3:51 Simon, maybe a more general "Camera *support* for lowlight, especially a tripod?" Some of our newer photographers might not think about bracing a camera against a tree or using a stack of books to enable slower shutter speeds, such as for that tabletop owl. A great body position, breath control, and a lean into a handy wall can get you a lot of camera stillness. If we *are* using that tripod, hanging some weight from it, such as a camera bag, will add a lot of stability and further reduce camera motion, especially if it's windy or if using a lightweight travel tripod that may be fully extended. (P.S. don't extend that tripod if you don't have to, especially the center column - you just turned your tripod into a bit of a monopod.)
My favorite low-light trick? When I'm birding in the evening, I switch to video where I can shoot 1/60th when it gets too dark. This isn't exactly a photo trick, but it allows me still capture the animal and not miss the moment :)
Absolutely agree! My own family did this at the wedding reception I was asked to photograph....lighting was there with no extension cord and I could have brought mine...could not even slow down my shutter speed as they would not pose for the most part and it was outdoors in overcast weather, several even told me NO?....My son loves what I took but I was disappointed! Thank God my youngest pro photographer daughter did the wedding the day before in the rainforest with great natural lighting!
I'm an American living in South Africa. I got my wife a 6d Mark 2 in early 2020 and she's gone full steam ahead in trying to learn everything there is to learn about photography. She now also owns a Nikon D 7200 and a Canon R. She's an HOD at her local school here and has gradually become the school photographer. She watches your videos more than anyone else's.... including Jared Polin..... lol. She loves your soft, and kind.... yet serious demeanor. Her being an award winning school teacher of the year....she knows a good teacher when she see's one, and she says your the best!!! You know how to break down complex subject matter into nice bit sized pieces. I just want to say thank you sir....for being a light to so many people around the world. May God bless you is our prayer!!!
I surely will pass on your best wishes to her. Her and I are hoping to meet you someday if you ever come to South Africa. You and yours are in our prayers!@@simon_dentremont
I’ve been photographing for nearly 50 years, you do a great job of distilling key points of information that is clear, concise and easy to understand. Bravo.
There are literally thousands, if not 10's of thousands of photography videos. Yours are the ONLY ones I've ever found that are accurate and concise. No behaving like a loud bombastic clown, no proselytizing, just accurate and easy to understand explanations. They are also the only ones I will allow on my mirrorless group on the book of faces. Thank you.
Simon, I found your channel randomly the other day and literally last night I was out taking some photos with my new lens. Came home thinking "I need to look into how to get better shutter speeds while at night" and here you are.......
Being a photographer for the past 6 years, I must say it's incredible how much - yet how simply - you analyze each senario, whilst being perfectly understandable. From the basics to more intricate parts, you make sure it all make sense. Either someone is new to photography or a complete proffesional, I believe it's always good to revise, but most importantly to do so with someone like you who shares his thoughts so passionately! Great job and thank you!
no messing around just giving us great tips we can use every day. Many others are focussing on getting the clicks. He should have way more subscribers. Thank you so much Simon!!
I've heard the term "focus stacking" but never gave it a thought and in just seconds your sunflower/milky way illustration gave me an exact understanding of it's use and benefit. Thank you for helping others the way you do!
One note for Nikon cameras when using a tripod: you can use "Exposure Delay Mode" instead of the self timer. It can be set to as long as 3 seconds. Look in the manual to find it for your specific camera. For the D7200 and Z5, it's custom menu item d4. It was initially introduced on their DSLRs to compensate for "mirror slap" on long exposures.
Some youtubers cram 5 minutes of info into 15. You give the whole 15 in 15. Great presentation and easy to understand. Wonderful production value in your videos as well. Glad I subscribed. Keep up the great work !!
Anyone can get a great shot in perfect light, the rest of us “working photographers” shoot in all conditions. 😊 Thank you, Simon, for once again providing excellent teaching on how to get it done! I appreciate you!
I was just at my sons outdoor wedding reception, as their photographer and I could not lower the shutter speed as no one would pose still for the most part. It was highly decorated with fresh flowers and beautiful food displays which I took artsy shots of. I put the camera on auto ISO and the F stop where it worked the best. My oldest daughter had lighting but no extension cord. All in all it was a great lesson for me to bring my own lighting next time. We have our own lighting which is both battery and rechargeable. We didn't want to take it on the ferry if it was not necessary as we were told it was handled. I didn't deal with noise for the most part and learned some great lessons. I love taking bright light photos and challenging lighting. I am not used to being limited! People would not stand still for longer shutter speeds. Oh well.....my son loves them so that is what matters I guess. I have learned so much from you Simon! Its hard when I can't use what I know properly due to family not cooperating...some of them said no to any pics.... My youngest daughter with the high profile professional photography business in Hawaii flew in for the wedding the day prior and took beautiful ones the day prior. I guess family thought it was not important for the reception the next day but it was for my son and I! Memories last a lifetime but photos help pair that up! I got a great close shot of my older son we all. love with my 85. The light came thru just right from the sky....
I have watched many photographers discuss this subject and this is the only time I feel it’s made sense and I’ve actually absorbed the information, thank you ❤
If I enjoyed this video... Simon, I love your videos! Concise, well structured and every time providing an AHA! moment. They are seriously elevating my love for photography, thinking process and quality every single week. Thank you for sharing all your hard earned knowledge. Please keep it up!
Your teaching and style of speech connects directly to my brain! 98% of photographer created technique and tips videos do not connect. They’re mostly about whoever is making the video or which camera brand they KNOW is superior, ha! Not so with your content and I am very thankful to have found your channel. Can’t wait to work my way through all yours videos to see what I will learn.
I have always loved photography but only this last year become serious about deep diving into it. I've learned most of what i know with low light by trial and error. I found your channel the other day and am obsessed with the tutorials. Absolutely incredible and the most helpful information. I am like a sponge absorbing everything you teach. Things are more helpful for me when there's an explanation behind WHY things work the way they do. Your tutorials are perfect in that way. Thank you so much for your gift of knowledge to us all!
Simon, after watching a good number of your videos, I have to say that your teaching style is one of the best I've ever seen on the Internet. Concise yet detailed, clearly structured and rich, to the point, with outstanding illustrations, entertaining, adding a lot of value. I can tell that a lot of hard work and discipline has gone into this. Many thanks for your work and a thousand congratulations! By the way, your bird photos are absolutely magnificent. My trick in low light for still subjects, when I don't have a tripod, is to use any solid element available (tree, lamppost) and hold firmly to limit movement. I also place the camera on any solid surface (wall, bag), adjusting the height with one hand (fingers together) firmly on the surface and under the lens or any other available clothing (jacket, gloves, etc.). Below 1/4 s., I use delayed shooting to avoid any shaking effect. In street photography, people walking are blurred. In addition to the artistic effect, this preserves anonymity.
This video has already been out for 10 months but I just wanted to let you know that it's really a great, useful source of information to this photographer who's early on the learning curve. Your pointers are helping me considerably. Am actually looking forward to getting up at 5.30am on the dying end of September to capture some early morning shots over my local lake. More power to you!
fantastic and simple structure to follow, thank you! also for the honesty, work with what you have, i love the philosophy of not needing the absolute perfect technical photo to enjoy the photos we have.
Well explained, I had a 18-85 mm lens f4, from 2014 to 2022, but this year I got a 50 mm f1.8 and my photos improved greatly, some clients thought I had got a better camera yet I still have the same canon 60d , so a better lens determines better photos
Great content as usual. You can actually practice taking long exposures by hand without camera shake. With proper breathing and timing, getting fine detail at 1/15 handheld becomes very possible (similar practice to long range target shooting). I’ve managed scenes far away with even a 1 second exposure. You can’t always have a tripod so practice with steadiness can help.
The breathing technique I was taught for shooting rifles is deep breath in, breath out, deep breath in, breath halfway out and hold. Then take the shot within 2 seconds. Sometimes I find my own heartbeat is enough to ruin the shot though, which is annoying lol.
Use a piece of string. One end is tied to a screw in the tripod mount. The other is tied to something to weigh it down,, and goes under your foot. Pull it tight, and it helps enormously.
Another tip is to shoot in black and white with high ISO since colour information is always gonna suffer in low light but eliminating that can still produce very good images. And sometimes any image is better than no image. This works very well on smaller sensors cameras.
An excellent video! I’m the guy from England where a “dull day” takes on a whole new meaning in terms of their frequency and intensity. Your advice is most welcome and I’m off out to give it a try. Many thanks.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR E-BOOK ABOUT SHOOTING BACKLIT SUBJECTS!!! I AM ENJOYING THIS CHANNEL SO MUCH!!!!! THESE VIDEOS INSPIRE ME TO GO OUT AND TAKE MORE PHOTOS!!!
I LOVE long exposures in law light. The colors are so much more vibrant! I've done photo stacking on different types of shots too: where different parts of the frame required different exposures because I wanted a bright part and a dark part to both look good.
Really appreciate this one, Simon. I take photos of trains and buses, more for compiling/archiving than for artistic reasons (although I will do one time from time). Much easier in daylight and in the open, but harder underground with bad lighting, or at night, especially when the train or bus is moving. There are constraints, since you can't flash a train operator or a bus driver (big no-no for obvious safety reasons), nor are tripods/monopods allowed in the subway. Outside, standing on street corners with overhead lamps provides light. It's easier to have a higher shutter speed, with some noise, and lighting it up a little in post, rather than to have a dark, blurry, unfocused shot.
Here is what I do in low light situations (espcially in colorfull arias like in a disco or so) : Use ISO 400 - f4 and up to a half a second or slightly more shuttertime, and yes, use the flash rebounced on the second curtain.... Than finsh it all in Photoshop adjusting brightness and so. Yo can play around with that but changes are that you get hooked to this set of working once you get used to think different. It sure gave me the most amazing shot ever made and I used this technique a lot, you might be amazed! Thank you for your interesting videos sir!
I wanna say Thank you sincerely for helping me learn and understand this craft , Ive struggled to understand it for some time in learning from other people on youtube but your wisdom is very clear and direct and very much so helpful , so i greatly appreciate these videos
Some invaluable advice here, thank you. Low-light, gloomy, & night scenes are a particular interest of mine, I just love the ambience of them. I've just moved from a camera phone (S22 Ultra) to a Sony Alpha 7iv, and am going for a Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM as my first lens, as (perhaps obviously) a phone camera simply can not achieve great results in those conditions (no matter how effective the 'nightography' marketing was on me for the S22 ultra!). Now, I'm a total amateur and got a lot to learn, but your advice video here is giving me new stuff to consider and experiment with, as well as reassure my sense of footing that I've been thinking of things broadly the right way. Some of what I didn't know, I seemed to be reaching intuitively, and videos like this fantastic for clarity and direction!
Your channel is probably the best place to go for photography advice because its very straight to the point and easy to understand. Thanks for the great advice! :)
Although interested in photography I wouldn't even consider myself being a hobby-photographer. But every once in a while I watch some of your videos and I have to say: Great content BUT what's really the best thing is your pleasant voice and way to talk. There's just something engaging and positive about it. 🙂
You explain so well !! I've already learned so much in the few videos I have watched, so thank you very much. This is incredible content and your pictures are great :)
Hello mr. d'Entremont, im just starting photography for a couple of months and i gotta say im already a fan your work and lessons. You explain things very well and and not over complicate things with terminology. Appreciate how you even throw in some information on what you did and give examples of what you're talking about. Just wanna say thanks
Perhaps a targeted video for low light wildlife photography with a zoom, like the Rf 100-500 F 7.1. I struggle with noisy soft shots in the early morning. Many of us don’t have a big prime. Thanks Simon! Maybe take us back into the field to see these tips in action!
We urgently need a comprehensive video on the absolutely stunning new HDR features in Lightroom Classic. Especially in the context of you doing lots of backlit shots, this will take your existing images to a whole new level! Try that on your wave shot as well, you will be blown away!
I've been taking pictures For a long time and I have considerably good experience But I'd like to revisit photography lessons Once in a while just to restudy, and I think your videos are the best free photography course, thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
Your video is spot on! Low light photography is something that I always enjoyed a lot, and for my use cases, the three things that make the biggest difference are large aperture lenses (for events happening in low light), using a tripod (for shots of more static subjects), and software usage (always shoot with post-processing in mind). For events (using an 1/200s minimum aperture or faster), having an f/1.2 lens makes a massive difference, and I wish I had a 135mm f/1.4 lens that's sharp and has good AF.
We visited our local Botanical Gardens last weekend, and it was night and darkened inside, so lots of great chances for low-light work! I did struggle a bit (they don't allow tripods because of narrow walkways), and at certain points I decided the shot I wanted was more important than the HOW of getting it, so I went ahead and used my camera's automated "scene" settings a bit. I'm all about learning, yes, but I'm also all about not coming home empty-handed! :)
I used your tips in this video and others on a safari and they really helped! Taking multiple shots at slow shutter speeds to get one that’s sharp worked great!
On a budget, I get vintage f2.8 or f4 and use a speedbooster on mft. I have a 300mm f2.8 that is about 200mm f2 with a speedbooster and it works great for birds inside bushes. The other tip I have is shoot video and stitch frames in photoshop to widen the focal length to increase apparent sharpness, or just stack them on different opacities so the noise is reduced.
Despite these videos aren't giving me much new info, your way of explaining things helps me to explain these tips to my friends, who still aren't watching your videos despite my constant recommendations!
Another brilliantly explained video with a style not only informative but entertaining. Your development in this has surpassed your peers. You bring joy and passion into our lives. Well done.
Fantastic video Simon. Some great tips really well explained. I often struggle with low light issues shooting aviation in the UK. I’ve used lots of your tips and with practice I’m getting far more keepers and honing my Lightroom skills as well.
I'm not a professional photographer, but I like taking pictures specially since my twins granddaughters Born and I so far the best picture I took was in a day that the ☀️ was out and about.. we just had the Brightes fall this year.. I some took a picture right before noon sure that I was going to have to manipulate the shadows , but I think it was because I was laying flat on the grass when I saw the girls running with beautiful big leaves.. and one of the pictures came Amazing even with such strong backlight.. I learned is hard to take a bad picture of a great moment ❤
You are so right ! How often did I hear at a photo course that the amount of light is determined by the f-stop, shutterspeed AND iso. Iso is not a physical variable but software. Iso doesn't determine the amount of light falling on the sensor but the brightness of the picture
You can still have usable images shot in 12,800 Iso in your camera. I can only push it up to 3200 for a usable image in my camera, you push it further than that and you won't be able to identify the subject in the noise 😭😂 Love your videos! ❤️
I am always on the look out for your uploads as your content is always educational and informative. Your way of teaching makes me want to go out and try new techniques (to me) to broaden my photography horizons. Thank you.
What’s your favorite low-light trick? Let me and the viewers know and share your expertise! None of us are as smart as all of us!
Embrace the low light! Shoot somewhat underexposed or _do_ shoot silhouettes.
3:51 Simon, maybe a more general "Camera *support* for lowlight, especially a tripod?" Some of our newer photographers might not think about bracing a camera against a tree or using a stack of books to enable slower shutter speeds, such as for that tabletop owl. A great body position, breath control, and a lean into a handy wall can get you a lot of camera stillness. If we *are* using that tripod, hanging some weight from it, such as a camera bag, will add a lot of stability and further reduce camera motion, especially if it's windy or if using a lightweight travel tripod that may be fully extended. (P.S. don't extend that tripod if you don't have to, especially the center column - you just turned your tripod into a bit of a monopod.)
Using fast aperture lens, my favorite lens is Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (Nikon D600 body).
Thanks for the insight!@gr-os4gd
My favorite low-light trick? When I'm birding in the evening, I switch to video where I can shoot 1/60th when it gets too dark. This isn't exactly a photo trick, but it allows me still capture the animal and not miss the moment :)
Yes you CAN ask foxes to stand still for a second. They just won't listen. But then again neither will some people.
Absolutely agree! My own family did this at the wedding reception I was asked to photograph....lighting was there with no extension cord and I could have brought mine...could not even slow down my shutter speed as they would not pose for the most part and it was outdoors in overcast weather, several even told me NO?....My son loves what I took but I was disappointed! Thank God my youngest pro photographer daughter did the wedding the day before in the rainforest with great natural lighting!
I'm an American living in South Africa. I got my wife a 6d Mark 2 in early 2020 and she's gone full steam ahead in trying to learn everything there is to learn about photography. She now also owns a Nikon D 7200 and a Canon R. She's an HOD at her local school here and has gradually become the school photographer. She watches your videos more than anyone else's.... including Jared Polin..... lol. She loves your soft, and kind.... yet serious demeanor. Her being an award winning school teacher of the year....she knows a good teacher when she see's one, and she says your the best!!! You know how to break down complex subject matter into nice bit sized pieces. I just want to say thank you sir....for being a light to so many people around the world. May God bless you is our prayer!!!
too kind! wish her luck from me!
I surely will pass on your best wishes to her. Her and I are hoping to meet you someday if you ever come to South Africa. You and yours are in our prayers!@@simon_dentremont
His videos are the best! 🙌
tell her to return the nikon or divorce her. No one should be seen with a nikon
@@underscore_tipshe is not a kid to use Sony
I’ve been photographing for nearly 50 years, you do a great job of distilling key points of information that is clear, concise and easy to understand. Bravo.
Wow, thank you!
Totally agree! Not to mention that it helps to listen to the reminders. It's so easy to get out there and forget a few things. Thanks Simon!
Exactly what I wanted to say, So much very valuable informations, but clear and compact, easy to watch ! Very good quality videos ! thanks Simon
There are literally thousands, if not 10's of thousands of photography videos. Yours are the ONLY ones I've ever found that are accurate and concise. No behaving like a loud bombastic clown, no proselytizing, just accurate and easy to understand explanations. They are also the only ones I will allow on my mirrorless group on the book of faces. Thank you.
Too kind.
Agreed!! Simon is my favorite among many RUclips photographers. His wildlife images are stunning, and the teaching is top notch!
Simon, I found your channel randomly the other day and literally last night I was out taking some photos with my new lens. Came home thinking "I need to look into how to get better shutter speeds while at night" and here you are.......
He is a master
Happy to be relevant!!
I just found this too after I finally got a camera. I’m excited to use a nice camera
Your teaching style is incredibly effective Simon... comprehensive but straight to the point. Keep up the good work.
Being a photographer for the past 6 years, I must say it's incredible how much - yet how simply - you analyze each senario, whilst being perfectly understandable. From the basics to more intricate parts, you make sure it all make sense. Either someone is new to photography or a complete proffesional, I believe it's always good to revise, but most importantly to do so with someone like you who shares his thoughts so passionately! Great job and thank you!
Just one of the most amazing RUclips channels for photography on RUclips! Please never stop making videos Simon!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
ok!
This guy's the GOAT when it comes to these types of channels. Hand down
no messing around just giving us great tips we can use every day. Many others are focussing on getting the clicks. He should have way more subscribers. Thank you so much Simon!!
I've heard the term "focus stacking" but never gave it a thought and in just seconds your sunflower/milky way illustration gave me an exact understanding of it's use and benefit. Thank you for helping others the way you do!
Glad it was helpful!
You're one of these people who have a real knack for teaching, great eloquence.
"And I can't ask the fox to 'stand still' for a second" lol. Thanks, for another great video!
Any time!
My second photoshoot was in an arcade. What a challenge. The low light room combined with bright machines made for some amazing pictures.
One note for Nikon cameras when using a tripod: you can use "Exposure Delay Mode" instead of the self timer. It can be set to as long as 3 seconds. Look in the manual to find it for your specific camera. For the D7200 and Z5, it's custom menu item d4. It was initially introduced on their DSLRs to compensate for "mirror slap" on long exposures.
Canon has a feature similarly designed to eliminate mirror slap. They call it mirror lock-up.
Some youtubers cram 5 minutes of info into 15. You give the whole 15 in 15. Great presentation and easy to understand. Wonderful production value in your videos as well. Glad I subscribed. Keep up the great work !!
Wow, thank you!
You are such a wonderful teacher. Thank you for all that you do for us who are passionate about photography and learning.
Anyone can get a great shot in perfect light, the rest of us “working photographers” shoot in all conditions. 😊 Thank you, Simon, for once again providing excellent teaching on how to get it done! I appreciate you!
Just found your channel, I’m glad. One of the best camera channels out.
Wow, thanks!
“And I don’t use flash on foxes for ethical reasons…” at 10:22, hehehe! Like this channel a lot. Great work!
I was just at my sons outdoor wedding reception, as their photographer and I could not lower the shutter speed as no one would pose still for the most part. It was highly decorated with fresh flowers and beautiful food displays which I took artsy shots of. I put the camera on auto ISO and the F stop where it worked the best. My oldest daughter had lighting but no extension cord. All in all it was a great lesson for me to bring my own lighting next time. We have our own lighting which is both battery and rechargeable. We didn't want to take it on the ferry if it was not necessary as we were told it was handled. I didn't deal with noise for the most part and learned some great lessons. I love taking bright light photos and challenging lighting. I am not used to being limited! People would not stand still for longer shutter speeds. Oh well.....my son loves them so that is what matters I guess. I have learned so much from you Simon! Its hard when I can't use what I know properly due to family not cooperating...some of them said no to any pics.... My youngest daughter with the high profile professional photography business in Hawaii flew in for the wedding the day prior and took beautiful ones the day prior. I guess family thought it was not important for the reception the next day but it was for my son and I! Memories last a lifetime but photos help pair that up! I got a great close shot of my older son we all. love with my 85. The light came thru just right from the sky....
When i can understand everything you say then that means hope for me. Been away from photograpghy a while. You came at a great time.
I have watched many photographers discuss this subject and this is the only time I feel it’s made sense and I’ve actually absorbed the information, thank you ❤
Glad it was helpful!
You're the only one I found that doesn't make video just to show their photos while on the field. As always another very good and useful video!
Thanks 👍
Finally someone explaining the problem clearly and giving straight to the point advice for solutions. Thank you! Subscribed!
If I enjoyed this video... Simon, I love your videos! Concise, well structured and every time providing an AHA! moment. They are seriously elevating my love for photography, thinking process and quality every single week. Thank you for sharing all your hard earned knowledge. Please keep it up!
Glad you like them!
Your teaching and style of speech connects directly to my brain! 98% of photographer created technique and tips videos do not connect. They’re mostly about whoever is making the video or which camera brand they KNOW is superior, ha! Not so with your content and I am very thankful to have found your channel. Can’t wait to work my way through all yours videos to see what I will learn.
I have always loved photography but only this last year become serious about deep diving into it. I've learned most of what i know with low light by trial and error. I found your channel the other day and am obsessed with the tutorials. Absolutely incredible and the most helpful information. I am like a sponge absorbing everything you teach. Things are more helpful for me when there's an explanation behind WHY things work the way they do. Your tutorials are perfect in that way. Thank you so much for your gift of knowledge to us all!
This is a 14:31 block of great, solid info for someone just getting into swappable lens cameras. Thanks! (Also hello from Toronto :)
Simon, your videos just keep getting better, keep up good work!
Thank you very much!
Simon, after watching a good number of your videos, I have to say that your teaching style is one of the best I've ever seen on the Internet. Concise yet detailed, clearly structured and rich, to the point, with outstanding illustrations, entertaining, adding a lot of value. I can tell that a lot of hard work and discipline has gone into this. Many thanks for your work and a thousand congratulations! By the way, your bird photos are absolutely magnificent.
My trick in low light for still subjects, when I don't have a tripod, is to use any solid element available (tree, lamppost) and hold firmly to limit movement. I also place the camera on any solid surface (wall, bag), adjusting the height with one hand (fingers together) firmly on the surface and under the lens or any other available clothing (jacket, gloves, etc.). Below 1/4 s., I use delayed shooting to avoid any shaking effect. In street photography, people walking are blurred. In addition to the artistic effect, this preserves anonymity.
Thanks, and great tips!
Thank you, Simon, for your hard work and experience to give us these tips. You're doing such a good thing sharing this information out to everyone.
My pleasure!
Great vid Simon! I’m collecting as many of your videos as I can consume! Thanks!
This video has already been out for 10 months but I just wanted to let you know that it's really a great, useful source of information to this photographer who's early on the learning curve. Your pointers are helping me considerably. Am actually looking forward to getting up at 5.30am on the dying end of September to capture some early morning shots over my local lake. More power to you!
fantastic and simple structure to follow, thank you! also for the honesty, work with what you have, i love the philosophy of not needing the absolute perfect technical photo to enjoy the photos we have.
Well explained, I had a 18-85 mm lens f4, from 2014 to 2022, but this year I got a 50 mm f1.8 and my photos improved greatly, some clients thought I had got a better camera yet I still have the same canon 60d , so a better lens determines better photos
Great content as usual. You can actually practice taking long exposures by hand without camera shake. With proper breathing and timing, getting fine detail at 1/15 handheld becomes very possible (similar practice to long range target shooting). I’ve managed scenes far away with even a 1 second exposure. You can’t always have a tripod so practice with steadiness can help.
The breathing technique I was taught for shooting rifles is deep breath in, breath out, deep breath in, breath halfway out and hold. Then take the shot within 2 seconds. Sometimes I find my own heartbeat is enough to ruin the shot though, which is annoying lol.
Use a piece of string. One end is tied to a screw in the tripod mount. The other is tied to something to weigh it down,, and goes under your foot. Pull it tight, and it helps enormously.
Simon, your videos are so full of ideas and advices - it's impressive how you get focused on the point. Thank you again! I love those lessons.
Glad you like them!
Another tip is to shoot in black and white with high ISO since colour information is always gonna suffer in low light but eliminating that can still produce very good images. And sometimes any image is better than no image. This works very well on smaller sensors cameras.
I find that reviewing fundamentals is essential. Your videos are always helpful.
I’ve been searching for someone like you for YEARS! Thank you for explaining things so well.
Happy to help!
An excellent video! I’m the guy from England where a “dull day” takes on a whole new meaning in terms of their frequency and intensity. Your advice is most welcome and I’m off out to give it a try. Many thanks.
Yes. Only in England will climate change make dull weather more severe and more frequent.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR E-BOOK ABOUT SHOOTING BACKLIT SUBJECTS!!! I AM ENJOYING THIS CHANNEL SO MUCH!!!!! THESE VIDEOS INSPIRE ME TO GO OUT AND TAKE MORE PHOTOS!!!
Hi Simon,
Your videos are super engaging, intersting and informative !! Thanks for all your hard work in making them ! 👍
I LOVE long exposures in law light. The colors are so much more vibrant!
I've done photo stacking on different types of shots too: where different parts of the frame required different exposures because I wanted a bright part and a dark part to both look good.
Great Job. It’s amazing how much information you can provide in 14 minutes plus.
Really appreciate this one, Simon. I take photos of trains and buses, more for compiling/archiving than for artistic reasons (although I will do one time from time). Much easier in daylight and in the open, but harder underground with bad lighting, or at night, especially when the train or bus is moving. There are constraints, since you can't flash a train operator or a bus driver (big no-no for obvious safety reasons), nor are tripods/monopods allowed in the subway. Outside, standing on street corners with overhead lamps provides light. It's easier to have a higher shutter speed, with some noise, and lighting it up a little in post, rather than to have a dark, blurry, unfocused shot.
I really appreciate your approaches to clarity in knowledge and practice. Thank you
You are very welcome
Here is what I do in low light situations (espcially in colorfull arias like in a disco or so) : Use ISO 400 - f4 and up to a half a second or slightly more shuttertime, and yes, use the flash rebounced on the second curtain.... Than finsh it all in Photoshop adjusting brightness and so. Yo can play around with that but changes are that you get hooked to this set of working once you get used to think different.
It sure gave me the most amazing shot ever made and I used this technique a lot, you might be amazed!
Thank you for your interesting videos sir!
Most fundamental concept of lighting explain in simple terms.
Next time I'm at a concert, I've got to keep these tips in mind. This is a fantastic way to teach, simplify and show examples. Super cool!
Glad it was helpful!
Once again this video is a hidden gem, Simon! Wonderful tips. I have made notes and will be sure to refer and put them to use.
Simon, you have the most useful channel for learning photography.
I wanna say Thank you sincerely for helping me learn and understand this craft , Ive struggled to understand it for some time in learning from other people on youtube but your wisdom is very clear and direct and very much so helpful , so i greatly appreciate these videos
You are most welcome
Some invaluable advice here, thank you. Low-light, gloomy, & night scenes are a particular interest of mine, I just love the ambience of them.
I've just moved from a camera phone (S22 Ultra) to a Sony Alpha 7iv, and am going for a Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM as my first lens, as (perhaps obviously) a phone camera simply can not achieve great results in those conditions (no matter how effective the 'nightography' marketing was on me for the S22 ultra!). Now, I'm a total amateur and got a lot to learn, but your advice video here is giving me new stuff to consider and experiment with, as well as reassure my sense of footing that I've been thinking of things broadly the right way. Some of what I didn't know, I seemed to be reaching intuitively, and videos like this fantastic for clarity and direction!
great explanation man, no gimicks or comedy and all, just straight to the point clear examples
I love your motto, embrace the light and use what you have. 😁
Your channel is probably the best place to go for photography advice because its very straight to the point and easy to understand. Thanks for the great advice! :)
Another perfect explanation of a common problem and what to do about it! Thanks!
Yes Simon learning and improving a lot in my journey of photography by the way you make us understand by your teachings.Thank you!
Although interested in photography I wouldn't even consider myself being a hobby-photographer. But every once in a while I watch some of your videos and I have to say: Great content BUT what's really the best thing is your pleasant voice and way to talk. There's just something engaging and positive about it. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
The thumbnail! Simon in his 70s detective era, love it!
4:29 wow, thats a beautiful scene!
You explain so well !!
I've already learned so much in the few videos I have watched, so thank you very much. This is incredible content and your pictures are great :)
Glad it was helpful!
The sunflowers/milky way photo looks gorgeous. Thank you for this great video.
So nice of you
Your videos are very helpful. Your content and delivery are exceptional. Thank you.
Thanks!
One of the best video ever about shooting in low light!
Thank you! I was always struggling with this! You're always so helpful!
You are so welcome!
Hello mr. d'Entremont, im just starting photography for a couple of months and i gotta say im already a fan your work and lessons. You explain things very well and and not over complicate things with terminology. Appreciate how you even throw in some information on what you did and give examples of what you're talking about. Just wanna say thanks
Awesome, thank you!
awesome video brother. love it
Perhaps a targeted video for low light wildlife photography with a zoom, like the Rf 100-500 F 7.1. I struggle with noisy soft shots in the early morning. Many of us don’t have a big prime. Thanks Simon! Maybe take us back into the field to see these tips in action!
Seconded!
Simon, you are amazing!! Thank you very much for all the priceless lessons. I’m from Brazil and I’m grateful for everything I’m learning with you.
Fantastic!
Thank you, your advice is priceless. I need to stop by more often. You give the best clear advice without all that flip flops.
You are so welcome!
We urgently need a comprehensive video on the absolutely stunning new HDR features in Lightroom Classic. Especially in the context of you doing lots of backlit shots, this will take your existing images to a whole new level! Try that on your wave shot as well, you will be blown away!
You're the best! Perfect balance between theory and pro practice. Cheers from Brazil!
Glad you think so!
I've been taking pictures For a long time and I have considerably good experience But I'd like to revisit photography lessons Once in a while just to restudy, and I think your videos are the best free photography course, thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
Your video is spot on! Low light photography is something that I always enjoyed a lot, and for my use cases, the three things that make the biggest difference are large aperture lenses (for events happening in low light), using a tripod (for shots of more static subjects), and software usage (always shoot with post-processing in mind). For events (using an 1/200s minimum aperture or faster), having an f/1.2 lens makes a massive difference, and I wish I had a 135mm f/1.4 lens that's sharp and has good AF.
I have so much respect for this guy
We visited our local Botanical Gardens last weekend, and it was night and darkened inside, so lots of great chances for low-light work! I did struggle a bit (they don't allow tripods because of narrow walkways), and at certain points I decided the shot I wanted was more important than the HOW of getting it, so I went ahead and used my camera's automated "scene" settings a bit. I'm all about learning, yes, but I'm also all about not coming home empty-handed! :)
I used your tips in this video and others on a safari and they really helped! Taking multiple shots at slow shutter speeds to get one that’s sharp worked great!
Great to hear!
you explain the camera and the use there of the best i've ever heard thank you
On a budget, I get vintage f2.8 or f4 and use a speedbooster on mft. I have a 300mm f2.8 that is about 200mm f2 with a speedbooster and it works great for birds inside bushes. The other tip I have is shoot video and stitch frames in photoshop to widen the focal length to increase apparent sharpness, or just stack them on different opacities so the noise is reduced.
Despite these videos aren't giving me much new info, your way of explaining things helps me to explain these tips to my friends, who still aren't watching your videos despite my constant recommendations!
Glad you like them!
Whoa! A video worth watching a second time. Definitely a lot of useful information. Thank you.
Another brilliantly explained video with a style not only informative but entertaining. Your development in this has surpassed your peers. You bring joy and passion into our lives. Well done.
Much appreciated!
This is such a wealth of information for amateur photographers. Thank you Simon!
My pleasure!
Fantastic video Simon. Some great tips really well explained. I often struggle with low light issues shooting aviation in the UK. I’ve used lots of your tips and with practice I’m getting far more keepers and honing my Lightroom skills as well.
Your videos and tips are brilliant! Love your tone and you are easy to listen to.
Thanks so much!
This was super helpful and just at the right time, plus, you have a great voice to listen to, thank you!
You're so welcome!
11:54-12:42 Message! That would be a good short/cheat sheet!
Simon is the best. Mostly about photography vs all about gear.
I'm not a professional photographer, but I like taking pictures specially since my twins granddaughters Born and I so far the best picture I took was in a day that the ☀️ was out and about.. we just had the Brightes fall this year.. I some took a picture right before noon sure that I was going to have to manipulate the shadows , but I think it was because I was laying flat on the grass when I saw the girls running with beautiful big leaves.. and one of the pictures came Amazing even with such strong backlight.. I learned is hard to take a bad picture of a great moment ❤
You are so right ! How often did I hear at a photo course that the amount of light is determined by the f-stop, shutterspeed AND iso. Iso is not a physical variable but software. Iso doesn't determine the amount of light falling on the sensor but the brightness of the picture
Righto!
Thank You. I learn something from every video you release.
Glad to hear it!
I have learned a lot about photography by watching your videos. Thank you very much for your content!
Great to hear!
I love watching your videos and your photos are so beautiful
Simon, I wish you’d do a video daily. I learn so much from you!
Maybe one day!
You can still have usable images shot in 12,800 Iso in your camera. I can only push it up to 3200 for a usable image in my camera, you push it further than that and you won't be able to identify the subject in the noise 😭😂
Love your videos! ❤️
Thank you, Simon. Much appreciated.
Very welcome
I am always on the look out for your uploads as your content is always educational and informative. Your way of teaching makes me want to go out and try new techniques (to me) to broaden my photography horizons. Thank you.
Happy to hear that!