David Pogue's Digital Photography: The Missing Manual

Trailing Car Lights

You've seen this shot on postcards and in magazines: neon bands of light streaking across the frame, with a nicely lit bridge or building in the background. The trick is to keep the shutter open long enough for the cars to pass all the way from one side of the frame to the other.

That may not be possible if you have a pocket cam. You really need a camera with shutter-priority mode (Use Stabilization)—an SLR or more advanced pocket camera. In this mode, you can tell the camera how many seconds to keep the shutter open—2 seconds or more for car-taillight photos, for example.

Tip

When preparing for nighttime shooting, pack a pocket flashlight so you can see the camera's controls in the dark.

Try to find a vantage point high enough to provide a good overview of the scene. A nicely lit building, bridge, or monument in the background provides a great contrast to the erratic lights created by passing cars.

Put your camera on a tripod or some other steady surface and compose the shot. Set the shutter for 4 seconds. Use your remote control, if you have one, or self-timer mode, so your finger doesn't jiggle the camera.

When you see cars coming, trip the shutter. Review the results on the screen. If the streaks aren't long enough, add a couple of seconds to the shutter setting; if they're too long, subtract a second or two.

Then sell the best of your shots to a postcard company. ...