How to Photograph in Limited Light

Chances are if you have ever tried to photograph Christmas lights or sunsets, you know how tricky it is to photograph in limited light. Maybe you’re efforts have yielded blurry, grainy or spotty images. You’re not alone. Even professional photographers will tell you taking photography in limited light is a challenge. But if you follow these steps, you will take dramatically better photos in limited light immediately

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Digital camera (preferably compatible with a cable release)
• Tripod
• Extra batteries (recommended)
• Extra memory card (recommended)

1. Prepare for your photo session in advance. Understand how the following features of the digital camera work, such as the nighttime or fireworks feature, the self timer, the flash and the review feature. Be able to apply these features in limited light.

2. Take test shots. Use the review function to determine necessary adjustments.

3. Select the nighttime or fireworks feature. Effective photography in limited light requires a slower shutter speed and a wide aperture. The shutter speed determines how long light is allowed into the digital camera. The aperture determines how much light is let into a digital camera. Selecting the nighttime or fireworks feature allows the built-in light meter to automatically select a slow shutter speed and a wide lens aperture – two features necessary for limited light photography. If automatic metering does not yield the desired results, make adjustments manually if possible. Use the review feature to determine if the metering is suitable.

4. Turn the camera flash off for a large scene, such as a sunset. When working properly, the digital camera detects there is not enough light so the camera will flash automatically. But most built-in flashes have limited range, and are not effective past a few feet. Turning the flash off allows the built-in light meter to select an appropriate shutter speed and aperture setting.

5. Set the self timer. The self timer feature reduces camera shake as you press down on the shutter.

6. Anchor yourself to avoid camera shake. Follow the steps in the next section, Take Steps to Avoid Camera Shake.

7. Press the shutter release.

8. Adjust the settings accordingly. Taking photographs with limited light requires that you take multiple exposures of the same shot. Use the review function to determine if the settings are accurate.

Take Steps to Avoid Camera Shake

9. Anchor your body against a solid, stable object, such as a rail or counter.

10. Tuck your elbows in against your chest to avoid camera shake.

11. Hold the camera against your forehead so that you can see through the viewfinder

12. Hold your breath when pressing down the shutter release in order to avoid camera shake.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a cable release if possible.
• Always use a flash when taking portraits in limited light.
• Position yourself in close proximity to the subject for portraiture.
• Keep in mind the flash darkens the background in most images. Using a flash to photograph a person in front of a sunset will yield a background that is much deeper in color in the photograph.
• Be sure to have extra batteries as taking photos in limited light uses camera features that can drain batteries quickly.
• Carry an extra memory card just in case the card in the camera has reached capacity.
• Use a tripod with a quick release mount in situations that require you to take photographs indoors and out, if you are taking photographs on the fly.