Better Available Light Digital Photography : How to Make the Most of Your Night and Low-light Shots

Introduction xi

Third, because most photographs are made during the middle of

the day, taking the time to search out other than “normal” light-

ing conditions, such as those that exist just after dawn or before

sunset, will produce photographs that will make yours look truly

different from the rest of the pack’s.

This one’s for you

Early or late in the day, the sun can be at extremely low angles

to the horizon and produce dramatic moody shadows and an

interplay of light—effects that are lost when the sun is directly

overhead. Just as challenging can be the prospect of working

indoors under a combination of—or lack of—different kinds

of light sources. Better Available Light Digital Photography is

your practical guide to understanding the many different kinds

of lighting challenges that you may encounter. It has been written

to provide some answers to questions of how to overcome the

kind of challenges you may encounter while creating great-

looking photographs.

Better Available Light Digital Photography is written for the

amateur or aspiring professional photographer who has been

frustrated trying to create useful images under less than optimum

conditions. If you’ve tried to photograph indoor sports, special

events (such as plays, weddings, graduations, and dance recit-

als), holiday lights, outdoor events at dusk or later (including

fi reworks), you know it can be a diffi cult process. If you have

been frustrated by your experiences, the tips, tools, and tech-

niques the authors will share with you will help improve all your

available light and low-light photographs.

You may be surprised to learn that you already own most of the

equipment for successful low-light photography. In addition to

camera and lenses, you will need a tripod or some other kind of

camera support, an umbrella or poncho to stay dry, plastic bags

to protect the equipment, a pair of long johns for winter photo-

graphy, and the adventurous spirit to try something new. As

you begin your own adventures in available light photography,

you will quickly discover that the rewards far outweigh the

inconveniences.

The information about which camera, lens, and exposure was

used for each photograph should be viewed as a guide to the

class of equipment you will need to re-create our results. If

any special equipment was required, we will tell you what it

is, how we used it, and direct you to a Web site where you

can fi nd it.

Keep in mind that the brands of cameras and equipment that we

use are a personal choice. To produce images similar to what

you’ll see in these pages, you don’t need to use the exact gear