Street nights with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR and NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7

Use ambient light

Look for locations with multiple light sources. I often seek out streets with bars, restaurants, traffic lights, neon signs, fairy lights and illuminated windows, but I also pay attention to the pools of light they cast and to reflective surfaces such as car windows or rain-soaked puddles. This gives you plenty of options when it comes to choosing subjects and building compositions after dark. Whether ambient light becomes the focus of your frame or simply illuminates your subject, take time to consider how you want your composition to look and don’t be afraid to experiment. Waiting for a passerby (or asking a willing friend) to walk through your scene can add scale, drama and narrative, especially when combined with creative lighting. You soon realise that every light source can serve a different purpose. A softly lit window can gently illuminate a subject, while a neon shop sign can wash it in colour, and street lamps or car lights can create dramatic silhouettes. 

Top tip: Be curious and test what works for you. Night photography, especially when you’re new to it, is often about trial and error. If your first images aren’t quite working, adjust your settings and try again.

Use the weather

At night you can count on darkness and artificial lights, but the weather adds an extra element of surprise, so use it to bring energy and intrigue to your images. On a clear night, moonlight can bring a soft layer of natural illumination and help give a composition more depth, even if it’s not your main light source. Rain can be especially effective, creating reflections in puddles, on slick pavements and across glossy surfaces that add texture and mood. Use them to capture the glow of streetlights, car headlights or illuminated signs. On a closeup level, rain drops can add structure to surfaces, while wider frames tell a story – with figures clutching umbrellas and emptier streets delivering a sombre feel. Snow can be equally transformative, brightening a street but adding a peaceful mood that can almost feel otherworldly.

Top tip: Try photographing the same street, subject or area in different weather conditions and see how each one changes the mood. You could even create a compelling triptych: one image in the dry, one in the wet and one in the snow. Whatever the weather, every forecast offers something different, and getting used to working in all conditions will only make you a more confident photographer. Plus it helps that Nikon cameras and lenses are built for all conditions.

Use the zoom

The versatility of a zoom lens is incredibly useful for night-time photography, especially for street scenes. Being able to stay back and blend into the shadows suits the genre well, particularly if you prefer a more observational approach. A zoom also gives you the flexibility to quickly scale back and reframe a scene or move in to pick out reflections or areas of interest. And you can experiment with different perspectives, including low angles, without needing to move too much or draw attention to yourself. What’s more, with its bright f/2.8 aperture throughout its zoom range, the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR is well suited to low-light photography. Thanks to its built-in image stabilisation, you can photograph handheld more confidently in darker situations. Personally, I don’t like carrying a tripod for street photography, as I find it too bulky and too noticeable, so this lens is perfect. Image stabilisation is so effective now that it gives you far more flexibility and, if I really need to, I’ll raise the ISO as the Z50II can handle noise really well, and a little grain is better than a blurred image.

Top tip: It’s worth stepping away from fully automatic settings at night, as the camera can easily expose for bright lights rather than your main subject. Manual mode gives you more control, so take it.

Use a fast aperture

A fast prime lens like the NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 is perfect for night street photography when you want to work with the light that’s already there. Its bright f/1.7 aperture lets in plenty of light, which makes it easier to work in darker conditions and create a beautiful shallow depth of field. This is especially effective when you get closer to your subject or want to isolate a single light source within the frame. It can also turn background lights into soft, attractive bokeh, adding tone and a more cinematic feel. As well as capturing a wide view, the lens is great for picking out smaller details and textures after dark, making it especially useful for closeup creative captures. 

Top tip: Get close and look for a single light source such as a window, lamp or neon sign, then use the wide aperture to separate your subject from the background and turn the surrounding lights into soft bokeh.

Use 3D tracking for movement

If you want to photograph a wide night composition with an element of movement, such as passing bikes, cars, trains, trams or people walking through the frame, the Z50II’s autofocus system gives you plenty of flexibility. I typically use 3D tracking, as it’s a great way to follow a moving subject and keep it sharp while composing the scene around it.

Top tip: If a scene has very bright highlights and deep shadows, you might find it better to switch to dynamic area AF or single point AF, as this can force the camera to focus more precisely on the subject rather than being distracted by the brightest part of the frame.

Street night scenes top tips

1. Use negative space, as darkness can be just as powerful as light when it comes to guiding the eye.
2. Getting close and moving in tighter can make night street moments feel more intimate and immersive.
3. Don’t be afraid of high ISO. It helps to keep the shutter speed high enough for sharper images.
4. Look up high and down low, as some of the best compositions are found using puddles, windows and overhead lights.
5. Create silhouettes by placing your subject against a stronger light source and focus on shape rather than detail.
6. Be patient. Waiting for the moment a passerby, a vehicle or even a shaft of light enters your frame can transform an image.
7. Darkness hides detail, so simplify your composition to make your subject pop.