Most photographers shoot in abundant sunlight. The problem is, full sun creates harsh, unflattering shadows that undermine images. Working in low light -- in early morning or at twilight or when Mother Nature cues the clouds or fans in the fog -- can help photographers produce stand-out images. Photographers will learn to analyze light and determine the best camera settings for creating captivating low-light images outdoors.

The definitive guide to taking photos in low light conditions or at night Photographs captured in low light conditions, or even in the dark of night, can be powerfully dramatic, sensually moody, or vibrant and glistening with the illumination of stars, streetlamps, or other artificial lighting. But the knack of capturing photographs in low light requires a basic understanding of the way images are captured by the camera. Modern digital SLR cameras are impressively capable of rendering images shot in low light, and professional photographer David Taylor discusses, clearly and concisely, the best cameras, lenses, tripods, filters, reflectors, cable releases, flash, and other equipment that are essential for this enthralling genre of photography.

The techniques illustrated in this handbook inspire photographers to take photographs when they would otherwise put their camera away--in low-light and nighttime situations. A comprehensive discussion of color and tone teaches photographers how to change their overall perceptions in low-light environments and adjust their exposure settings and filters to suit a variety of light levels. The most adverse lighting situations are covered, such as floodlit cityscapes, lightning, sunsets, stage shows, and fireworks.

Lynn Saville photographs New York during the time of transition from daylight to night, the fleeting moments when natural light gives way to streetlight, moonlight, window light, and advertisement and surveillance lighting. Subdued tones and shadows reveal a geometry hidden beneath the visual distractions of daylight.

Summer Nights is a sequence of nightscapes photographed along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Adams's attention to the subtleties of extreme light and dark emphasizes his appeal to look again at places often overlooked. What attracted me to the subjects at a new hour, he observes, was the discovery of a neglected peace.

Office buildings after work, car parks at night, and deserted motorway flyovers: such moments and subjects are preserved through the photographs of British artist, Dan Holdsworth.