Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Capturing Excellent Speed Shots In Low Light

Speed photography is an exciting branch and is used in many sports events. The pace of the industry is reflective of its name; many novice photographers attempt to capture the best shots. The goal is to show athletes at their best - preferably in motion. For the most part, these events take place in a brightly lit arena. Yet there can be occasions where the lights are placed low. These scenarios present a challenge for photographers who have to adjust their settings appropriately. Consider these suggestions:

Image Source: YouTube.com

Try flash: There is much hoopla about flash. Some veterans say that the external light is only meant for beginners. However, a larger percentage of people say that flash can be an excellent tool to use, as long as it is done properly. An external flash is also advantageous for sports events held at night. This is because these are generally more powerful than the built-in ones found in cameras. Take care though when using this as flash is sometimes not allowed in sports events because they can distract the competitors.

Shutter speed: Ideally for sports events, you would need a faster shutter speed. This freezes the motion of the subjects and makes the point of focus sharper. Nevertheless, faster shutter speeds typically bring in less light, so it is a matter of adjusting the speed until one finds the correct balance. A good tip is to select the camera’s shutter speed priority mode and choose the quickest speed it can allow.

Image Source: apogeephoto.com


ISO: The higher the number, the grainier the shots turn out. Some photographers prefer to increase their ISOs to allow them to shoot at faster shutter speeds. The compromise is that the shots become grainier the higher they go. Again, it is a question of balance and what look one is aiming for.

Experimentation is the essential idea with speed photography. There are truly no hard or fast rules when it comes to this. Each photographer must find their own style.

Vijaya Prakash Boggala takes up photography as his hobby. He is most interested in landscape and speed photography. For more tips, like this Facebook page.