Freeway photography at night can create interesting visual patterns.
Photography is an exciting hobby that brings the world around you into your camera. Older cameras using film technology are becoming obsolete, but new digital technology allows the user the same creativity to produce unique photo images. Photographing freeways at night results in images that capture light and traffic movement. Freeway photography at night can easily be accomplished with any camera that has adjustable aperture and exposure settings.
Location
Photographing freeways at night takes a bit of planning. Choose a location that provides an unobstructed view of the freeway and does not have lights near you, such as overpasses or pedestrian walkways. You also need to consider safety, since most freeways do not allow pedestrian access. Good areas include local parks next to the freeway, or private property with a good view of the freeway. Always obtain permission from property owners before entering private property. Keep in mind that the areas that may be ideal for photography, such as dark areas near freeways, may have a higher potential for crime. Maintain awareness of what is going on around you during your night photography sessions.
Camera
Use a digital camera for freeway photography at night, as you can take test shots and review them immediately. Use a camera that has manual aperture and exposure settings; the use of camera settings is explained in the operating manual. Aperture is the size of the lens opening, narrow or wide. It allows more or less light to reach the light collector. Exposure is the time that the camera shutter is open, which changes the total amount of light reaching the collector. For example, longer exposures will give you longer headlight and taillight trails in your pictures. Use a camera with a higher pixel rating. This is a measurement of the light-gathering capability of the camera, normally measured in megapixels. Higher pixel ratings give clearer pictures with more detail, and allow for greater enlargements while retaining picture quality.
Setting Up the Shot
Use a tripod to prevent movement of the camera during exposures. Learn use the timer setting for your camera. This allows you to use a long exposure without touching the camera. Try using wide-angle or telephoto lenses to obtain different fields of view. This can change the picture dramatically, because wide-angle lenses give a much wider view that might include local buildings or scenery to enhance your picture. Use exposure bracketing to obtain a variety of exposures. Bracketing is defined as shooting multiple exposures with successive exposure or aperture changes. You can choose the best image without having to return later and reshoot.
Other Tips
Use a control shot to determine the pixel quality of your camera. This is an exposure with the lens cap covering the lens. This control shot determines if you have camera pixels that are not operating, and allows you to touch up the photos later to remove dead pixels by comparing it to your pictures and editing out the errors. Avoid shooting toward bright lights; the camera exposure will either cause the light source to be overly bright, or the remainder of the picture will be too dark. Turn off the flash on your camera before taking night freeway pictures.
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