Available Light Photography
Available light photography (also referred to as low light
photography) really is exactly what it sounds like: taking
photographs using nothing but whatever light source is
present at the moment …………..
Which is why there are some who will argue that shooting in
the midday sun also constitutes available light photography;
but for the sake of this discussion, I am on the side of those
who define available light as low light).
² Use a fast lens. A fast lens is one with a larger aperture such as
f/1.4; it is important to allow as much light as possible to hit
the camera’s sensor and large apertures help accomplish this.
² Use a prime lens. Prime lenses are typically faster than zoom
lenses and tend to exhibit less flare, which is a significant
consideration when shooting into the light.
² Boost your ISO. Most DSLRs produce great results at ISO
3200 and many can easily do the same at ISO 6400 and
higher. Don’t be afraid of a little noise; you can either deal
with it in post or…just forget about it. A truly great shot will
command attention and no one will even care about the
amount of noise present, if they even notice it at all.
² Slow down the shutter. The longer your camera’s shutter
is open, the more light it takes in, which is exactly what
you want in a setting where good lighting is scarce.
² Use image stabilization. Select lenses have a built-in
feature that helps compensate for the blurry effects of
hand-holding your camera, particularly at lower shutter
speeds. Nikon, Canon, Sigma, and Tamron all make lenses
with this feature.
² Go towards the light. It sounds fairly obvious, but do your
best to seek out the best lighting possible, whether that’s
under a streetlight or next to a store window. Maximize
the assets your environment provides for you.
² Wait for the right moment. If you are out shooting candids at
night, you may find it effective to wait until your subject
remains still. That stillness will likely be fleeting, so be vigilant
and get your shot.
² Embrace the blur. There is no reason to think that all blur is
always a bad thing; you may find that a little blur and the
motion it conveys enhances the creative aesthetic of your low
light photos.
²Avoid too much Contrast: Balanced light offers the best lighting
scenario. That doesn’t mean avoid the darkness, but try to avoid
situations where the brights are too bright and the blacks are too
black. Your eye may be able to adjust to any situation but the
camera can Only handle so much. So try to train your eye To
search for balanced light scenes where color and darkness
combine for a perfect balance. For example,
if you are shooting inside a room and the light coming through the
window is too bright, frame out the window so that the
camera can balance the light and shadows in more easily. Try not to
have the two extremes in one picture.
² Look for the light: This is one of the best tips I can give you. I
always am on the look out for the best lighting in any scene. If
you find that and wait for the photo to happen there you have
already created the environment for a great available light shot.
F4.5@
1/80
ISO 640
F4.5 @
125 sec
ISO 640
f/4 @ 1/30
ISO 640
1/15/@ f4.5 28mm Lens ISO 640