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A Beginnerв s Guide to Shooting in Low Light

2012-02-04 10:00
As photographers, we 8217;re always being told that light is the most important element of our work, that the shots we produce are dependent upon the light available and the artificial light that we bring to a situation. Whether we 8217;re tired of hearing it or not, it 8217;s true. However, photographers are often posed with tricky situations in which the lighting is less than adequate and doesn 8217;t match with their intentions. This tutorial will hopefully offer you some creative ideas for dealing with low light scenarios and making the most of the light that you have to work with. Why low light Many photographers avoid dealing with low lit situations because it often doesn 8217;t make sense to work without adequate light. If you are a produce photographer, there are no demands upon your work to shoot in situations where you don 8217;t have the correct light sources on your chosen subject. However, as a photographer who works with a large variety of subjects, I am met by a whole array of situations that require me to know how to work best with the light on offer. As you read through these tips, consider how they might be best applied to the photographic work that you undertake, whether any of the creative ideas might be worth considering for your own work. Hopefully this practical advice will come in useful when you are next confronted with a low lit situation. Photo by jliba What about flash I can hear you saying it already. In this modern age, we have a vast array of lighting options so that we no longer have to struggle with a lack of light. I don 8217;t want to detail here how to approach a low lit situation and compensate for that by using artificial light. Obviously, in any given scenario you have the option to use flashguns, studio style lighting or even something basic such as a torch to make up for the lack of natural light, but I want to focus on the ways in which we can use situations with limited light to our advantage and make the most of the scene we are faced with. Photo by lightknight Dealing with low light by using camera settings So first things first, when confronted with a low light situation, there are means by which you can alter your settings in order to get the shots you want. One of the main things you can do is make the most of the ISO settings. Turning up the ISO will let in more light, the only downside being that it will increase the noise in the shot. You can also work with the shutter speed in order to let more light in, select shutter speed priority on your camera and experiment with the settings according to the situation and the light available. It can also be beneficial to try using bulb mode on your camera, a feature that will keep the shutter open for as long as the shutter button is depressed. When using bulb mode, it is very beneficial to have a remote shutter release so as not to apply any pressure or vibration to the camera while the shutter is open. Photo by yazmdg Step 4 - Equipment to help with l...
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