How Can I Take Better Photos at Night with My Nikon Cameras?

We've all seen beautiful night photographs — those works of art that capture the stars or city lights. However, if you're just getting started, replicating these effects on your own can be difficult. Here are some tips to help improve your night photography:

• At night, it's all about exposure. It doesn't matter if you are using Nikon cameras or Canon SLR cameras, any model will come with an exposure option. Exposure controls the amount of light that enters the camera, so a longer exposure time (or shutter speed) means a brighter picture.
• Next, you need to know when to use a flash — or a flashlight. A flash is useful for lighting up everything in the immediate area of the camera, while a flashlight (held by a friend, ideally) can spotlight a specific area.
• Since light is such a big deal, another tool to consider is a lens hood. This reduces lens flares by blocking light from sources outside the frame of your photo.

But beyond these specifics, remember that at its heart photography is all about trial and error. You've got a digital camera after all — why not use up a few frames experimenting?