That doesnt mean it cant shoot in the dark, however.
Many new smartphones like the Google Pixel 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S10 come with bonafide night modes.
Even the iPhone XS lets you make a few tweaks to help take better night time photos.
All you need is a bit of patience and time to dig into the configs.
Most Android smartphones offer this feature directly in the viewfinder.
Tapping the screen and dragging the exposure meter is enough to lock the exposure of the shot.
It works similarly on the iPhone.
Then, drag your finger up and down the viewfinder window to adjust accordingly.
A lower exposure requires a faster shutter speed, so the sensor isnt taking in as much light.
Its the perfect recipe for a moody scene.
you might also your phones rear flash to help shape the scene.
Night mode isnt typically on by default.
Once thats set up, press the shutter button to take the photo.
Try propping up the phone against a stable surface.
Or, if youre serious about keeping that shutter open, invest in a smartphone tripod like theLOHA.
Pay particular attention to the shutter speed, which is your key for shooting scenes like the night sky.
The manual mode typically shows the result of your adjustments directly in the viewfinder.
The iPhone offers some manual controls directly in its camera interface, though theyre limited to focus and exposure.
At night, this feature can help capture fireworks overhead or bright neon lights.
If there are no manual camera parameters available for your smartphone, try a third-party app.
On Android, go for a tried-and-true app likeCamera MX, or one of the newer players calledFootej Camera.
Avoid other lenses
The hot trend in smartphones these days is bundling in different rear-camera lenses.
If your smartphone comes with multiple cameras, see to it youre shooting with the right one.
