Even after the sun has set, the greatest camera phones available today can capture some amazing pictures. While Xiaomi’s 14 Ultra has really wowed us with night pictures with its huge sensor, the top phones of 2024, such as the iPhone 16 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, feature outstanding night photography settings that enable them to produce bright, clear photographs in low light. Even more reasonably priced phones, such as the Pixel 8A, have very powerful nighttime photography capabilities.
In the past, this kind of night photography required a DSLR mounted on a tripod in order to capture lengthy exposures spanning several seconds. Without the need for additional equipment, modern phones are capable of taking stunning nighttime photos. This is fantastic since it eliminates the need to bring a bulky camera and tripod into town each time you want to capture a beautiful sunset photo.
A riverboat at night
Amazing night-mode cameras have been a feature of Samsung’s latest flagship phones, the Galaxy S series.
CNET/Andrew Lanxon
It takes more than simply waiting until nightfall and pulling out your phone to get a picture you like enough to print and hang on your wall. To get images you’ll want to look back on in years, you’ll still need to strive for them.
I’ve worked as a professional photographer for years, and I usually use my phone and pro camera to take pictures at night. Therefore, here are my best recommendations for getting excellent nighttime photos on any phone.
See also: Top Camera Phone
1. Understand how to turn on night mode.
It’s crucial to confirm that your phone’s night mode is turned on before you begin shooting. When the iPhone recognizes that you are in low light, night mode will automatically activate on phones such as the iPhone 16 series or other newer iPhone models. While some Android phones have night modes that work automatically, others need you to employ particular night photography modes (Night Sight on the Pixels, simply Night on the Galaxy S24 series).
A simple Google search for the model and “night mode” should provide the answers you need if you’re not sure how to use your phone or whether it has one at all. This is because various phones may have different features or naming traditions. Since night modes are becoming more and more essential on camera phones, it’s likely that if you’ve just purchased a new phone, it will come with some kind of night mode.
An illustration of building columns illuminated with festive lights
These amazing Christmas lights decorating the columns add even more color and brilliance to this midnight picture.
CNET/Andrew Lanxon
2. Seek out the light.
Even with the excellent low-light capabilities of modern iPhones and Galaxy phones, a great photograph still need some light in the frame. Therefore, it is unlikely that you would get excellent results if you go into the deepest area of a forest. Alternatively, consider visiting more populated locations, such as city centers, where you might discover light sources like as street lights, storefront displays, and perhaps even some holiday-themed festive lighting.
See also: Top Accessories for iPhone Cameras
3. Hold on to your moment.
People are often the subject of great street and city photography, and taking pictures at night can be a lot of fun. It might take some time to make sure the individual is precisely where you want them to be when there is minimal light.
Here are two instances of night mode images captured on dimly lit city streets.
Timing is crucial in both of these night mode photos; on the left, it was capturing the lone man moving across the primary pool of groundlight. The goal on the right was to catch the biker as he sped by.
CNET/Andrew Lanxon
Consider, for example, that you are shooting on a street with streetlights. Every bulb creates a pool of light, and as a person passes through it, they are momentarily illuminated before they are once again rendered invisible in the shadows. Having your photo ready and your finger hovering over the shutter button is my recommendation in such case. After waiting for a few minutes, you can finally snap your picture when someone walks right into that puddle of light. It may be quite beneficial to be patient.
4. Remain steady
You will still obtain the greatest photos if you keep the phone as motionless as possible while shooting the picture, even if night modes on phones don’t need a tripod as a DSLR’s multisecond exposure would. Look for a low wall, a garbage can, or anything else you can use to support your phone while you take your picture if you don’t have a tripod with you.
Holding the phone firmly in both hands, keeping it somewhat close to your chest, and tucking your elbows in toward your stomach can help support it if there is nothing around. This may be the difference between a crisper picture and lessening the natural wobbling in your hands.
A long exposure picture of an automobile with streaks of light
A nocturnal long-exposure photo captured using the Pixel 7 Pro.
Lanxon Andrew
5. If you have motion modes, use them.
In addition to taking great ordinary nighttime images, the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro (and the previous Pixel 8 and 7 series) also offer a long-exposure mode that lets you snap some artistic pictures that are often only possible with a tripod. The setting is quite effective at night, particularly for subjects like vehicles moving along city streets, but it also works well during the day to blur sights like waterfalls.
The headlights and taillights are blurred by the extended exposure, transforming from static balls of light into ethereal lines that snake across the landscape. To get this look, make sure Long Exposure is toggled on and utilize the Motion mode on your phone. This kind of long-exposure photography is best achieved by holding the camera still while capturing both moving (such as vehicles, buses, or bikers) and stationary (such as buildings and streetlights) things. It may need some effort and provide inconsistent results, but when it does work, it’s really effective and gives your nighttime photos a unique touch.
However, not many phones come with this as standard, and although some third-party applications try to do the same, I haven’t seen many that really function or that match the quality I’ve been able to get with the Pixels.
Examples of images before and after editing I like this black and white picture edit of a midnight scene. Bright city lights against dark backdrops provide a natural contrast that works nicely in monochrome.
Lanxon, Andrew
6. Make your shoots better.
As is the case with all excellent photographs, the key to turning an image into a true work of art is ultimately how it is edited. The majority of my editing is done using Adobe Lightroom Mobile, although Google’s Snapseed is also really strong and available for free on iOS and Android.
Since nighttime images are inherently dark, you may want to start by adjusting the exposure. Take caution: Even well-taken nighttime photos will include picture noise, or a fuzzy grain, which will become worse the brighter the image gets. To balance things out, you may need to add a little more shadow and subtract some brightness, particularly if you’ve caught strong street lights. Keep your focus on the specifics and avoid going overboard.
After that, it all depends on what you think looks nice, so take your time experimenting with the various tools and see what you can create. In my opinion, pictures taken at night may often seem fantastic in black and white because of the inherent contrast between the dark backgrounds and dazzling lights, which makes monochrome conversion easy.