Conditions where the ambient (existing) light is of a low level (dark). Photographers often use additional lighting equipment or long exposures in low light conditions.
16
votes
4answers
613 views
How do I achieve fireworks pictures such as the hirobamboo method?
How do I achieve the abstract effect for fireworks that is sometimes referred to as the hirobamboo method? Specifically what types of lenses would work best for this, do I start in focus or out, ...
5
votes
6answers
296 views
How can I capture vivid color and detail in relatively dark, indoor cafe?
The photo below was taken with a point-and-shoot camera of a cafe area I designed. I plan to return and take a better photo with my Nikon D7000.
Thanks to the skylight, the lighting in the foreground ...
2
votes
2answers
248 views
What are the proper settings for taking low light action pictures using Nikon D5100?
I have a Nikon D5100 and need to know how to use it properly to take pictures in low light (dance recital). I can't use a flash. I've tried but don't seem to get clear pictures. They come out very ...
3
votes
6answers
356 views
Is there any reasons a slim compact camera can't have a fast lens?
While there are compact cameras with fast lenses (like Lumix DMC-LX7, F1.4) they seem to be rather thick. The lumix is quite thick, at 46mm, largely due to the lens protrusion. Is it possible to make ...
3
votes
2answers
4k views
How To Take Better Macro Shots with Nikon 1?
I recently bought myself a Nikon 1 during a roadshow. When the sales rep demoed the functionality of the camera to me which includes taking macro shots, the pictures were crisp and bright. Convinced ...
20
votes
7answers
5k views
What should my plan be for photographing in a nightclub setting?
I'm going to be photographing in a club setting. Imagine a foggy atmosphere, with a lighting nightmare: everything from strobe lights to colored spotlights and everything in between, both bright and ...
0
votes
3answers
133 views
How to shoot circus acts with a point-and-shoot?
I have a point and shoot and need to know what are the best settings to shoot circus acts. I tried to shoot everything in AUTO or SCN mode on the OLYMPUS SPZ 800, but the results are not clean.
Here ...
3
votes
3answers
179 views
What color of light is best for retaining night vision while night shooting?
It takes about 30 minutes for eyes to become completely adjusted to night vision. If a flashlight is needed to illuminate controls while making camera adjustments, what is the best way to protect night ...
0
votes
6answers
181 views
photo using no flash
I've been put into a situation where I have been asked to photograph a party in a hall where there is virtually no light. I want the photos to have a very dark backgound but the person stands out how ...
2
votes
3answers
408 views
Where is Canon 1100D autofocussing in low light low contrast conditions?
It's obviously my fault for living in the UK and expecting to want to enjoy my bird photography in grey January afternoons, but, I would appreciate some opinions on the following.
I took 150 shots ...
-4
votes
2answers
191 views
What are the best manual settings for shooting indoors? [closed]
Hey I've just bought a DSLR and I'm doing a bit of shooting indoors at my home. I was wondering if anyone could recommend the best Manual exposure settings for doing this. I have a Canon 1100D with ...
3
votes
1answer
121 views
Why isn't the gain on phase-detect autofocus sensors increased in low light?
Modern phase-detect sensors can focus in pretty low light. However, the limit for low light focusing tends to be reached much before the camera can no longer capture images using a high imaging sensor ...
1
vote
4answers
165 views
Why are these lights all different colours and how can I correct them?
I occasionally take panoramic city photos and I've noticed that certain sections of the cities have a lot of different coloured lights.
What causes these different lights? Some of these appear to be ...
4
votes
4answers
252 views
When is it realistic to take a non-flash picture of someone outside after sunset?
This is a question from a non-photographer. I'm writing a scene for a stage play. In my scene, there's a celebrity in crisis in a park after sunset and a photographer who'd dearly like to get a ...
4
votes
3answers
272 views
Reducing noise in very high ISO photos
On the weekend I attended a wedding and took my camera along. I was not the official photographer -- just a guest.
My camera is a Canon 5D Mark III, and I was using an EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens. At ...
49
votes
13answers
24k views
How do I set the proper exposure for nighttime moon photos?
All my attempts to get a good shot of the full moon with my DSLR result in an overexposed circle on a black background. I've used a tripod, remote shutter release, low ISO, and long exposure, but ...
2
votes
3answers
295 views
What is the upgrade path for Nikon D300 with better low light sensitivity?
While I shoot Canon, my brother shoots a D300. We were talking about indoor sports photography. I don't know the Nikon lines, but I know that his D300 is a 2007 vintage, and sensors get better all the ...
3
votes
5answers
205 views
Why is a low base (minimum) ISO desirable in stills cameras?
Why is low base ISO so desirable in stills cameras, when the opposite seems to be true for digital motion picture cameras, for instance Arri Alexa, Sony F65 and F55, Canon C300, C500?
As an amateur ...
1
vote
6answers
157 views
How to take a photo of a animal behind a glass and in a very dark room with a bit of orange light?
The situation is as follows:
There is a very dark room.
Inside the very dark room, there are some orange lights on the ceiling
Inside the very dark room, there are many glass windows.
Behind the ...
4
votes
2answers
146 views
Lights for Illuminating Large areas?
I'm frequently underground in caves and recently while going on a trip to Thailand I experienced some of the most massive caverns I've ever had the opportunity to photograph. Unfortunately, I was ill ...
2
votes
3answers
205 views
Understanding what “low-light” situations means to photographers
I am getting into low light photography and recently bought a nikon D600 and 50mm 1.4 lens.
Results in ample light are superb. Sharp and crisp. I am interested in understanding the term "low-light" ...
18
votes
8answers
2k views
How do I focus in low light for long exposures?
I've been trying to take some long exposure shots at night with my Canon 450D. The problem I'm having is that I can't seem to get a shot in focus. The low light conditions prevent AF from working at ...
2
votes
4answers
234 views
Why doesn't my camera capture a dark picture when it looks dark to the human eye?
I tried searching for this, but found nothing on this topic:
is there a way to set the camera to get images in around the brightness a human eye sees?
For example, in bright daylight, I would set it ...
2
votes
1answer
364 views
What settings should I use for taking a picture of snow in low light?
There was just a huge snowstorm in town and I want to go out and take some shots of the fresh snow on the tree branches. It's nighttime now and the only light is from the streetlights and a little ...
4
votes
2answers
241 views
How do I take pictures of a baby in a very, very dark room?
I have a customer who has a very, very dark room that she wants to take portraits in. I'm photographing a 2 month old baby. What type of lighting should I use?
9
votes
3answers
703 views
Optimal DSLR settings for an Indoor car show?
I am quite sure a bunch of folks from this forum are going to be shooting in the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, so here goes!
I understand that optimal settings vary depending on the circumstancial lighting ...
1
vote
3answers
208 views
Will a short focal length cut it for indoor event photography? (Context: It's Crowded, Dark, Has Mixed Lighting, and Requires Walking Around.)
Short version: What primes are good walk-around lenses for an indoor, dark, crowded environment where you'll be taking pictures of individuals or small groups ad-hoc, walking around and stopping in ...
-4
votes
4answers
225 views
Is there a good quality pocket camera with wide aperture? [closed]
I'm looking for a pocket camera which performs well in low light conditions. I need a wide aperture such as f/2.4 or wider and I don't need to have zoom.
What would you recommend?
1
vote
4answers
1k views
Why can't I take a photo in dark with auto focus, manual mode?
I'm dorking around with a Nikon D80 and I am a total beginner. I am trying to shoot some light trails but the darn thing doesn't even take a picture. I am in manual mode with the bulb setting. For ...
23
votes
10answers
2k views
What settings should I be using to photograph fireworks?
As it's heading into firework season (with Thanksgiving, Guy Fawkes, and New Years), I've never been particularly successful at photographing fireworks. In previous years I think I've always had too ...
5
votes
2answers
304 views
What causes these green dots in my image?
I just received a 35mm f/1.8 DX lens for my Nikon D50 for Christmas, and took some shots where the lights on the tree were the main source of illumination. Almost all of them exhibit very prominent ...
1
vote
2answers
459 views
Why can't I take pictures in the dark in the automatic mode with a Canon Rebel?
I can't seem to take a picture with a Canon T3i Rebel in the dark. I want to take a picture at night with very little light around the subject, but the camera won't allow it in automatic mode. What ...
6
votes
1answer
268 views
Are there any consumer digital cameras with grayscale sensors?
Are there any consumer grade (i.e. not ridiculously expensive scientific equipment) digital cameras that use "grayscale" sensors instead of the prolific RGGB bayer filter? I figure that you'd get an ...
1
vote
4answers
339 views
Autofocus performance of different brands at night
Are there huge differences in the ability to focus in low light between different brands and models?
I have a Pentax Kx with a Sigma 30mm 1.4. My problem is, that the camera's autofocus does not work ...
5
votes
2answers
238 views
How does fading light affect color vision?
It's well known that the cones in retina are unable to distinguish colors in dark, leaving us only the monochrome softer vision provided by rods. And personal experience tells this "switch" to ...
1
vote
4answers
165 views
Low light pixel aggregation
If a lower resolution end image was acceptable, wouldn't it be possible to halve the width and halve the height of a low-light image and take the sum of the light in each block of 2x2 pixels when ...
2
votes
6answers
6k views
How can I focus in very low light with my Canon 60D?
I'm using a Canon 60D and would like to focus in low light. I know Canons — in fact, all cameras — can struggle here with auto focus, but I'm talking about light so low that I wouldn't be able to see ...
24
votes
6answers
2k views
Is it practical to shoot portraits by only candlelight?
Is it practical to shoot portraits in candle lights, only, provided there is no flash around? If yes, then for portrait shots, where and how should one place the candles? Are there any specific ...
0
votes
1answer
209 views
How to minimise the noise when shooting primarily under candle lights?
The following shots are with a small white light throwing "emergency light" on a height of one and a half forearms.
I used 3 candles on left side and 1 candle on the right.
Used 3 candles on right ...
2
votes
4answers
228 views
What are the techniques for photography inside an aquarium?
What are some of things I need to keep in mind when shooting inside an aquarium? By aquarium, I mean the kind into which people walk in.
I have had the following problems while shooting in such ...
0
votes
2answers
139 views
How to set AF in night [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How does one focus for landscape photos in very dark conditions?
Recently I went on a night forest safari trip with my Canon 1100D. I had put the camera in manual mode ...
2
votes
3answers
450 views
How do I take great formal Christmas party event photos?
It's that time of year again, just over 7 weeks to Christmas.
My workplace has asked me to do formal photos at our Christmas party this year e.g. when people (200) arrive and some of the tables when ...
1
vote
2answers
374 views
How to choose an easy-to-use camera that performs good in low-light?
I need a camera that deals with low light situations, various people using the camera and some who move it. I need a camera that has the ability to forgive many nonprofessional photographing ...
35
votes
10answers
3k views
How do I tell which point-and-shoot cameras take good low light photos?
I have a Canon Powershot A710 and I previously had a previous Powershot A-series model. I love them due to the high amount of control they offer. Sadly, they both suck in low light conditions, their ...
6
votes
4answers
439 views
Has low-light ISO performance really improved over the past 3-4 years?
I have a Canon 40D and I always shoot RAW. I am overall pleased with the 40D except for its low-light performance. Anything at or above ISO 800 is unusable for my taste. Just to solve this problem I ...
-5
votes
2answers
223 views
How to choose a f/1.4 lens for a DSLR?
I would like to shoot wide open with an f/1.4 lens. I have an Olympus e-510 with two kit lenses and I have been using them for three years. I have no prejudice (negative or positive) to any DSLR ...
3
votes
2answers
271 views
What's the best way to shoot aerial dancers in low light conditions?
Could anyone give me some advice on taking photo's of 3 aerial dancers, nine meters high in a dark room with spot lights?
I have a 70-200mm f/2.8 and an 18-105mm lenses. I only own one flash (A Sigma ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
Which prime lens to get after the 18-55mm & 55-250mm?
I started out with the 18-55mm IS kit lens on my Canon EOS 550D over a year ago, and added the 55-250mm IS a couple of months back to augment my telephoto reach (based on the recommendations in one of ...
6
votes
2answers
5k views
Nikon Coolpix P510 - Recommended low-light settings?
My wife was recently given a Nikon Coolpix P510 as a birthday present from her parents, primarily so we can take a - I believe the technical term is "****load" - of pictures of our new baby girl ...
5
votes
5answers
7k views
How to Force my Nikon D5000 to take a photo in low light?
Every so often I try to take a picture in low light, usually indoors and find that my camera attempts to focus, grumbles a bit and then refuses to take the shot.
This is annoying, not least because I ...
