Low Light Photography Tips - Part 2!

On Monday, we discussed what you can do with your camera to ensure the best possible results in low light situations.  Today, we will cover what you can do to support that technical information:

1. If you’re at home, turn on all the lights if possible.  Move lamps into the room where you will be shooting, if you can.  If you’re not at home, speak with your host/hostess and explain what you’re doing and ask for their help – chances are they don’t have a whole lot of great low-light shots of gatherings in their home either and will be more than willing to help.
2. Use a tripod or a monopod.  What’s that? You don’t walk around with a tripod?? Me neither.  That’s ok, just find something to brace yourself against.  Doorways work beautifully, as do solid pieces of furniture.  Nothing to brace yourself against? Use your own body.  Tuck those arms in and be still.
3. Move your body and change your angle.  Can you prop your camera up on the back of a sofa or chair?  Get down on your knees, have a peak through your camera and see if you have possibly discovered a great shooting angle.  A lower vantage point is often wonderful when shooting children, as well as gatherings where everyone is sitting down.

 

 

 

4.    Try to make sure that your subjects’ faces have some light on them. Again, this might mean moving around your subject and changing where you’re shooting from:

 

Low light photography often has a different feel to it.  Your photos may not have the clear, sharp look to them that we’ve all come to equate with good photography, but in cases like this, maybe that’s not the end goal.  Maybe the end goal is capturing that feeling when friends and family come together during the holidays, or when your nervous 3^rd grader makes eye contact with you from the stage and you give him a reassuring nod and he starts singing his little heart out.

Photography is many things, and often we have to work with what we’ve got at that moment, so my challenge to you is to prepare yourself before these situations are upon you and the moments is gone!

 ~ Kathy Thompson

Just a note, join us tomorrow as we announce the details of Crop & Create Winnipeg and Crop & Create Moncton!  Can't wait!

Comments

[Rosie N.]

I always forget to pull out my tripod and I have 2! Thanks for the reminder :)

[Roxx. T Barnes]

Great article! Thanks

[KathyT]

Thanks ladies :)