Landscape photos = large DOF, but nighttime = wide open aperture? Contradiction?

[sully]

So I often read that for landscape photography, as you're looking to include as much detail as possible from nearby to far away - calling a large depth of field that comes from use a small aperture (eg. f/11 and above).

At the same time, I've also read that low-light photography is best accomplished by shooting wide open (large aperture) so a lower (less noisy) ISO settings and fast shutter speeds can be utilized (eg. f/2.8 and below).

So, what gives? Assuming that I know what I'm talking about here (by no means assured!), what are the generally correct settings to use for nighttime photography?

Thanks in advance. :)

[Mark_Cohran]

Night time photography doesn't necessarily mean landscape photography, although certainly landscapes can be made at night.

All photography is a compromise. It you want large DOF at night, you can up the ISO and live with the noise, use a large aperture and live with a smaller DOF (and not include any foreground elements that will be out of the DOF range), or USE A TRIPOD. :)

Seriously, night time photography calls for a tripod so you can use the low ISOs, smaller apertures, and not have to worry about shutter speed. Of course, if there's a lot of subject movement in the scene, the slow shutter speed won't help, but once again, you compromise and find settings that will work for the scene you're trying to capture.

Mark

[AirBrontosaurus]

Also, for landscape, you usually use a wideangle lens. At 18mm and f/1.8 (on an APS body), focusing on a subject that is 9 meters away creates a useable DOF of almost 2 km (kilometers)! Small focal lengths make for tons of DOF, which is why wide-angle lenses can get away with incredibly large apertures.

[Curtis N]

what are the generally correct settings to use for nighttime photography?An aperture that gives you the DOF you desire, a shutter speed that gives you the exposure you desire, and a tripod.

[MHP]

I set aperture to f8 then set shutter. tripod, remote, and mirror lock up is a must.