Low-Light Situation

Taking photographs in low-light situations involves capturing a scene when the light source is very minimal. This technique is generally used when trying to document the authentic appearnace of a night scene without altering the natural colors in the photograph.

Importance. Mastering photography in low-light situations can drastically change the appearance of nighttime photographs and preserve the true colors of a scene without the use of a flash. Not using a flash can eliminate distraction inevents such as weddings, ceremonies, or other serious circumstances in which a diverting flash would take away from the genuineness of the event. On that note, this technique allows the photographer to capture the reality of a night scene where the flash would undoubtedly wash out the subject, cast unwanted shadows, or darken the background in the photograph.

Method. There are several primary conditions that are necessary for producing exquisite low-light photographs. First and foremost, a small aperture and long exposure times (slow shutter speeds) are vital for taking nighttime shots without excessive blur. In addition, a high ISO (which accounts for camera shaking) is required and a tripod may be necessary. Because there is less light available for the camera to take in through its aperture, there must be long exposure times to allow more time to take in the available light. For this reason, a tripod may be needed in order to keep the camera stable during long exposure times. (Some circumstances can require up to several minutes of exposure time in order to document scenes with hardly any light at all (in shots of stars or the sky, for example).

Variation. Despite the fact that the goal in low-light photography is usually to avoid blur, oftentimes allowing some blur can create a very artsy effect, as seen in the blur of movement creating a star in Sparkle Star (left). A similar approach was taken in American Chaos (below).