In our latest How to Photograph series, TIME asked award-winning photographer Stuart Palley to share his tips and tricks to create beautiful night-time imagery.
Palley has mastered the art and technical skills of photographing at night and is known for his compelling and breathtaking photos of wildfires and his magical images of the the night sky. “Ninety percent of it is preparation and 10% of it is the actual execution,” he says.
Watch this TIME video to see which apps Palley uses to plan his shoots, tips on how to work in darkness, what equipment to invest in and how you can play with different light sources to achieve the best results.
Chasing Blazes: Sublime Photos of Wildfires
The El Portal Fire burns on a hillside in the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park, July 27, 2014. Stuart PalleyThe Rim Fire burns through Yosemite National park and the Stanislaus National Forest in late August. Multiple heads to the fire can be seen in this long exposure image.Stuart PalleyThe French Fire burns overnight in the Sierra National Forest near Mammoth Pool, Calif., August 1, 2014. Stuart PalleyA long exposure shows smoldering remains of overnight fires on the hillsides of San Marcos, San Diego county, Calif., USA, early May 16, 2014.
Stuart Palley—EPAThe Shirley Fire burns at night off of Old State Rd near Lake Isabella while a helicopter circles overhead and crews work on a slopover, Calif., June 15, 2014.
Stuart PalleyA full moon rises over the active flank of the Colbert Fire off San Gabriel Canyon Road in Azusa, Calif., Thousands of people were under mandatory evacuation orders overnight, Jan. 17, 2014.
Stuart PalleyThe Shirley Fire burns overnight near Lake Isabella Calif., on the evening of June 15, 2014. By morning the fire had burned 2200 acres. At least two structures were lost.Stuart PalleyThe Chariot Fire burns in the mountains south of San Diego, Calif., July 8, 2013. Stuart Palley—Orange County RegisterThe Shirley Fire burns at night off of Old State Rd near Lake Isabella, Calif., while a helicopter flies overhead. June 15, 2014.
Stuart PalleyThe Powerhouse fire spreads at night near Lancaster, Calif., June 2, 2013.
Stuart Palley—EPAThe French Fire burns overnight in the Sierra National Forest near Mammoth Pool, Calif., August 1, 2014. Stuart PalleyThe French Fire, one of six major fires burning in California, burns in the Sierra National Forest near Mammoth Pool, Calif., August 1, 2014. Stuart PalleyThe French Fire burns overnight in the Sierra National Forest near Mammoth Pool, Calif., August 1, 2014. Stuart PalleyThe French Fire burns overnight in the Sierra National Forest near Mammoth Pool, Calif. By morning the fire had burned over 11,400 acres. August 1, 2014. Stuart PalleyEmbers fly off burned out trees at the Etiwanda Fire in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., April 30, 2014
Stuart PalleyThe Butts Fire burns near the town of Angwin in Napa County, Calif., July 1, 2014.
Stuart PalleyMountain Fire near Mountain Center, Riverside County, Calif., July 16, 2013.Stuart PalleyThe Silver Fire burns near Cabezon, Calif., Aug. 8, 2013. Stuart Palley—EPAThe Colbert Fire burns off Highway 39 near Azusa, Calif., Jan. 17 , 2014.
Stuart Palley—EPAA long exposure shows smolderings remains of overnight fires on the hillsides of San Marcos, San Diego county, Calif., May 16, 2014.
Stuart Palley—EPA
Stuart Palley is a Los Angeles based photographer documenting wildfires and the environment. Follow him on Instagram @stuartpalley
Tara Johnson is an Associate Photo Editor at TIME.
