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Low Light Photos & No Flash

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Old 05-18-2014, 09:46 PM
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Default Low Light Photos & No Flash

hey guys
I've been going out to do photos quite a bit lately, even snagged myself a new lense; a 55-200mm.
I'm struggling with low light shots of people and no flash. I have a tripod so doing super long exposures of a building is easy...but I cant have someone stand still for 3 seconds haha.
I'd also like to make the photo "clearer" or more crisp.

here's one example, I find it really yellow
Name:  DSC_0891_zpsc7198d27.jpg
Views: 77
Size:  98.5 KB
f/16
exp 13 seconds
ISO 200
exp bias 0
22mm



here's example two, I like the colours of this one
Name:  DSC_0893_zpsbf12f3f9.jpg
Views: 76
Size:  103.0 KB
f/10
exp 8 seconds
ISO 200
exp bias 0
22mm
Old 05-19-2014, 12:51 AM
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Crank your ISO way up
Old 05-19-2014, 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by mdwatts11
Crank your ISO way up
For those group photos I put on facebook I had an iso of 1600 and those turned out pretty decent.

With your nikon have you ever had it not take the photo and just say "image to dark" ? Mine did that the other night and it was frustrating cause even at iso 1600 and the setting set to night I'd click the button and then itd just flash "image to dark" across the screen. I was on aperture priority mode
Old 05-19-2014, 10:50 AM
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I think shooting in manual will override that. Sometimes you just can't get the shot with whatever aperture you're using. You'd have to have your aperture wide open and a longer exposure.

Last edited by mdwatts11; 05-19-2014 at 10:51 AM. Reason: Typo
Old 05-20-2014, 07:11 PM
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image to dark is probably your autofocus not working. (because its too dark) turn the focus to manual and do it with your eye.

you should be in shooting wide open aperture. with a high f stop it will make the lights "starry". Kind of like when you squint your eyes at street lights.

also you may want to look into a prime lens either 35mm or 50mm

this will help you shoot better photos in doors with poor lighting


as far as the image color, that is up to you. give it your personal taste. there is no wrong or right way to edit a photo. you are the creator, make it YOUR own
Old 05-20-2014, 07:12 PM
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PM your email and ill send you a "free trial" of light room
Old 05-20-2014, 09:39 PM
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I need to lern more about my camera, it's a D3000. Photo's look good OP. What camera are you shooting with? Are you editing the color with photoshop or just by using the setting on the camera?
Old 05-21-2014, 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by mdwatts11
I think shooting in manual will override that. Sometimes you just can't get the shot with whatever aperture you're using. You'd have to have your aperture wide open and a longer exposure.
I didn't think of trying Manual mode, I'll have to try that next time!

Originally Posted by Chevy_King1500
image to dark is probably your autofocus not working. (because its too dark) turn the focus to manual and do it with your eye.

you should be in shooting wide open aperture. with a high f stop it will make the lights "starry". Kind of like when you squint your eyes at street lights.

also you may want to look into a prime lens either 35mm or 50mm

this will help you shoot better photos in doors with poor lighting


as far as the image color, that is up to you. give it your personal taste. there is no wrong or right way to edit a photo. you are the creator, make it YOUR own
I have a 35mm on the soon to buy list, I read a really good write up on it on ken Rockwell's site, no moving parts, faster focusing.
I also need to get an editing program


Originally Posted by Chevy_King1500
PM your email and ill send you a "free trial" of light room
thanks man, I'll send that over!

Originally Posted by Badlands
I need to lern more about my camera, it's a D3000. Photo's look good OP. What camera are you shooting with? Are you editing the color with photoshop or just by using the setting on the camera?

I have a D3200, 18-55mm lense and a 55-200mm and a adjustable tripod, couple of lense filters so my setup is pretty beginner! I don't have any editing software so any photos I upload are straight off the camera...unless I use my phone to crop it for instagram etc
Old 05-22-2014, 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by AUTOT3K

I have a D3200, 18-55mm lense and a 55-200mm and a adjustable tripod, couple of lense filters so my setup is pretty beginner! I don't have any editing software so any photos I upload are straight off the camera...unless I use my phone to crop it for instagram etc
I got ya. I only have a tripid and a wiress remote. So I'm really beginner. There is a lot to learn about taking photos. Lol
Old 05-27-2014, 10:58 PM
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its expensive stuff!
I've been eyeing up some online courses to kinda fast track the learning


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