NIGHT EXPOSURES

 Picture Subject                                          ISO/ASA 100/125 film                              ISO/ASA 400 film                                                      

Home interiors at night

average light

bright light                           

 

1/4 second @ 2.8        

1/15 second @ f 2

 

1/30 second @ f 2

1/30 second @ f 2.8

Candle lighted close-ups

1/4 second @ f 2

1/15 second @ f 2

Indoor & outdoor holiday lighting at night (Xmas trees)

1 second @ f 4

1/15 second @ f 2

 

Brightly lighted street scenes (wet streets work best)

1/30 second @ f 2

1/60 second @ f 2.8

Brightly lighted theatre district – Las Vegas, etc

1/30 second @ f 2.8

1/60 second @ f 4

Neon & other lighted signs

1/30 second @ f 4

1/125 second @ f 4

Store windows

1/30 second @ f 2.8

1/60 second @ f 4

Subjects lighted by street lights

1/4 second @ f 2

1/15 second @ f 2

Floodlighted buildings, fountains, monuments, etc

1 second @ f 4

1/15 second @ f 2

Skyline – right after sunset

10 minutes after sunset

distant view of buildings

1/60 second @ f 4

1/30 second @ f 4

4 seconds @ f 2.8

1/125 second @ f 5.6

1/60 second @ f 5.6

1 second @ f 2.8

Moving auto traffic on expressways – light patterns

20 seconds @ f 16

10 seconds @ f 22

Fairs, amusement parks

1/15 second @ f 2

1/30 second @ f 2.8

Amusement park rides –

swirls / light patterns

4 seconds @ f 16

4 seconds @ f 22

Fireworks – ground displays

aerial display (several bursts)

1/30 second @ f 2.8

bulb @ f 8

1/60 second @ f 4

bulb @ f 16

Lighting (one or more flash)

bulb @ 5.6

bulb @ f 11

Burning buildings, bonfires, campfires, etc

1/30 second @ f 2.8

1/60 second @ f 4

Subjects lighted by campfires, bonfires, etc

1/8 second @ f 2

1/30 second @ f 2

 

Night football, baseball, etc

1/30 second @ f 2.8

1/125 second @ f 2.8

Niagra Falls - white lights

light colored lights

dark colored lights

15 seconds @ f 5.6

30 seconds @ f 5.6

30 seconds @ f 4

4 seconds @ f 5.6

8 seconds @ f 5.6

15 seconds @ f 5.6

Moonlit landscapes

snow scenes

30 seconds @ f 2

15 seconds @ f 2

8 seconds @ f 2

4 seconds @ f 2

Moonscape (detail in Moon surface)

Sunny sixteen rule

1/125 second @ f 16

Sunny sixteen rule

1/500 second @ f 16

Note: For best results, you should bracket around these recommended exposures and use a tripod.