PHOTOGRAPHY
How to Snap Stunning
Night Cityscapes
Long exposure, a steady shot and the
Galaxy Z Flip4 are the keys to mastering
urban photography after dark.
If you’ve ever tried to take a clear photo of a vibrant night cityscape, you know it’s not as easy as heading downtown and snapping a couple of shots. The fast-paced energy and stark contrast between light and dark can make it challenging to capture the details without the blur. So how do the pros do it? We teamed up with landscape photographer Michael Shainblum (@shainblumphotography) to show us how to bring your after-hours urban photography vision to life with the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4.
How to Shoot Stunning Night Cityscapes / @shainblumphotography
Frame your cityscape
From hilltops to the heart of the city, find an interesting spot to frame your shot. “I really enjoy vantage points that are elevated above the city — those are my favorite,” says Shainblum. Shooting from up high gives you clean views with an epic feel. If you’re looking for more detail and tighter compositions, take it down to a street corner. Shainblum uses Galaxy Z Flip4’s FlexCam¹ to line up symmetrical views on city streets. “Look for leading lines, interesting patterns and textures to showcase.”
Stay steady without heavy gear
You don’t want the camera moving during low light photography, so it’s important to have a steady spot to set up. Tripods are great for locking down a shot but can be hard to carry around. Shainblum likes to travel light, especially walking up those San Francisco hills. “It’s not fun to walk around a city with a giant backpack full of gear.” Instead, he opts for a lighter option. FlexCam means you can take stable photos — no gear required. “I can get awesome long exposures without a giant backpack full of equipment.” Simply find a ledge, set your smartphone down and snap.
“I can get awesome
long exposures without a backpack full of equipment.”
– Michael Shainblum
Capture motion
that moves you
Now it’s time to add some life and really see the city lights at night. Shainblum turns car, bike and boat light trails into abstract flourishes across the cityscape. To get the cleanest shot, he keeps the ISO as low as possible. Be careful: with an ISO that low your shutter speed slows way down. It may stay open between 2 and 8 seconds, so keeping your camera still is vital to a clear shot. Most importantly, be patient. Wait for the perfect moment of movement.
Edit like an expert
If you’re planning to edit photos later, the Expert RAW² photo app lets you export like a pro. RAW photos give you more data with each image and thus more flexibility to adjust color, contrast, white balance and more. When it’s time to touch up, Shainblum uses Adobe Lightroom³ on the Galaxy Z Fold4’s massive display to get the perfect look. ”It feels so much better having a larger area to fine tune the details,” he says. ”I import the images straight on the device and I can edit the images on the go.” Play with the advanced photo adjustments and effects to craft your perfect urban mood, from warm city lights to cold concrete.
- *All photos captured with Galaxy Z Fold4 or Galaxy Z Flip4 and edited with Adobe Lightroom.
- ¹ FlexCam refers to camera experience using Flex Mode. Flex Mode is supported at angles between 75° and 115°. For your convenience, it may be difficult to maintain Flex Mode while moving due to shaking or other movement. It is recommended to keep the phone stationary while in Flex Mode.
- ² The Expert RAW app is available at Galaxy Store only for Galaxy Z Fold4, Z Fold3, Z Fold2, Galaxy S22 series, S21 Ultra, S20 Ultra, and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
- ³ Download from Galaxy Store to get a complimentary 2 months of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. Valid until 2/28/2023. Valid for all countries excluding China. Terms apply. Visit Adobe.com to learn more. A Samsung account and an Adobe ID required.
The city is your photo playground
Shoot and edit your own epic city pics with foldable smartphones.
Galaxy Z Flip4
Galaxy Z Fold4
Expert RAW
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* Images shown here are for representational purpose only, actual may vary. All features, specifications and prices are subject to change without prior notice. Model availability may vary from location to location.