Outdoor/Travel

A small f/stop (f/16) was used in this low-light situation to get all the Buddha statues in sharp focus. A tripod was used to steady the camera during a relatively long exposure (1/15 of a sec). (Canon EOS 1N, Canon 24mm f/2.8 lens, Kodak Elite Chrome 200.)

Low-light shooting usually falls into two categories: natural light (daylight) and artificial light (light from bulbs and lamps). First, let's take a look at natural light shooting--the kind of light you might encounter in your house on a sunny day, in a bright building, in the shade, outdoors in the early morning or late afternoon, and so on.

Today, color print film (technically called color negative film) photographers are using ISO 800 films in low light with good results--much better results, in fact, compared to the ISO 400 films of several years ago. That's due to advancements in film technology that would take another article to explain. Simply put: pictures are sharper, contrast is better, and colors are brighter with the new generation of ISO 800 films. Keep in mind, however, that color, contrast, and grain differ from film to film--as well as from speed to speed. So, before you pass final judgment on a film, do a comparison test and see which film best meets your needs.

Slide film shooters, like me, are using new ISO 200 slide films for the same reason: better color, contrast, and grain. But there is another important factor that makes these new ISO 200 slide films a good choice for low-light shooting--their pushability. This new generation of slide films can be "pushed" (exposed at a higher ISO setting) to one, two, and three stops with good results--eliminating the need to pack a bunch of different films in a camera bag, or when a faster film is not readily available.

Bouncing the light off the ceiling of this Thai performer's dressing room produced a very soft and flattering effect. (Canon EOS 1N, Canon 17-35mm f/2.8, Kodak Elite Chrome 200.)

If you are not familiar with "pushing" a film, here's a general guideline: First, check with your film's manufacturer (the web is a good source of information) about "pushing," which basically means exposing a film at a higher ISO setting and then having it processed for that setting.

Here's why it's very important to know a film's "push" capabilities. A one stop "push" for one manufacturer's ISO 200 film may be to expose the film at ISO 400; another's may be ISO 320 (as is the case with Kodak's Elite Chrome 200 film). Also, some films have not-so-well-known "pushing" requirements. For example, did you know that you can shoot Kodachrome 200 at ISO 500? That's a 11/3 stop push--and the only push that's commercially available for this film.

Now that we've discussed natural light shooting, here's some advice on what to do when the lights are turned on. First, it's important to realize that the color temperature of the light changes. This change would affect the color/tint of your picture if you used daylight-balanced film, which I assume most of you use.

Color print shooters don't have that much to worry about when shooting in scenes illuminated by incandescent bulbs (the kind in most table lamps) because the colors in prints can be corrected somewhat in the lab. If you don't like the "warmer" color/tint, take your prints back to the processor for a remake. Your color/tint may not be perfect, but it can be improved.

Slide film shooters have to worry because the color in slides cannot be color corrected in the lab at the time of processing--under standard processing conditions. When shooting a scene or subject that's illuminated by incandescent light bulbs, slide film shooters need to use tungsten film (ISO 160 that can be pushed to ISO 320), or an 80B filter, which balances the light. Serious color print shooters, of course, can use an 80B filter, too, for better color.

A combination of flash and natural light was used to illuminate this Thai dancer. To prevent the dancer from being "washed out," I reduced the flash output by 11/3 stops. (Canon EOS 1N, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, Canon 540 EZ flash, Kodak Elite Chrome 200.)

Things get more complicated for slide shooters (and color print shooters to a lesser degree) when shooting under fluorescent lamps because there are several type of fluorescent lamps, and each requires its own type of filtration. Mixed lighting is a problem, too.

There are lots of Color Correction (CC) filters around to ensure good color in a photograph when taking pictures under fluorescent lamps. To find out which filter to use, CC charts are available from major film manufacturers. For best results, use a color meter (Minolta makes a nice one), which measures the color temperature of the light and recommends a filter (or filters) and exposure compensation.

Another idea for getting good and better color is to get your picture into the digital darkroom, where you can fine-tune your images in imaging programs like Adobe Photoshop with relative ease.

Fast Lens. Camera and independent lens manufacturers offer what pros and advanced amateurs call "fast" lenses. Fast lenses, usually f/1.4, f/1.8, or f/2.8, allow more light (at the maximum aperture) into the camera than slower lenses--f/3.5, f/4.5, and so on. As the light level reaching the film increases, the shutter speed at which you can shoot also increases. With a fast shutter speed, you get less camera shake and fewer blurry pictures. So for low-light shooting, a fast lens is a big asset.

Is this picture of a statue in a Hindu temple in Singapore a flash or natural light shot? Actually, it's both. I use my flash to add just a touch of light, color, and detail to the scene. (Canon EOS 1N, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens, Canon 540 EZ flash, Kodak Elite Chrome 200.)

Camera Support. I usually like to travel light and leave my tripod at home. When I know I'm going to be shooting in low light, however, my tripod is an essential part of my shooting gear.

I use the tripod to steady my camera when I need to shoot at a shutter speed slower than the focal length of the lens, which is the basic rule for hand holding a lens. (For example, I don't hand hold a 200mm lens at a shutter speed below 1/200 of a sec.)

When I am using a tripod something interesting happens. I find myself slowing down and looking at the scene in the viewfinder in more detail. It's a Zen thing.

Other camera supports I use in low light include a bean bag, mini-tripod, and a convenient wall--a camera support that is often overlooked.

One thing to remember when shooting color film in low light is something called reciprocity failure, which is basically the film's failure to reproduce accurate colors. This can and usually happens during long exposures, but it can be corrected with filters. Every film "fails" at a different slow shutter speed, so check with your film's manufacturer about how to avoid disappointment.

Fill Flash. At the beginning of this article I mentioned blasting a subject with a flash in low light. (I was not speaking of shooting in total darkness, which may be necessary.)

This statue in a Singapore temple illustrates the beautiful soft effect created by indirect lighting. (Canon EOS 1N, Canon 24mm f/2.8 lens, Kodak Elite Chrome 200.)

In low light a better approach is to reduce the flash output, which is possible on many of today's accessory flash units while shooting in the TTL (Through The Lens) automatic exposure mode.

In low-light situations, while in the TTL mode, I usually reduce the output of my flash by 1 stop or 11/3 stops. This reduction in flash output produces a very natural looking picture--without harsh shadows and without washing out highlights on the subject. I use this technique only when the natural light level is high enough for a natural light exposure. If it were not high enough, using this technique would produce an underexposed picture. Therefore, when the light level is too low, I use my flash at full power. Usually...and here's why. When I'm photographing a person in near or total darkness, if my subject does not fill the frame, I reduce the flash output. Otherwise, the subject would most likely be overexposed because the flash exposure system would "think" that the entire frame (including the area behind my subject) needs to be illuminated. The result would be an overexposed subject.

I shoot on full power, again in the TTL mode, when the subject fills the frame, and I remember the photo adage, "The name of the game is to fill the frame."

Remember to fill the frame in TTL flash photography and you'll virtually be guaranteed of a properly exposed picture. Exceptions are when your subject is bright white, very dark, or highly reflective. In these situations, I'd recommend taking exposures over and under the recommended setting to ensure the results you want. (I do this anyway, in all situations, to make sure I get a good shot.)

My closing thought on low-light photography is to look at it not only as a challenge, but as an opportunity to put your creative talents to work.