Shooting in the dark not only brings its own set of unique challenges for the photographer, but the final results of these challenges can be extremely pleasing to look at. Slower shutter speeds due to low light bring on great light-trails, light painting, creative subject lighting techniques, and so much more.
However, having a sturdy tripod is key to many of these techniques. So what do you do if you do not have a tripod on hand to shoot in a low light situation? A few ways to rectify this situation include:
1. Crank up the ISO on your camera. Turning up the ISO on your camera is the first thing you can do to compensate for the lack of light. Bumping up the ISO setting allows your camera sensor to take in more of the available light, thus allowing for faster shutter speeds and smaller apertures. This makes it easier to reduce, if not eliminate, all signs of camera shake in your end photos.
Turning this setting up does come with a bit of caution. The higher you set your ISO, the more noise you will end up with. Cameras continue to get better at reducing the amount of noise at high ISO settings, but it is not perfect. This is particularly noticeable if you are producing an HDR image as the graininess really comes out when you stack multiple exposures. Do some test shots to see what acceptable ISO levels you have on your camera.
If you want that extra bit of light, try opening up your aperture a bit. This may give you a shallower depth of field, but it can sometimes mean the difference in upping your ISO setting just one more notch. This is a preference that you can only determine through testing various combinations and evaluating the end results.
2. Prop yourself up for more stabilization. If you have adjusted your ISO and aperture, but still need a bit more help, find something to rest on. This can be something as simple as setting your camera on a free table and recomposing the shot. It is not uncommon for me to use something like a bolder to rest my camera on while shooting in low light situations.
If you have to hold the camera to snag the shot you want, try to find something to rest your body against for just a bit more stabilization. You would be amazed how a tree, wall, vehicle, or a friend can help you reduce the amount of sway you have while taking a photo.
One last trick to this is to control your breathing. Instead of taking in a big breath of air and then holding it while you try to shoot, try exhaling and snagging your shot when the last bit of air has slipped out of your lungs. This is a common trick hunters use to help them remain steady. It is also a trick I employ quite frequently on just about every handheld shot, regardless of lighting conditions.
The reason this works is because you remain calmer when you are not fighting an over filled set of lungs. Think about a filled water balloon and how much tension it is under when filled to the brim with water. Your lungs are much the same, and thus your body struggles to keep all that air in.
3. Keep away from the camera when the shutter releases. This last tip will require you to set your camera on something sturdy. Again, a table can be a big help here. Once you have your shot composed, use the camera’s self timer to get the shot. This lets the camera do the work while you sit back and relax for a moment.
If you can acquire a remote shutter release, then this is even better. Some remotes run off of infrared, while others use an attached cable to bring your camera into action. The key is to get your hands off the camera when the shutter is triggered. Even the calmest of people can cause minimum camera shake just trying to click the shutter release button. This is a tip that should be applied even if you are using a tripod.
Low light photography can be a tricky situation to capture great shots in. It does not have to mean you pack your camera away and wait for the sun to rise again. Like all good shots, practice makes perfect. Now get out there and have some fun with the light!
*The Current Photographer website contains links to our affiliate partners. Purchasing products and services through these links helps support our efforts to bring you the quality information you love and there’s no additional cost to you.
This is where you would expect me to tell you about my life, how awesome I am, or why I am so superior to other people in this line of business. I would enjoy telling you how I have wrestled grizzly bears 10 feet tall. Maybe you would like hearing how I have taken on Velociraptors in my days as a young man. Even better is the story how I have traveled to the furthest reaches of space to stop catastrophic alien invasions. The problem will be that you might not believe my awesome stories.
I will keep these awesome stories for the campfire though. I’m just a man, taking pictures, trying to make a living. I ditched my education in computers in favor of pursuing my passion for photography. I enjoy a good cold beer on a warm day. I have a fondness of the outdoors.. I have enjoyed years capturing life’s unscripted moments. Hopefully, I can enjoy many more years of slacking off without fear of those grizzlies taking me out before my time.
My Philosophy is to capture those non-scripted moments. To capture the little details that this world really has to offer. From weddings to insects, I enjoy capturing the life, the details, and the moments that come and go in a flash.