How can you take better photos in low light?

1 Adjust your camera settings

One of the first things you should do when shooting in low light is to adjust your camera settings to suit the conditions. You can use the manual mode or the aperture priority mode to have more control over the exposure. You should also increase the ISO value, which makes your camera sensor more sensitive to light, but be careful not to go too high, as this can introduce noise and reduce image quality. A good range is between 800 and 3200, depending on your camera model and the available light. You can also lower the shutter speed, which allows more light to enter the lens, but make sure you use a tripod or a stable surface to avoid camera shake and motion blur.

2 Use a fast lens

Another way to improve your low light photography is to use a fast lens, which has a large maximum aperture. The aperture is the opening in the lens that controls how much light reaches the sensor. The larger the aperture, the more light it can capture, and the faster the shutter speed you can use. A fast lens is usually indicated by a low f-number, such as f/1.8 or f/2.8. A fast lens can also create a shallow depth of field, which means that only a small part of the image is in focus, while the rest is blurred. This can help you isolate your subject and create a bokeh effect, which is the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas.

3 Use a flash or a light source

Sometimes, you may need to add some artificial light to your low light photography, especially if you want to illuminate your subject or fill in the shadows. You can use a flash or an external light source, such as a lamp, a candle, or a flashlight. However, you should be careful not to overexpose your subject or create harsh shadows and contrasts. You can use a diffuser or a reflector to soften and bounce the light, or you can adjust the power and angle of the flash or the light source. You can also experiment with different colors and effects, such as gels, filters, or light painting.

4 Choose the right focus mode

Focusing in low light can be tricky, as your camera may struggle to find enough contrast and detail to lock on your subject. You can help your camera by choosing the right focus mode and point. You can use the single-point autofocus mode, which allows you to select one specific point in the frame to focus on, and then recompose your shot if needed. You can also use the manual focus mode, which gives you full control over the focus, but you may need to use a magnifier or a focus peaking feature to check the sharpness. You should also look for areas with more light and contrast, such as edges, lines, or textures, to help your camera focus.

5 Shoot in RAW format

One of the best ways to improve your low light photography is to shoot in RAW format, which is the uncompressed and unprocessed data from your camera sensor. Shooting in RAW gives you more flexibility and quality when editing your photos, as you can adjust the exposure, white balance, noise reduction, and other settings without losing any information or detail. You can also recover more details from the shadows and the highlights, and correct any color casts or distortions. However, shooting in RAW also requires more storage space and processing time, so you should have enough memory cards and a good editing software.

6 Experiment and have fun

Finally, the most important tip for taking better photos in low light is to experiment and have fun. Low light photography can be a great opportunity to unleash your creativity and try new things. You can play with different angles, perspectives, compositions, and effects. You can also use a remote shutter release or a self-timer to capture yourself or others in the dark. You can also look for interesting light sources, such as neon signs, fireworks, stars, or street lamps, and use them as your subjects or backgrounds. You can also use a long exposure to create light trails, star trails, or ghostly images.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?