The city at night is a rewarding and visually striking subject for photography. Winter is an especially good time for it, since the days are short and darkness sets in early.
But photography is, above all, painting with light. So to make that darkness work, we need a bit of light to go with it. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of it in the city. Between the streetlights and the glow of colorful storefronts, you have everything you need to capture the right mood.
There’s one more thing, though: rain. You might wonder how rain fits into night photography, but it matters more than you’d think. Those reflections on the wet pavement are exactly the kind of detail that takes a photo to the next level.
Once you have everything lined up, you’re ready to head out into the heart of the city.
Besides the darkness, the lights, and a bit of rain, there’s one more thing that helped me pull these shots together: post-processing. Some people overrate it, while others dismiss it entirely, but I believe it has its place. It doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming, either. I used Luminar Neo by skylum.com along with a set of presets specifically designed for urban night photography:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4420749694/luminar-neo-night-city-presets-cinematic
It’s not just about "fixing" the images; it’s about giving them a consistent look that turns a random collection of photos into a cohesive series.
At the end of the day ‒ or rather, the evening ‒ you realize that a walk through the city at night is mainly just a great way to unwind after work, and the photography is really just a bonus.
How about you? Do you prefer to keep your shots "pure," or do you enjoy playing around with the mood in post-processing? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments, or feel free to drop a link to some of your own night photography. I'm looking forward to seeing what you've come up with!
