Neon Photography: Best Tips to Shoot Neon Lights
-
Loading... - Banyul Nur
- 22 Jul 2022
- 87 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
From city lights to neon signs of all colors and sizes the creative possibilities are endless. You can also have fun setting up your own artificial neon lights indoors or even use you TV as a light source.
If you too are intrigued by neon photography and are aiming to improve your skills, this article is the perfect place to start!
Read on to learn how you can get the best out of your neon photography shots.
What is Neon Photography
Neon photography is one of those genres that captures the dystopian and forlorn atmosphere that we know so well from movies like Blade Runner.
It draws us into the colorful world of retro-futurism, although with a touch of ‘noir’.
It conveys a sense of mystery to the photo and makes the viewer curious. Even though neon lights are nothing new, there is something forward-looking about them along with a hint of nostalgia. This helps neon photography tell a compelling story to its viewers, and is one of the reasons for its popularity.
Neon Photography Camera Settings
Knowing the right camera settings before you start taking photos of neon lights, will save you a ton of time and maximize your opportunities to get a beautiful shot.
Aperture
Neon photography is typically taken at night and in low light conditions. This means that you will need to capture as much light as possible. A large aperture will help take better photographs in low light conditions and help you use a faster shutter speed.
However, you must keep in mind that a larger aperture creates a more shallow depth of field, and leaves the backgrounds blurred. It will not capture every detail of the scene. Luckily for you, this effect only enhances neon photography, especially those with distracting backgrounds.
You can decide if using a very wide aperture such as f/2.8 or wider, in which case the background will be completely blurred or you could use something like f/4 if you want the background to be somewhat distinguishable.
ISO in Neon Photography
Since you’ll be mostly working in the dark, it is important to use a high ISO setting on your camera for brighter and sharper shots. However, as the ISO increases, the amount of noise in your image will also increase.
Adjust the exposure such that you can hide any extra noise. If you aren’t able to do that, you can still remove noise while post-processing in just a few seconds. Experiment with various ISO settings and figure out what works best for that specific situation. As long as you don’t use the highest ISO level possible with your camera, the results should look great!
White Balance for Neon Photography
Neon lights come in a range of hues and shades and often end up looking too saturated in your photos. If the white balance is even a little off, it can make the photo look unnatural, especially if you have people in your shots. Adjust the color temperature of your camera manually to avoid this.
Shoot in RAW
Make sure that you shoot your photos in RAW rather than JPEG. With RAW you will be able to maintain a lot more image data, which results in higher quality photographs. Post-processing is also much better with RAW since you can make as many adjustments as you want without losing quality. Owing to how unique each neon sign and photo will be, taking RAW photos is incredibly useful.
Auto Focus or Manual Focus
Autofocus is great and I use it almost all the time, but it has its pros and cons. If you are looking to have complete control over your photos, you can try to use manual focus.
Most neon photography will be in low light conditions, which makes it harder for the camera to find the subject. You may end up wasting time and effort with autofocus. The effort that you put into mastering manual focus will pay dividends over time, and ultimately help you become a better photographer. Using manual focus works best with neon photography.
Neon Photography Tips
Ok, it’s time to take a look at some easy tips to take your neon lights photography to the next level!
1. Avoid Busy Areas
Neon lights are usually found on bustling streets, which can be quite distracting and makes it difficult for photographers to focus.
If you want to experiment and take photos without being bothered by people and traffic, look for quieter areas. The longer search will help you save a considerable amount of time and also help you take the perfect shot.
2. Shoot From Multiple Angles
Using the same angle in all your neon photographs will make them look boring and uninspired. To capture from different angles you need not invest in a drone or go to a rooftop.
After you find an appropriate sign, walk around and find unique angles that promise to be more eye-catching. Experiment with slightly different angles to find the one that works best. Read More…
