I am newer to film photography and I am especially interested in shooting night photography. I have an AE-1 I’m shooting with but prior to this I used Polaroids for my film cameras. But they do not really work at night so other types of film photography is new territory for me.

My first roll of shooting (almost all daytime photos) I got developed last fall after I first got the camera turned out poorly. I did not have the settings correctly set so most of what I got back was black photos. But I didn’t understand what I was doing entirely and now I’ve read more into things that when I first got the camera. It is a little harder for me to get out at night lately because of time and the weather where I’m currently at. Anyways..

I have been shooting using Fujifilm ISO 400 (I have set my camera for ISO 3200) just because this film is what’s available locally at this time. I want to get a film specifically for night stuff but I wanted to ask for some more advice first.

I have been trying to shoot at a lower shutter speed. I’ve read that’s ideal for nighttime photography to let more light in. I’ve been doing 2, 4, or 8 just to try. I have been trying multiples of each shot to see what ends up working best. I also do use a tripod at night, I know that’s a huge recommendation.

Does anyone have any recommendations for the best film (I’ve heard a lot of people rooting for Portra 800?) other setting tips that I’m missing? It would be greatly appreciated!