To properly expose neon lights in photography, you typically need to use specific camera settings that account for their brightness and surrounding darkness.
Exposing neon lights effectively involves controlling ISO, shutter speed, and aperture, often with the aid of stabilization.
Key Settings for Capturing Neon
Capturing the vibrant glow of neon signs without blowing out highlights or losing detail in the shadows requires balancing your exposure.
Based on best practices for shooting in low light with bright subjects, here are the essential settings and techniques:
1. Minimize Noise with Low ISO
To ensure your images are clean and free from distracting grain, especially when shooting in low light conditions common for neon signs, keep your ISO setting low. The reference specifically recommends:
- Use a low ISO of 100 or 200 to avoid noise.
This low sensitivity helps preserve image quality, allowing the colors of the neon to pop without digital artifacts.
2. Achieve Sharpness with Stabilization
Shooting in low light often requires slower shutter speeds, which can lead to blurry images if the camera shakes. To counteract this, you'll need stabilization.
- Use a tripod or a lens or camera with image stabilization tech to allow slower shutter speeds.
A tripod is the most reliable method for achieving tack-sharp photos, especially when using shutter speeds longer than a fraction of a second. Image stabilization in your camera or lens can help handheld, but a tripod is preferred for very long exposures.
3. Control Light with Shutter Speed and Aperture
Once you've set a low ISO and ensured stability, you'll adjust your shutter speed and aperture to get the correct exposure. The reference provides a useful guideline:
- At ISO 200, a close-up shot of a single neon sign will produce an exposure at f/11 of anywhere from 1/20 sec to several seconds.
This demonstrates the range of shutter speeds you might encounter. A smaller aperture like f/11 provides greater depth of field, keeping more of the sign in focus, and also helps manage the brightness of the neon. Your exact shutter speed will vary depending on the sign's brightness, the ambient light, and your chosen aperture.
Here's a summary of suggested starting points:
| Setting | Recommendation | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| ISO | 100 or 200 | Minimize noise |
| Stabilization | Tripod or Image Stabilization | Allow slow shutter speeds |
| Aperture (f-stop) | Start around f/8 or f/11 | Increase depth of field, control brightness |
| Shutter Speed | Varying (e.g., 1/20s to secs) | Achieve correct exposure |
By combining a low ISO, stability, and carefully chosen aperture and shutter speed, you can capture the vibrant, glowing essence of neon lights effectively.
