Of the many questions asked by photographers both new and experienced, perhaps the most common relates to taking photos under low light conditions. It's all too often that photographers find themselves in a situation where they attempt to take a photo and their camera refuses to cooperate. The camera may hunt back and forth for several seconds attempting to lock in on something clear enough to capture. Typically, when the camera does finally capture the image it comes out blurry and out of focus. While this situation is most common for owners of point-and-shoot style cameras, it also can affect owners of more advanced digital SLR cameras. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to prevent such situations from occurring; allowing you to capture great images even when light is a limiting factor.
Because most people won't be interested in making an immediate upgrade to a DSLR camera, we will focus initially on the less expensive options. Before delving into the details, however, it's important to understand why some digital cameras suffer under low light conditions. In order to capture a photo on film or on a digital medium, the camera needs to activate the lens to open in order to allow light to come in.
Under low light situations, the camera must tell the lens to stay open for a longer period of time so that a sufficient amount of light can be captured to create an image. The problem is that once you allow the lens to remain open for more than a split second, any movements created by your hands or from external sources will affect the finished image, resulting in blurred or shaky images. Now that we have that out of the way, it's time to discuss some of the options available that will help you to improve your shots.
Perhaps the most common solution for preventing camera shake is through the use of a tripod or some other device that hold the camera in a stationary position. At this point it is much less likely for your hands to bump or move the camera while it is exposing an image. Fortunately, tripods are widely available and don't have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, many can be purchase for under $50.00 for an entry level model. The price goes up for lighter and/or more portable options.
The next solution is to integrate some flash photography into your repertoire. While most point-and-shoot style cameras come equipped with a less than stellar flash system, they are capable of providing sufficient light under some circumstances such as indoor situations. The light coming from a camera flash can make the difference between having enough light to capture a clear image and having a blurred image. It should be mentioned that flash should only be reserved for situations where a need exists for slight illumination of the subject. It should not be used in very dark situations, since the result will likely be an overexposed subject and an underexposed background.
The last option to consider is the purchase of a DSLR camera, which will accept a larger external flash unit and accept a variety of interchangeable lenses. Obviously, this can be cost prohibitive for most people, so the options mentioned above will likely be more feasible. Whatever option you choose, the tips outlined in this article will help you to improve your low light photography skills without breaking the bank in the process. - 32363
Because most people won't be interested in making an immediate upgrade to a DSLR camera, we will focus initially on the less expensive options. Before delving into the details, however, it's important to understand why some digital cameras suffer under low light conditions. In order to capture a photo on film or on a digital medium, the camera needs to activate the lens to open in order to allow light to come in.
Under low light situations, the camera must tell the lens to stay open for a longer period of time so that a sufficient amount of light can be captured to create an image. The problem is that once you allow the lens to remain open for more than a split second, any movements created by your hands or from external sources will affect the finished image, resulting in blurred or shaky images. Now that we have that out of the way, it's time to discuss some of the options available that will help you to improve your shots.
Perhaps the most common solution for preventing camera shake is through the use of a tripod or some other device that hold the camera in a stationary position. At this point it is much less likely for your hands to bump or move the camera while it is exposing an image. Fortunately, tripods are widely available and don't have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, many can be purchase for under $50.00 for an entry level model. The price goes up for lighter and/or more portable options.
The next solution is to integrate some flash photography into your repertoire. While most point-and-shoot style cameras come equipped with a less than stellar flash system, they are capable of providing sufficient light under some circumstances such as indoor situations. The light coming from a camera flash can make the difference between having enough light to capture a clear image and having a blurred image. It should be mentioned that flash should only be reserved for situations where a need exists for slight illumination of the subject. It should not be used in very dark situations, since the result will likely be an overexposed subject and an underexposed background.
The last option to consider is the purchase of a DSLR camera, which will accept a larger external flash unit and accept a variety of interchangeable lenses. Obviously, this can be cost prohibitive for most people, so the options mentioned above will likely be more feasible. Whatever option you choose, the tips outlined in this article will help you to improve your low light photography skills without breaking the bank in the process. - 32363
About the Author:
Corwin writes information about the most popular digital cameras including the olympus pink digital camera and the panasonic pink digital camera
