Last Updated on 08/09/2017 by Chris Gampat
Feature image screen capture from video, all credit to Serge Ramilli.
Shooting cityscapes at night can be a great hobby for photographers and civilians alike: the city never moves, it’s always available to shoot, and you can do it at your leisure. During day or night most can take some breathtaking images that will capture the attention of your viewers. But if you are new to this, the idea of shooting at night may give you pause… so, let’s remedy that.
Serge Ramelli is a French photographer who shares his time between LA and Paris, and he is always producing some quality videos over on Youtube for photographers looking to learn and grow their craft. One of his videos is an excellent crash course on shooting cityscapes at night, covering great topics from selecting a location for good composition to processing and editing your shots in Lightroom.
Particularly what Ramelli talks about in terms of composition and what to look for from the light on a given day/evening/night is key. Just as with any photography, the light and how you use it to your advantage in your imagery is key. Especially for a cityscape shot where everyone is working with the same light – no one is using strobes to light up city skylines. So understanding what to look for from the sun and natural light in your given scene is key.
As well, processing is equally important. Getting what you want out straight out of the camera in the processing stage is a critical skill to have if you want to have the best results. A lot of this can be learned through trial and error, but it is also great to see it in action in a tutorial video like this.
So grab your tripod, head out to your nearest skyline or downtown area and give it a try! It will be fun, we promise. If you are interested in more of Serge Ramilli's photography education make sure and check out his Youtube channel, here.