Photo Tips from the Pros Series: Stephen Elms

Words & Image: Stephen Elms

1.  When shooting low light situations it is crucial to keep your camera from moving as much as possible.  Lower light levels means that your camera has to have a longer shutter speed in order to capture the appropriate amount of light.  Hand holding a camera in low light situations will usually lead to blurry images as your camera moves.  Even the slightest bit of movement will result in a blurry image.  A sturdy tripod is a good investment that will help ensure your camera does not move.  

In order to get tack-sharp images in low light it is also important not to touch your camera while the image is being taken.  This can be accomplished by using a remote trigger release or by switching your camera into timer mode.  You can set the timer for a few seconds, press the shutter release and then take your hands off the camera.  This will also help minimize the movement in your camera.

2.  When shooting at night or in cold/damp conditions, moisture can accumulate on your lens, ruining your photo.  This is especially frustrating when taking long exposures (like the star trail image below).  One trick that can help mitigate this moisture build-up is to use one or two disposable hand warmer packets and secure them to the outside of your lens with a rubber band.  

Keeping the warmers as close as possible to the glass portion of the lens will ensure your glass stays dry, and might save an image that would have otherwise been ruined by water droplets or moisture.

Instagram: Elms Nature