Night Shots
Here’s a secret… We never use it!
With the right approach, you can capture beautiful photos even in low light. While it’s common to assume that turning on Night Mode will automatically improve your shots, that’s not always true.
In the example above, we photographed the car scene without using any special mode, letting the Android phone adjust automatically to the available light. The result was a clear, sharp image.
For comparison, the photo below was taken using Night Mode, which activates a longer exposure by keeping the shutter open for more time. But without a tripod to keep the phone steady, this led to noticeable blurring—especially in the text on the building.
The takeaway? It’s important to understand how Night Mode works, but it’s just as important to know its limitations. Sometimes, letting your phone do the work naturally gives you the best result.
Naples, Florida: The images above were captured during a Porsche event on Naple’s famed 5th Avenue.
🌙 Understanding Night Mode on Smartphones
In extremely low-light conditions where the camera struggles to compensate, night photography requires a different approach. Stability, exposure control, and creative use of available light sources are essential for capturing sharp, vibrant shots.
Night Mode is a specialized camera feature designed to improve photo quality in low-light or nighttime conditions. Rather than relying on a flash, Night Mode uses longer exposure times and computational photography to brighten dark scenes, reduce noise (graininess), and preserve detail. It's especially useful for capturing nighttime landscapes, dimly lit interiors, or city scenes after dark.
It does have its limitations and is often more useful for advanced learners. Longer exposure mean the camera phone must be held steady to avoid movement or blurriness. Typically, the best night mode images are taken with a tripod so they are not popular with amateur photographers. While both Apple and Android phones offer this Night Mode, the way it's activated, customized, and displayed differs slightly by platform. Understanding how Night Mode works is fun for advanced learners and when to use it can help you take beautifully clear and atmospheric photos — even in near darkness.
Whether you’re photographing a city skyline, light trails, or a starry sky, understanding how to work with darkness and artificial light will help you elevate your night photography and make the most of your smartphone’s capabilities.
🍏 Night Mode on iPhone (Apple)
🔍 Where to Find It
Night Mode activates automatically when the iPhone detects low lighting — you won’t find it listed as a manual mode like “Portrait” or “Pano.” When it's available, a Night Mode icon appears at the top or side of the screen in the Camera app (depending on how the phone is held).
🌙 Night Mode Icon & Settings
Active
Icon: A yellow crescent moon with vertical lines (like rays) next to it.
When Night Mode is on, the icon appears yellow and a number appears next to it (e.g., “1s,” “3s”) showing how many seconds of exposure are being used.
Adjustable (Manual Control)
Tap the Night Mode icon to adjust the exposure time manually using a slider — useful for creative control, like longer light trails or brighter night skies.
Off (Temporarily)
You can turn off Night Mode temporarily by sliding the exposure time to “Off.”
Icon: A gray crescent moon with a slash through it.
📝 Night Mode works with regular Photo mode and Portrait mode (on some models), but not with Time-Lapse or Pano. On a tripod, longer exposures (up to 30 seconds) may be enabled for stunning low-light landscapes.
🤖 Night Mode on Android (Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus)
🔍 Where to Find It
Unlike iPhones, most Android phones include Night Mode as a distinct mode in the camera interface. You usually swipe through the mode carousel to find it — sometimes called Night, Night Sight, or Bright Night, depending on the brand.
🌙 Night Mode Icon & Settings
Standard Night Mode
Icon: A crescent moon, sometimes combined with a star or camera icon.
You must select this mode manually, but it will automatically decide exposure time once you frame your shot.
Auto Night (on some models)
Some phones like Pixel and Samsung may enable a smart Auto Night feature when shooting in normal Photo mode under low light.
Icon: A crescent moon with an “A” or glowing edges may appear subtly before the shot is taken.
Manual Adjustment
Many Android phones let you tap the screen or use Pro Mode to further customize shutter speed, ISO, or light sensitivity for a similar Night Mode effect.
📌 Hold the phone still or use a tripod during Night Mode to avoid blur. On-screen prompts may say “Hold still” or “Processing…” after the shutter clicks.
Istanbul, Turkey: Istanbul, Turkey: The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica, is the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul—and one of several hundred ancient water reservoirs hidden beneath the city. This popular attraction is known for its dim, atmospheric lighting, which can be a challenge for photography.
Interestingly, the photos shown here were not taken using Night Mode. Since we didn’t have a tripod, it would’ve been difficult to hold the camera steady long enough for that feature to work well. Instead, we simply framed the shot and let the Android phone automatically adjust for the low light. The results? Impressively sharp images without changing any settings. This experience is a good example of why we rarely use Night Mode—today’s phones are often smart enough to handle tricky lighting on their own.
10 Tips for Capturing Stunning Night Photos with Your Smartphone
Use Night Mode - Sometimes it is helpful to use Night Mode which automatically adjusts exposure and reduces noise in low-light conditions. Turn it on for sharper and brighter night shots; however, keep in mind that this action may reduce quality.
Keep Your Phone Steady – Low light requires longer exposure times, making it easy to get blurry photos. Use a tripod, rest your phone on a stable surface, or hold it with both hands to minimize movement.
Find a Light Source – Streetlights, neon signs, and even the moon can add depth and drama to your shot. Position your subject near a light source to create contrast and avoid underexposed images.
Adjust Exposure Manually – Tap on the screen to focus, then slide the exposure adjustment up or down to brighten or darken the image as needed. Lowering exposure slightly can help prevent overexposure from bright lights.
Avoid Using Flash – Your phone’s flash can create harsh shadows and unnatural lighting. Instead, use available ambient light or a secondary light source, like a flashlight or nearby lamp, for a softer effect.
Use Long Exposure Apps – If your phone doesn't have a built-in long exposure feature, apps like Slow Shutter Cam (iOS) or Camera FV-5 (Android) can help capture better night shots by keeping the shutter open longer.
Experiment with Reflections – Wet streets, puddles, and glass surfaces can enhance night photos by reflecting lights for a more dynamic composition. Try adjusting your angle to capture these reflections.
Reduce Digital Noise (Grain in Images)– Night photos can appear grainy. Using Night Mode, lowering ISO settings, and slightly increasing contrast in editing can help reduce noise while maintaining detail.
Capture Light Trails and Motion – Moving car headlights, city lights, or fireworks can create stunning light streaks. Use a tripod and long exposure settings to capture these dramatic effects.
Edit for a Natural Look – Slightly adjust brightness, shadows, and warmth to enhance your night shots while keeping them realistic. Avoid over-sharpening, which can introduce noise.
Final Tips
Begins can usually ignore this mode with confidence.
Most images are just fine without Night Mode, unless there is no way to capture faces properly in the scene.
Keep your hand as steady and smooth as possible for clear results.
Avoid moving objects (cars, people) in the frame unless you're experimenting.
Practice makes perfect — experiment with movement, light, and subject matter.
By mastering stability, exposure, and lighting, you can take breathtaking night photos with your smartphone that capture the magic of low-light scenes!
“Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.”