ABSTRACT
The single most important technical aspect of digital night photography is optimizing the exposure for RAW capture and development. There is certainly much more to successful night photography than technical perfection, but having the best possible exposure will provide you with the most artistic freedom and creative control to interpret the image according to your vision. An optimal RAW file contains the maximum possible ratio of image information (signal) to data that is an unwanted by-product of capture and processing (noise). This is known as the signal to noise ratio (SNR). Noise is inherent to all electrical processes, including digital photography, and it can distort or block the signal (your image). To achieve the highest quality image, you need to achieve the highest possible SNR. Providing the sensor with the greatest possible exposure without clipping important highlights is the way to ensure the best SNR.
