Winter is a great time for street photography at night, said Faizal Westcott in his latest video above, and we don’t see why not! Depending on the side of the world where you are, this time of the year means you don’t have to worry about the sun setting so late into the night. However, if it’s your gear that’s stopping you — a fast lens, to be exact — he also said you don’t actually need it.
To prove his point, Westcott went for a night photo walk with a Fujifilm X-T5 paired with a 50mm f/2 lens. “This is by no means the fastest lens out there,” he said. He also noted that most photographers have this misconception that a really fast lens is necessary to get the best night photos. With all the bright light sources in the city, there’s practically no need to shoot wide open at f/1.4. Also, if you’re thinking about shooting portraits at night with flash, you’ll be using a smaller aperture anyway.
Finally, shooting at night can indeed give you a different perspective on places you’re already familiar with. Look for pops of color, dramatic silhouettes, and interesting shapes. If you’re looking for a reason to go on a night photowalk, hopefully, Westcott’s photos will inspire you!
Check out more of our street photography and night photography articles for more ideas and inspiration!
