As is the case with all forms of photography, practice makes perfect so why not try out the autoexposure bracketing option on your X Series camera? This setting \u2013 accessed through your camera\u2019s DRIVE mode options \u2013 captures a series of images at different exposure times. You can then retrospectively select the best exposed image for the scene you have captured.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, due to the amount of contrast between the highlights and shadows in a low-light scene, it can be tricky to get the perfect exposure in one frame. In these circumstances, I select the bracketing function to capture a variety of images and then use software to merge two or more images on my computer. This does require software skills too, of course!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n