How to take pictures in common light settings

Light is basically what makes photography even possible, and the amount of light, quality, and type of light are all factors you must consider when taking pictures. For each variation in these factors a setting must be changed or an accessory employed in order to make the best possible photo. In this article I will show you how to effectively use your camera in the most common lighting situations.

Things You'll Need

• A camera with adjustable shutter speed and aperture
• Rolls of film with various ISO speed ratings (200, 400, 800, 1600)
• A flash either attached or external

Instructions

1. 

   When setting up a shot take note of the amount of light present and the type of light that is illuminating your subject. Start by asking yourself these questions: Is the lighting very bright or very dim? Is it natural lighting from the sun or artificial?

2. 

   If your subject is brightly lit you will need to make sure you are using the right film. For this situation a roll of film with a ISO speed rating of 800 to 1600 will best capture this scene. This is considered a "fast" speed for film, and the faster your film speed is the less amount of time it needs in order to be exposed. Making it perfect for bright situations where the camera's shutter need only stay open for very short amounts of time. Next you will need to set your shutter speed and aperture setting. Set your shutter to a faster setting such as 1/125 or 1/250, and your aperture to a higher number such as f/8 and above.

3. 

   A poorly lit scene will require a slow film speed, additional lighting (ex. flash), or a slow shutter setting. A roll of film with a ISO speed rating of 400 OR 200 will best handle this situation. These are slow film speeds and are designed to handle extended periods of exposure to light without over-exposing. Which is perfect for low lighting when your shutter needs to stay open longer than usual. Then set your shutter speed to a slower setting such as 1/30 and your aperture to a lower number such as f/4 and below. Using a flash or additional lighting (lamps) may also be necessary in this situation.

4. 

   For everyday situations with medium lighting or taking pictures indoors you can use either 400 or 800 speed film. A shutter speed of 1/60 and aperture of f/8 or f/5.6 should work best for medium lighting, although you will most likely still need to use your flash in these settings.

Tips & Warnings

• For more fine tuning, advanced photographers may also use lens filters to alter the amount and color of light coming into the lens. Lens filters can add various shades of color to enhance existing colors or reduce the brightness of the scene. Check with a camera store to see what filters are available for your model.