Chapter 7 Assignments
Now that we have looked at the possibilities for shooting after dark, it’s time to put it all to the test. These challenges cover the full range of shooting possibilities, both with flash and without. Let’s get started.
Steadying your shots with IS
If you have an IS lens, find a subject and set your camera to Tv mode. Set the Image Stabilizer switch on the lens to On, and take a few photos at 1/30, 1/15, and 1/8 of a second. Then turn the switch to Off and take the same shots with the same settings. Compare your images to see the differences.
Pushing your ISO to the extreme
Find a place to shoot where the ambient light level is low. This could be at night or indoors in a darkened room. Using the mode of your choice, start increasing the ISO from 100 until you get to 25600. Evaluate the level of noise in your images, especially in the shadow areas. Only you can decide how much noise is acceptable in your pictures.
Getting rid of the noise
Turn on the High ISO Speed Noise Reduction feature and repeat the previous assignment. Find your acceptable limits with the noise reduction turned on. Also pay attention to how much detail is lost in your shadows with this function enabled.
Creating long exposures in the dark
If you don’t have a tripod, find a stable place to set your camera outside and try some long exposures. Set your camera to Av mode and then use the self-timer to activate the camera (this will keep you from shaking the camera while pressing the shutter button). Or, use a cable release if you have one.
Shoot in an area that has some level of ambient light, be it a streetlight, traffic lights, or even a full moon. The idea is to get some late-night, low-light exposures. For best results, perform this assignment and the next in the same shooting session using the same subject.
Reducing the noise in your long exposures
Now repeat the last assignment with Long Exposure Noise Reduction set to On. Look at the difference in the images that were taken before and after the noise reduction was enabled.
Focusing in low light
Go indoors into a low-light environment and find a subject with little contrast and detail. Attempt to focus on the subject as you normally would. If you experience difficulty, choose Single-point AF and try to lock focus on another area of the subject. Then try focusing manually, and compare the results.
Getting creative with Second-curtain sync
Now it’s time for a little creative fun. Set your camera up for Second-curtain sync and start shooting. Moving targets are best. Experiment with Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority modes to lower the shutter speeds and exaggerate the effect. Try using a low ISO so the camera is forced to use longer shutter speeds. Be creative and have some fun!
Share your results with the book’s Flickr group!
Join the group here: flickr.com/groups/canon6dfromsnapshotstogreatshots