Night Photography: Low Light Techniques
In photography, lighting conditions are sometimes less than adequate. You may have no choice but to shoot in low light conditions, and this can prove to be a challenge for even the most experienced of photographers. However, by following a few simple tips you will be able to shoot great photos in low light conditions.
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Equipment
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When shooting in low light conditions, a solid starting point is to bring along a tripod. You will have to adjust your camera settings to take advantage of the little light that is available, and the slightest camera shake can result in a blurred image. Use a tripod to keep your camera steady. Although it is not vital, you also might want to invest in a cable release so that you do not have to touch your camera to take the picture.
Settings
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When shooting in low light conditions, you will need to adjust your camera settings. By raising the ISO setting, the lens will let more light into the camera. This should be combined with a longer shutter speed to maximize the volume of light you let into your camera. However, it can be tricky and time consuming to find the right settings, and by increasing the ISO setting you will also increase the amount of noise on your image.
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Capturing Motion
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Night photography presents photographers with opportunities that are otherwise unavailable during daytime hours. The most common of these techniques is capturing motion. By using the BULB setting on your digital SLR, you can adjust the amount of time your camera’s lens is open for each picture. For example, you can record streams of light left behind from the headlights and brake lights of cars, capturing trails of light. However, you should be aware that the longer the lens is kept open, the more noise will be visible on your image.
RAW
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If you are using a higher ISO setting, you may be capturing a significant amount of noise in your images. By shooting in the larger RAW format, you will be able to achieve more detail in your image and help combat image noise.
Lenses
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If you are a regular night or low light photographer, it may be worthwhile to invest in a fast lens. Fast lenses have a larger maximum aperture, which means that they deliver a greater light intensity, allowing for a faster shutter speed. This means that it will be easier for you to capture images in low light conditions without having to worry too much about noise distortion.
Lighting
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If you are shooting at night or in low light conditions, you may decide to bring along a lighting kit. This will allow you to light your image however you want, but these kits can be expensive. A more affordable alternative and an improvement on your camera's built-in flash would be to use a flash gun. Flash guns allow you to direct the flash wherever you want instead of having a straight-on flash.
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References
- Photo Credit moon image by Sebastian Glapinski from Fotolia.com
