2 Tips for Low Light Photography At Dusk and Dawn For Wildlife | 2 Day Photography Workshop Singapore

2 Tips for Low Light Photography At Dusk and Dawn For Wildlife | 2 Day Photography Workshop Singapore

When light is fading at dusk, most photographers will turn up the ISO to a higher ISO to gain light. However, higher ISO creates noise. Here are 2 Tips for Low Light Photography At Dusk and Dawn For Wildlife

1) Use lower ISO:
Is Low light photography possible with Low ISO ? I took the images of the Buffy Fish Owl in Singapore when light was fading at dusk. Notice the noise it creates especially around the bird on the green foliage.

The ISO of the first image was very high at 12,8000 ( normally and ideally between 100 – 4000) with a shutter speed of 1/320 sec. Since the owl was not in motion, I turned down the shutter speed to 1/8 second from 1/320 second to allow more light.

2) Use tripod:

I wont be able to hand hold my 600mm lens at a speed of 1/8 second even with the modern image stabilised unless I have a tripod. (Understand more about image stabilised )How good is your Camera image stabiliser?.

I am on the assumption that subject is relatively still. With the tripod I was able to use ISO 2000, shutter speed of 1/8 second on f/4.0 since the bird is relatively motionless.

In summary:
Before jumping to very high ISO (even you have the latest camera) and high shutter speed on wildlife that is relatively still at dusk and dawn, consider the 2 tips using lower ISO and tripod at lower shutter speed . The lower ISO gives better quality image with less noise.