When The Lights Go Down: Low Light Photography Tips
One thing that is vitally important to photography is light; it can have a tremendous effect on the quality of your images, so knowing how to work with different light levels can make all the difference in the world.
As the autumn weather closes in, the days get shorter and greyer and you will find that you’re more frequently trying to take pictures in low light conditions. Here are a few tips to help you ensure that they come out beautifully.
Use Higher Shutter Speeds
One of the most common problems you’ll have with low light photography is that your pictures will often come out blurry. This is due to camera shake or objects moving while the shutter operates. Increasing your shutter speed will help to reduce this issue. For day to day photography, a speed of around 1/200th-1/250th of a second should work well, but it will depend on the focal length of your lens.
Increase ISO
Increasing your ISO makes the shutter collect light faster – and effectively increases your shutter speed. This means that if you’ve got the shutter speed as high as it can go, but you’re still getting blurry images, you can increase the ISO to further reduce shake. Remember, however, that higher ISO can create a grainier image.
Get Closer to the Light
If you can get your camera closer to the source of the light, it’ll be able to use more of it and give you a better image. If you’re shooting indoors, look for curtains, blinds or even doors that you can open to allow more natural light in.
Get Steady
The most obvious method of reducing camera shake in low light conditions is simply to hold your camera steadier. You won’t always be able to use a tripod, but you can use your left hand to support the camera and, if the angle works, kneel down with one knee up to support your elbow.
Watch the Autofocus
In low light conditions, many cameras have difficulty picking up details for autofocus. One option is obviously to use manual focus in low light, but if you prefer AF, look for a camera which has an AF Assist light on the front
Paint with Light
In dark conditions, you can use a longer exposure and flashlight to paint the shot with light – you will need to set your camera steady, and while the exposure is taken point your light at different areas to light it up.
If your camera doesn’t give you the functionality you need to take great pictures in low light, our camera exchange service is a great way to upgrade, giving you money for your old model to go towards the new. For more information, contact us on 0208 371 4179 today.
