Cityscapes at night: blue hour, reflections and lights
Night cityscapes glow with color and reflections. Learn timing, locations and settings for city photography after dark.
Cities come alive at night. Illuminated buildings, street lights and traffic create color and atmosphere impossible to see by day.
Blue hour first
The 20 to 40 minutes after sunset give a deep blue sky that balances with artificial lights. This is the prime time for cityscapes.
Reflections
Wet streets after rain, fountains and pools double the lights. After a Mérida storm, the plazas shine.
Starbursts
Aperture f/11 to f/16 turns point lights into stars. The number of points depends on the lens’s aperture blades.
Settings
Tripod, ISO 100, f/8 to f/11 and exposures of several seconds. Bracket for scenes with bright signs and dark streets.
Mérida at night
The illuminated cathedral, Paseo de Montejo monuments, Santa Lucía park and Noche Mexicana events offer great night subjects.
Avoid blown lights
Bright signs and lamps clip easily. Reduce exposure or blend brackets to keep detail in lights.
