Day For Night
Why is shooting “Day For Night” so tricky, and how did Jordan Peele’s NOPE Deliver The Best Day For Night Shots In Cinema
Shooting Day for Night, the technique of filming during the day and making it look like night, can be very challenging for several reasons, both technical and artistic:
Light Doesn’t Lie
Even if you underexpose or color-correct, natural sunlight behaves differently from artificial light, such as moonlight. Shadows fall differently, highlights bloom, and the sky is often too bright, even with filters in place.
Color Grading Limitations
You can push footage in post, but:
Skies may turn gray instead of black or deep blue.
Skin tones can look unnatural.
Highlights and reflections often reveal it was daytime.
Even high-end colorists struggle to make it seamless, especially in wide shots.
Practical Issues on Set
To fake night, cinematographers use:
ND filters (to darken the image)
Blue color gels or white balance tricks
Careful shadow blocking
But one mistake: a sun flare, a cloud break, a reflective surface gives it all away.
Human Perception Is Sharp
Yes, audiences subconsciously notice when the angle of light is too harsh, the sky is too evenly lit, or there’s no artificial light from houses, cars, etc. Night scenes need motivated lighting (e.g., moonlight, street lamps), and Day-for-Night often lacks that realism.
Creative Constraints
Actors may look:
Flat due to reduced contrast
Unconvincing because their breath doesn’t fog, or their pupils are too small (sunlight!)
And filmmakers often must avoid shooting toward the sky, which limits blocking and composition.
When Does It Work?
With tight framing
In wooded or shaded areas
On overcast days
When used sparingly or in stylized films (e.g., old Westerns or indie horror)
Summary
Day-for-Night is difficult because you’re fighting physics, psychology, and aesthetics all at once.
Even with today’s cameras and software, it’s still a gamble. That’s why many DPs either avoid it or plan it with obsessive precision.
I avoid it if at all possible and shoot night for night with lights, using VFX or our LED Wall for the out-of-focus background.
How Jordan Peele’s NOPE Delivered The Best Day For Night Shots In Cinema
Of any film that has attempted to shoot using day-for-night tactics, none have pulled it off better than NOPE. However, director Jordan Peele and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema had to employ some incredibly innovative techniques to achieve this.
If you’re not familiar with the day for night technique, it’s simply the practice of shooting scenes during the daytime and then color correcting them to appear as if they were shot at night. This can be hugely beneficial to productions of all types, saving a significant amount of time and money by avoiding overnight shoots and limiting the need for lighting gear.
Day-for-night techniques have been used in cinema for many decades. You can spot these shots in countless films from classics like Lawrence of Arabia, all the way through to present-day blockbusters like Mad Max: Fury Road.