Comments on: How to Shoot with Available Light http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:12:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Shannon http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/comment-page-1#comment-178233 Shannon Sun, 15 May 2011 02:54:33 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/#comment-178233 I have recently fallen in love with available light photography using a 24-70 2.8 L, and hand holding down to 1/13th of a second is consistently and possible with moderate ease, without an special support beyond a little practice with this lens and a 5D Mk II. Truly an amazing combo. Can't wait to get my hands on a 50/1.2 L. I have recently fallen in love with available light photography using a 24-70 2.8 L, and hand holding down to 1/13th of a second is consistently and possible with moderate ease, without an special support beyond a little practice with this lens and a 5D Mk II. Truly an amazing combo. Can’t wait to get my hands on a 50/1.2 L.

]]> By: James D http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/comment-page-1#comment-134926 James D Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:17:08 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/#comment-134926 @bobk sometimes flash lighting gets a bad rap when we use it in the right way at the wrong time (or vice-versa). I like to use both and alternate as I go. In your example of the wedding pics, consider: keep the flash on and slow down your shutter speed. If you can find a balance, the flash will only help extend the capabilities of the camera. (In a way, it's like "using available light" to expose the background properly - and then using the flash to keep the subject sharp (lovely thing that the ETTL will handle the flash exposure for you)). For your first question: there is in the end only so much your camera can do with the dynamic range of lights and darks you ask your sensor (or film) to handle. When the dynamic range is too high, you get into the realm of High Dynamic Range photography. One application here is that multiple shots, at different exposures (each handling a different part of the image), can be combined post-shoot into one image that can more accurately reflect the capability of your eye. (This can also be taken to extreme and provide some very interesting, "fake" looking images. I like both for different reasons.) @bobk
sometimes flash lighting gets a bad rap when we use it in the right way at the wrong time (or vice-versa).
I like to use both and alternate as I go. In your example of the wedding pics, consider: keep the flash on and slow down your shutter speed. If you can find a balance, the flash will only help extend the capabilities of the camera. (In a way, it’s like “using available light” to expose the background properly – and then using the flash to keep the subject sharp (lovely thing that the ETTL will handle the flash exposure for you)).
For your first question: there is in the end only so much your camera can do with the dynamic range of lights and darks you ask your sensor (or film) to handle. When the dynamic range is too high, you get into the realm of High Dynamic Range photography. One application here is that multiple shots, at different exposures (each handling a different part of the image), can be combined post-shoot into one image that can more accurately reflect the capability of your eye. (This can also be taken to extreme and provide some very interesting, “fake” looking images. I like both for different reasons.)

]]> By: Marie Affa http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/comment-page-1#comment-119006 Marie Affa Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:59:44 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/#comment-119006 Oh please do tell me you did not have that beautiful little girl hanging off a cliff just for a shot?? Oh please do tell me you did not have that beautiful little girl hanging off a cliff just for a shot??

]]> By: BobK http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/comment-page-1#comment-117489 BobK Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:58:51 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/#comment-117489 The problem I have with the park-grass-boat type of pictures using available light is burnout of the light fixture when I have the boat at the proper exposure. If I reduce the light fixture burnout then the boat is severly under exposed. Suggestions? Recently half way through a wedding shoot using flash I decided to turn off the flash, up the ISO and shoot the rest of the wedding with these settings. Results? Love the pictures much better than those with flash. The background is exposed properly rather than getting a pix of the bride with a totally black background (nothing could be worse). Yes some grain but nothing that is objectionable and not even noticable in a slide show. Available light for the most part is a better way to take pictures in low light level conditions in my opinion. Rarely do I get a flash picture that I really like. The problem I have with the park-grass-boat type of pictures using available light is burnout of the light fixture when I have the boat at the proper exposure. If I reduce the light fixture burnout then the boat is severly under exposed. Suggestions?

Recently half way through a wedding shoot using flash I decided to turn off the flash, up the ISO and shoot the rest of the wedding with these settings. Results? Love the pictures much better than those with flash. The background is exposed properly rather than getting a pix of the bride with a totally black background (nothing could be worse). Yes some grain but nothing that is objectionable and not even noticable in a slide show. Available light for the most part is a better way to take pictures in low light level conditions in my opinion. Rarely do I get a flash picture that I really like.

]]> By: Bryan Green http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/comment-page-1#comment-96677 Bryan Green Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:06:01 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/#comment-96677 Thanks Gary! Great post and very informative. I really liked your quote <i>“Remember this, light illuminates your subject but shadow defines it.”</i>. In Gary's comment, he mentioned the Human Monopod article but I couldn't find the link. Anyway, if you're interested I found the article here, <a href="http://alittlenewsphoto.com/?p=197" rel="nofollow">The Human Monopod</a>. The article is up, but images aren't working at this time. Bryan <a href="http://www.bryangreenphotography.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.bryangreenphotography.com</a>[eimg url='http://www.bryangreenphotography.com/images/favico.ico' title='favico.ico'] Thanks Gary!

Great post and very informative. I really liked your quote “Remember this, light illuminates your subject but shadow defines it.”. In Gary’s comment, he mentioned the Human Monopod article but I couldn’t find the link. Anyway, if you’re interested I found the article here, The Human Monopod. The article is up, but images aren’t working at this time.

Bryan
http://www.bryangreenphotography.com

]]> By: Sebastian McWilliams http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/comment-page-1#comment-33672 Sebastian McWilliams Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:08:53 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/#comment-33672 I've been Shooting Fashion Models for years and always use natural light, sometimes I would use the Flash in the later part of the day were I can capture the clouds and trees with a nice effect. Will have a Web soon. Thanks I’ve been Shooting Fashion Models for years and always use natural light, sometimes I would use the Flash in the later part of the day were I can capture the clouds and trees with a nice effect.
Will have a Web soon.

Thanks

]]> By: zulfadhli http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/comment-page-1#comment-33025 zulfadhli Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:37:25 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/#comment-33025 yup, the best about shooting with available light is you will put the feel, the mood inside the picture. The picture will look more realistic because it is real... no flash, no strobe, no any other equipment, it's just you, your camera and the scene. It's a great way to find out how good you are in photography and if you can master photography using only available light, than I think other conditions will be easy. zulfadhli http://www.photomakers.net yup, the best about shooting with available light is you will put the feel, the mood inside the picture. The picture will look more realistic because it is real… no flash, no strobe, no any other equipment, it’s just you, your camera and the scene. It’s a great way to find out how good you are in photography and if you can master photography using only available light, than I think other conditions will be easy.

zulfadhli
http://www.photomakers.net

]]> By: Photochick http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/comment-page-1#comment-32930 Photochick Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:44:07 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/#comment-32930 This was a very neat article - really got my wheels turning. And Gary, thanks for directing us your blog for even more information, including using yourself as a human monopod. So far, the only low-to-no light shooting I've tried has been night-time snow & lightning... <a href="http://photoeditmagic.blogspot.com/2008/07/when-trimono-pods-are-must-have.html" rel="nofollow">HERE</a> and <a href="http://photoeditmagic.blogspot.com/search/label/Lightning" rel="nofollow">HERE</a> I suppose it takes patience & practice to achieve some of the amazing effects some of you all have - kudos!!! This was a very neat article – really got my wheels turning. And Gary, thanks for directing us your blog for even more information, including using yourself as a human monopod.

So far, the only low-to-no light shooting I’ve tried has been night-time snow & lightning… HERE and HERE

I suppose it takes patience & practice to achieve some of the amazing effects some of you all have – kudos!!!

]]> By: Andrew http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/comment-page-1#comment-32922 Andrew Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:30:16 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/#comment-32922 I like the Strobist's definition of available light - "Any damn light that's available." I use light tools like some people use golf clubs - sometimes I use sunlight, sometimes I modify sunlight using a reflector or (more often) a diffuser, sometimes I use small strobes, and sometimes I use big studio lights (even on location). I think the key is knowing what end result you want and being willing to use (or abuse) any tools you have to get that result. Nice photos! Best, Andrew - www.shinnphoto.com I like the Strobist’s definition of available light – “Any damn light that’s available.” I use light tools like some people use golf clubs – sometimes I use sunlight, sometimes I modify sunlight using a reflector or (more often) a diffuser, sometimes I use small strobes, and sometimes I use big studio lights (even on location). I think the key is knowing what end result you want and being willing to use (or abuse) any tools you have to get that result.
Nice photos!
Best,
Andrew – http://www.shinnphoto.com

]]> By: John http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/comment-page-1#comment-32918 John Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:14:18 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-with-available-light/#comment-32918 You really can't beat nice warm natural light. I've been taken to using my 50mm f/1.8 more and more lately to capture those smooth tones. You really can’t beat nice warm natural light. I’ve been taken to using my 50mm f/1.8 more and more lately to capture those smooth tones.

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