I've been teaching and shooting forever and one thing that consistently happens when I suggest shooting in low light is an expression of panic and then a firm statement, "I don't do it because I don't like to use flash." Last night I set out with some of my photography students to show that shooting at night doesn't mean that you either get really dark images OR you use a flash.
We started in Uptown Charlotte on a dreary night around 6:30 and shot until truly dark. Baby steps, right? Realizing that it's ok for your shots to let shadows be dark at night because, well it's NIGHT, is a good thing. No more FIGHTING for full exposure of your image from a bad lighting situation. Embrace the dark and use it to your advantage.
Watching how the light changed from moment to moment, and then that exact moment that a low light situation becomes a night shooting situation was exciting. Neons got brighter, shadows became defining and the camera becomes a different tool to record it all.
A few tips: 1 - Wear walking shoes 2 - Be patient and wait for the light you want 3 - Use your ISO, this is what it is made for 4 - Bring friends and be aware of your surroundings 5 - Backpack camera bags are a great choice 6 - A wider DOF (depth of field) will give you a super crisp shot 7 - Expose for the bright lights, and your shadows be richer 8 - Keep your eyes open and remember to look up, especially if you are in an area with large buildings. 9 - Experiment and HAVE FUN!
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